Food hygiene with reference to public health viable bacterial counts of ready to eat foods served in Rawalpindi, Islamabad

ABSTRACT

Bacterial loads of street served foods and cut fruits sold in open market was assessed. The mean viable plate count was 2.4x107/gm, highest being 7x10 /gm found in meat group foods. Eighteen percent food samples, mostly, either processed foods, carbonated drinks or foods served boiling hot were found sterile. All other foods examined yielded very high standard aerobic plate count per gram, indicating inadequate hygienic conditions of the retail shops