MICROBIOLOGICAL SAFETY OF STREET VENDED FRESH FRUIT JUICES, DRINKS AND CONVENTIONAL BLENDS IN MULTAN-PAKISTAN

The study aimed at exploring the safety of various fresh fruit juices, blends and drinks sold in the streets of Multan, Pakistan. The city was divided into 4 zones for the purpose of sample collection. Bacteriological analysis of 72 samples of fresh fruit juices, blends and drinks indicated the presence of total viable counts (2.48 ± 0.16 to 7.91 ± 0.62 log CFU/mL), total coliforms (0.70 ± 0.04 to 4.86 ± 0.29 log CFU/mL) and Escherichia coli (0.6 ± 0.03 to 3.83 ± 0.32 log CFU/mL). Qualitative data depicted apple juice to be highly contaminated with fecal coliforms and Salmonella spp. Coliforms prevalence was highest in Zone IV and Zone II while that of Salmonella spp., in Zone IV and Zone III. The pragmatic levels of contaminants elucidate poor sanitary status of major entities deployed in juice manufacturing process adopted by the street vendors.