Food Act Report 2009/2010 - SA Health - SA.Gov.au

Appendix 4A Survey to Measure the Microbiological Safety ofRaw Vegetables available for Retail SaleAims and Scope of the InvestigationThe purpose of this survey was to identify the prevalence of pathogens in commonly consumed vegetables, whichmay be eaten raw or partially cooked, and are available for retail sale in South Australia. Samples were analysed forE. coli, E. coli O157, Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes. The survey is part of a five-year sampling plan andSA Health will continue to sample and analyse the microbiological quality of raw vegetables periodically. From thisinformation trend analysis can be derived and utilised in the future.Background to the surveyIn recent food borne disease outbreaks, epidemiological evidence has suggested that vegetables may possibly havebeen the source of infection. SA Health continuously monitors, through a five-year sampling plan, a variety of fruitand vegetables in South Australia for compliance with microbiological requirements of the Standard 1.6.1 of theCode. This is of the five-year sampling plan.Vegetables normally carry non-pathogenic microflora, however they can be contaminated with pathogenic bacteriaduring growth, harvest, transportation and processing through contamination with organic fertilisers, pollutedirrigation water or poor hygiene.StandardsThe Food Act 2001 requires food businesses not to sell food that is unsafe or unsuitable for human consumption.While no specific product standards are referenced in the Food Standards Code, it does require that food be safe forhuman consumption.What foods were tested?A total of 60 samples were collected, taken periodically over the financial year, capturing a variety of raw vegetablesavailable for retail sale in South Australia. Products included carrot, broccoli, capsicum, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce,cucumber, snow peas, tomatoes, celery, parsley, baby spinach, bok choy, bean shoots, alfalfa and spring onions.What did we test for?All samples were sent to the IMVS Food and Environmental Laboratory in Adelaide for analysis. Samples wereanalysed for Escherichia coli (E. coli), E. coli 0157, Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.Food Act Report Year ending 30 June 2010 page 52