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Abstract : |
Microbial contamination of date fruits may happen during the different phases of their postharvest handling. In this work, six samples of dates belonging to the varieties Succary, Rothaneh, Barhi, Sebbaka, Umm-AlKhashab and Reshodiah were randomly collected from Buraydah City date marketplace during the seasons 2000/2001 and 2001/2002 and investigated for bacterial contamination using the aliquot obtained from three successive washings with sterilized distilled water for each of fresh, cooled (4oC) and frozen (-10oC) date samples. The results revealed the presence of a high count of aerobacteria as a result of the first washing for fresh dates ranging between 56.7X103 (Sebbaka) and 101.2X103 (Umm AlKhashab) CFU/g date in season 2000/2001. The percentage reduction in the total count of bacteria as a result of the first washing ranged between 84.5 and 98% in season 2000/2001. Likewise in season 2001/2002, the total count due to the first washing of fresh dates ranged between 150X103 (Succary) and 240X103 (Reshodiah), which resulted in a percentage reduction in the total count ranging between 90.5 and 99.5%. The presumptive test indicated the presence of coliform bacteria on the surface of some date varieties after 24-48 h. However, the IMViC reactions showed the presence of Entrobacter aerogenes rather than Escherichia coli which dismissed the likelihood of fecal contamination in the examined samples. On the other hand, Salmonella enteritidis inoculated to date surface failed to survive more than 9 days, |
