scholarly journals Transfer efficacy of Escherichia coli O157:H7 between surfaces of green mature tomatoes and common food processing materials

10.5219/1408 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 1027-1034
Author(s):  
Oleksandr Tokarskyy ◽  
Mykhaylo Korda ◽  
Halyna Lukyantseva
Keyword(s):  
Food Processing ◽  
Risk Evaluation ◽  
Conveyor Belt ◽  
Post Inoculation ◽  
Escherichia Coli O157 ◽  
Cross Contamination ◽  
Transfer Rates ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Common Food ◽  
Special Concern

The objectives of this study were: a) to evaluate E. coli O157:H7 survival on green mature tomatoes and squares of common food processing materials – stainless steel, plastic (HDPE), and vinyl conveyor belt (PVC) – post-drying, stored at 25 ºC in the humidified environment for four days; b) to determine pathogen transfer rates (wet, 90 minutes, or 24-hours drying post-inoculation), from inoculated tomato surfaces to uninoculated steel, plastic, and vinyl conveyor belt squares and conversely. It was shown that E. coli O157:H7 did not survive well on the surface of tomatoes, resulting in a decline from 5.3 log10 CFU.mL-1 90 minutes post-drying to 1.4 log10 CFU.mL-1 on day 4. Similarly, the pathogen did not survive well on the surface of food processing squares, with numbers declining over 4 days from 4.04, 4.44, and 4.19 CFU.mL-1 of rinsate 90 minutes squares post-drying to 0.72, 0.50, 0.83  log10 CFU.mL-1, which is close to the detection limit, for the steel, vinyl belt, and plastic, respectively. Successful cross-contamination between tomatoes and food processing surfaces was achieved during wet transfer; while transfer after 90 minutes inoculum post-drying and 24 hours were less successful. This can be explained by both lack of liquid media with suspended bacteria for transfer and fast pathogen die-off after desiccation. Dry transfers, as shown by the percentage of “positive” for pathogen presence tomatoes and squares, as well as bacterial counts, were more successful from tomatoes to squares, but not conversely. Special concern raised vinyl conveyor belt, where the surface picked up the most pathogen cells from the surface of tomatoes, resulting in 100% positive during 90 minute-dry transfers, followed by plastic (66.7% positive) and steel (55.6% positive). To summarize, we presented data on the possibility of cross-contamination between mature green tomatoes and common food processing surfaces, which may be interesting for the processors for risk evaluation.

scholarly journals Influence of suspension liquid total solids on E. coli O157:H7 survival and transfer efficacy between green tomatoes and cardboard

10.5219/1210 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 941-949
Author(s):  
Oleksandr Tokarskyy ◽  
Mykhaylo Korda
Keyword(s):  
Transfer Rate ◽  
Positive Transfer ◽  
Post Inoculation ◽  
Cross Contamination ◽  
Organic Residues ◽  
Hydrophobic Properties ◽  
Transfer Rates ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Hygroscopic Nature ◽  
Peptone Water

 The objectives of this study were: a) to determine E. coli O157:H7 survival on tomatoes and cardboard squares post-drying, stored at 25 ºC in humidified environment for four days, in buffered peptone water (BPW), and 0.1% diluted peptone (DP); b) to determine pathogen transfer rates (0, 1.5, or 24-hours drying post-inoculation), from inoculated tomato surfaces to uninoculated cardboard squares and conversely; and c) to evaluate SystemSure Plus ATP luminometer for recognizing contamination on visibly soiled (BPW) or visible clean (DP) cardboard. In tomato inoculation studies, E. coli O157:H7 survived better on the fruit when the inoculum was prepared using DP as compared to BPW. The 1.5-hours post drying counts of 5.34 and 5.76 log10 CFU.mL-1 in the rinsate substantially declined to 1.45 and 1.17 log10 CFU.mL-1 on day four, for DP and BPW, respectively. In cardboard inoculation studies, E. coli O157:H7 persisted for four days, with 1.5-hours post-drying counts and day four counts of 4.53 (DP) and 2.55 log10 CFU.mL-1 (BPW), contrary to 3.81 (DP) and 1.92 log10 CFU.mL-1 (BPW). Under the first impression, the slower die-off of E. coli O157:H7 on cardboard questions the possibility of reusing cardboard boxes due to the potential for cross-contamination. In wet transfer (0 hour drying) trials, both tomato-to-cardboard and cardboard-to-tomato yielded 100% positive transfers irrespective of diluent type. Dry transfer (1.5-hours drying interval post inoculation) from tomato-to-cardboard were 100% positive, but no positives were noted when inoculated, dried cardboard was contacted to tomatoes, irrespective of diluent. Results of transfers with BPW as the diluent showed 100% positive transfer from 24-hours dry tomatoes-to-cardboard, as inoculation spots on the tomatoes remained moist due to hygroscopic nature of solutes in BPW. Conversely, only a 40% positive transfer rate was observed under the same conditions with DP as diluent. No positive transfers were recorded from 24-hours dry cardboard-to-tomatoes, irrespective of diluent type. Though E. coli O157:H7 survived better on the surface of cardboard compared to the surface of tomatoes on day four, the dry transfers were more efficient from tomatoes-to-cardboard than conversely, possibly due to smooth and hydrophobic properties of the tomato, and rough and porous surface of the cardboard. ATP luciferase UltrasnapTM swab test showed 9/9 “pass” results for sterile liquid DP and BPW, while 9/9 “fail” results were observed with liquid peptone and BPW contaminated at ca. 9.0 log10 CFU.mL-1 E. coli O157:H7. Cardboard squares treated and dried, with sterile DP, showed 8/9 “pass” ATP luciferase results, and 1/9 “warning”, while cardboard squares with contaminated DP showed 9/9 “fail” result. Cardboard squares treated and dried, with sterile BPW, showed 7/9 “pass” ATP luciferase results, and 2/9 “warning”, while cardboard squares with contaminated BPW showed 9/9 “fail” result. Luminometer can simplify detection of microbial load, as well as organic residues, helping to check cardboard boxes for cleanness.

Quantifying Bacterial Cross-Contamination Rates between Fresh-Cut Produce and Hands

2017 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dane A. Jensen ◽  
Michelle D. Danyluk ◽  
Linda J. Harris ◽  
Donald W. Schaffner
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Enterobacter Aerogenes ◽  
Escherichia Coli O157 ◽  
Cross Contamination ◽  
Transfer Rates ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Fresh Cut ◽  
Food Safety Risk ◽  
Risk Assessment And Management

ABSTRACT This study quantifies the cross-contamination rates between fresh-cut produce and hands using a nalidixic acid–resistant nonpathogenic Enterobacter aerogenes and cocktails of rifampin-resistant Salmonella or Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains. Volunteers performed the E. aerogenes experiments (n = 20), and one of the authors performed the Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 experiments multiple times (n =15 and n =10, respectively). Each participant handled 25 g of fresh-cut carrots, celery, or cantaloupe in two different scenarios. In the first scenario, gloved hands were inoculated with 6 log CFU per hand of the bacteria, and in the second scenario, five 25-g pieces of fresh produce were inoculated to a concentration of 6 log CFU/25 g. The glove juice method was used to quantify the bacterial concentration on the gloved hands. About 30% of E. aerogenes on gloved hands was transferred to the carrots and celery, and 18% of E. aerogenes on gloved hands was transferred to the cantaloupe. When carrots or cantaloupe was inoculated with E. aerogenes, 1% was transferred to gloved hands; from inoculated celery, about 0.3% of E. aerogenes was transferred to gloved hands. There was not a significant difference between E. aerogenes and Salmonella cross-contamination rates (P > 0.05). When gloved hands were contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, about 30% was transferred to carrots, about 10% to celery, and about 3% to cantaloupe. When carrots and celery were inoculated with E. coli O157:H7, about 1% was transferred to gloved hands, but from inoculated cantaloupe only about 0.3% was transferred. Direction of transfer (to versus from produce), difference in type of produce, and differences among the bacterial species all had significant effects on the transfer rate. Understanding transfer rates to and from fresh-cut produce will allow for better risk assessment and management of microbial food safety risk related to fresh-cut produce.

Efficacy of Commercial Produce Sanitizers against Nontoxigenic Escherichia coli O157:H7 during Processing of Iceberg Lettuce in a Pilot-Scale Leafy Green Processing Line

2013 ◽  
Vol 76 (11) ◽  
pp. 1838-1845 ◽  
Author(s):  
GORDON R. DAVIDSON ◽  
ANNEMARIE L. BUCHHOLZ ◽  
ELLIOT T. RYSER
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Wash Water ◽  
Escherichia Coli O157 ◽  
Cross Contamination ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Iceberg Lettuce ◽  
Processing Line ◽  
Green Fluorescent

Chemical sanitizers are routinely used during commercial flume washing of fresh-cut leafy greens to minimize cross-contamination from the water. This study assessed the efficacy of five commercial sanitizer treatments against Escherichia coli O157:H7 on iceberg lettuce, in wash water, and on equipment during simulated commercial production in a pilot-scale processing line. Iceberg lettuce (5.4 kg) was inoculated to contain 106 CFU/g of a four-strain cocktail of nontoxigenic, green fluorescent protein–labeled, ampicillin-resistant E. coli O157:H7 and processed after 1 h of draining at ~22°C. Lettuce was shredded using a commercial slicer, step-conveyed to a flume tank, washed for 90 s using six different treatments (water alone, 50 ppm of peroxyacetic acid, 50 ppm of mixed peracid, or 50 ppm of available chlorine either alone or acidified to pH 6.5 with citric acid [CA] or T-128), and then dried using a shaker table and centrifugal dryer. Various product (25-g) and water (50-ml) samples collected during processing along with equipment surface samples (100 cm2) from the flume tank, shaker table, and centrifugal dryer were homogenized in neutralizing buffer and plated on tryptic soy agar. During and after iceberg lettuce processing, none of the sanitizers were significantly more effective (P ≤ 0.05) than water alone at reducing E. coli O157:H7 populations on lettuce, with reductions ranging from 0.75 to 1.4 log CFU/g. Regardless of the sanitizer treatment used, the centrifugal dryer surfaces yielded E. coli O157:H7 populations of 3.49 to 4.98 log CFU/100 cm2. Chlorine, chlorine plus CA, and chlorine plus T-128 were generally more effective (P ≤ 0.05) than the other treatments, with reductions of 3.79, 5.47, and 5.37 log CFU/ml after 90 s of processing, respectively. This indicates that chlorine-based sanitizers will likely prevent wash water containing low organic loads from becoming a vehicle for cross-contamination.

Determination of Free Chlorine Concentrations Needed To Prevent Escherichia coli O157:H7 Cross-Contamination during Fresh-Cut Produce Wash†

2011 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 352-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
YAGUANG LUO ◽  
XIANGWU NOU ◽  
YANG YANG ◽  
ISABEL ALEGRE ◽  
ELLEN TURNER ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Free Chlorine ◽  
Chlorine Concentration ◽  
Wash Water ◽  
Escherichia Coli O157 ◽  
Cross Contamination ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Wash Solution ◽  
Fresh Cut ◽  
Experimental Trials

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of free chlorine concentrations in wash water on Escherichia coli O157:H7 reduction, survival, and transference during washing of fresh-cut lettuce. The effectiveness of rewashing for inactivation of E. coli O157:H7 on newly cross-contaminated produce previously washed with solutions containing an insufficient amount of chlorine also was assessed. Results indicate that solutions containing a minimum of 0.5 mg/liter free chlorine were effective for inactivating E. coli O157:H7 in suspension to below the detection level. However, the presence of 1 mg/liter free chlorine in the wash solution before washing was insufficient to prevent E. coli O157:H7 survival and transfer during washing because the introduction of cut lettuce to the wash system quickly depleted the free chlorine. Although no E. coli O157:H7 was detected in the wash solution containing 5 mg/liter free chlorine before washing a mix of inoculated and uninoculated lettuce, low numbers of E. coli O157:H7 cells were detected on uninoculated lettuce in four of the seven experimental trials. When the prewash free chlorine concentration was increased to 10 mg/liter or greater, no E. coli O157:H7 transfer was detected. Furthermore, although rewashing newly cross-contaminated lettuce in 50 mg/liter free chlorine for 30 s significantly reduced (P = 0.002) the E. coli O157:H7 populations, it failed to eliminate E. coli O157:H7 on lettuce. This finding suggests that rewashing is not an effective way to correct for process failure, and maintaining a sufficient free chlorine concentration in the wash solution is critical for preventing pathogen cross-contamination.

Bacterial Cross-Contamination of Meat during Liquid Nitrogen Immersion Freezing†

1998 ◽  
Vol 61 (9) ◽  
pp. 1103-1108 ◽  
Author(s):  
ELAINE D. BERRY ◽  
WARREN J. DORSA ◽  
GREGORY R. SIRAGUSA ◽  
MOHAMMAD KOOHMARAIE
Keyword(s):  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Liquid Nitrogen ◽  
Listeria Innocua ◽  
Freezing Process ◽  
Escherichia Coli O157 ◽  
Cross Contamination ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Processing Line ◽  
Immersion Freezing ◽  
Resistant Strains

Prerigor beef carcass surface tissue (BCT) was used to simulate lamb carcasses on a processing line with a 15-min liquid nitrogen (LN) immersion freezing step, and the potential for the dissemination of bacteria during freezing was examined. Streptomycin-resistant strains of Listeria innocua and Escherichia coli O157:H7 spiked into a fecal slurry were inoculated onto BCT pieces that were introduced into the freezing process to represent contaminated carcasses. Following this introduction, subsequently frozen uninoculated BCT, LN, and LN containers were examined for the inoculated organisms. In the first study, BCT samples were inoculated with ca. 7 log CFU/cm2 of both L. innocua and E. coli O157:H7, spray washed with water and frozen, distributed among uninoculated BCT, in LN for 15 min. In two separate trials, L. innocua was recovered by enrichment from all uninoculated BCT and LN samples. E. coli O157:H7 was also recovered from uninoculated BCT and LN, but this cross-contamination was more sporadic. Both species were recovered from the LN container following freezing. Attempts to enumerate cross-contaminating bacteria in the second trial indicated that contaminating levels were low (<1.0 CFU/cm2 BCT). In a second study, a 2.0% lactic acid spray wash was used to reduce further the numbers of L. innocua introduced into the freezing system and resulted in fewer positive samples, although this organism was still recovered from many uninoculated BCT samples. When either bacterium was inoculated at lower initial levels (1.35 to 1.77 log CFU/cm2) and BCT was water or 2.0% lactic acid spray washed prior to freezing, neither L. innocua nor E. coli O157:H7 was recoverable by enrichment from uninoculated BCT, LN, or from the freezing container. Results demonstrate that bacterial cross-contamination of meat during LN immersion freezing can occur but indicate that the use of good sanitation practices and product with low microbial numbers can limit this occurrence.

scholarly journals Optimization of a Microplate Assay for Generating Listeria Monocytogenes, E. Coli O157:H7, and Salmonella Biofilms and Enzymatic Recovery for Enumeration

Foods ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manish Aryal ◽  
Preetty Pranatharthiharan ◽  
Peter M. Muriana
Keyword(s):  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Food Processing ◽  
Hydrolytic Enzymes ◽  
Fluorescence Assay ◽  
Escherichia Coli O157 ◽  
Bacterial Cells ◽  
Planktonic Cells ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Adherence Data ◽  
Microplate Fluorescence Assay

Biofilms enable the persistence of pathogens in food processing environments. Sanitizing agents are needed that are effective against pathogens entrapped in biofilms that are more difficult to inactivate than planktonic cells that are displaced and found on equipment surfaces. We examined conditions to develop, analyze, and enumerate the enhanced biofilms of three different foodborne pathogens assisted by fluorescence adherence assay and enzymatic detachment. We compared three different isomeric forms of fluorescent substrates that are readily taken up by bacterial cells based on carboxy-fluorescein diacetate (5-CFDA, 5,6-CFDA, 5,6-CFDA, SE). Biofilm-forming strains of Escherichia coli O157:H7 F4546 and Salmonella Montevideo FSIS 051 were identified using a microplate fluorescence assay defined previously for L. monocytogenes. Adherence levels were determined by differences in relative fluorescence units (RFU) as well as recovered bacterial cells. Multiple hydrolytic enzymes were examined for each representative pathogen for the most suitable enzyme for detachment and enumeration to confirm adherence data obtained by fluorescence assay. Cultures were grown overnight in microplates, incubated, washed and replenished with fresh sterile growth medium; this cycle was repeated for seven consecutive days to enrich for robust biofilms. Treatments were performed in triplicate and compared by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine significant differences (p < 0.05).

scholarly journals Isolation of Anti-Escherichia coli O157:H7 Bacteriophages and Determination of Their Host Ranges

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (9) ◽  
pp. 1200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeliha Yıldırım ◽  
Tuba Sakin ◽  
Fatma Çoban
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Food Processing ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Escherichia Coli O157 ◽  
Fish Farms ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Food Animal ◽  
Processing Plants ◽  
Raw Foods

The aim of this study was to isolate, purify and determine host ranges of bacteriophages infecting Escherichia coli O157:H7 from different environment such as river/stream water, sewage, raw food, animal troughs, wastewaters of food processing plants, slaughterhouse and fish farms. For screening of E. coli O157:H7 bacteriophages, 92 samples were used. It was found that in respect to anti-E. coli O157:H7 bacteriophages, food processing wastewaters, sewage and slaughterhouse wastewaters are the richest sources, and streams, troughs and fisheries wastewater are rich in the middle, and raw foods were the poorest source. A total of 37 phages were isolated and purified. The phages counts of the purified samples were changed among 30×103 - 34×108 PFU/mL. The isolated phages were generally infective against E. coli O157:H7 and E. coli strains and 81.08% of the phages (30 out of 37) formed clear plaques and were capable to lyse at least 1 out of 5 E. coli O157:H7 strains. In addition to E. coli, some phages were capable to infect some Salmonella enterica serovars. This results show that inhibitor spectra of the phages were wide.

Role of Brushes and Peelers in Removal of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella from Produce in Domestic Kitchens

2015 ◽  
Vol 78 (9) ◽  
pp. 1624-1631 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARILYN C. ERICKSON ◽  
JEAN LIAO ◽  
JENNIFER L. CANNON ◽  
YNES R. ORTEGA
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Escherichia Coli O157 ◽  
Cross Contamination ◽  
Running Water ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Honeydew Melon

Consumers are being advised to increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables to reduce their risk of chronic disease. However, to achieve that goal, consumers must be able to implement protocols in their kitchens to reduce their risk of consuming contaminated produce. To address this issue, a study was conducted to monitor the fate of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella on produce (cantaloupe, honeydew melon, carrots, and celery) that were subjected to brushing or peeling using common kitchen utensils. Removal of similar levels of Salmonella from carrots was accomplished by peeling and by brushing, but significantly greater removal of E. coli O157:H7 from carrots was accomplished by peeling than by brushing under running water (P &lt; 0.05). Brushing removed significantly fewer pathogens from contaminated cantaloupes than from other produce items (P &lt; 0.05), suggesting that the netted rind provided sites where the pathogen cells could evade the brush bristles. A Sparta polyester brush was less effective than a scouring pad for removing Salmonella from carrots (P &lt; 0.05). In all cases, brushing and peeling failed to eliminate the pathogens from the produce items, which may be the result of contamination of the utensil during use. High incidences of contamination (77 to 92%) were found among peelers used on carrots or celery, the Sparta brush used on carrots, and the scouring pad used on carrots and cantaloupe. Of the utensils investigated, the nylon brush had the lowest incidence of pathogen transference from contaminated produce (0 to 12%). Transfer of pathogens from a potentially contaminated Sparta brush or peeler to uncontaminated carrots did not occur or occurred only on the first of seven carrots processed with the utensil. Therefore, risk of cross-contamination from contaminated utensils to uncontaminated produce may be limited.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella in Two Geographically Distant Commercial Beef Processing Plants in the United States†

2004 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
MILDRED RIVERA-BETANCOURT ◽  
STEVEN D. SHACKELFORD ◽  
TERRANCE M. ARTHUR ◽  
KURT E. WESTMORELAND ◽  
GINA BELLINGER ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Listeria Monocytogenes ◽  
The United States ◽  
Conveyor Belt ◽  
Escherichia Coli O157 ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Beef Processing ◽  
Processing Plants ◽  
Northern United States

For two large beef processing plants, one located in the southern United States (plant A) and one located in the northern United States (plant B), prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella was determined for hide, carcass, and facility environmental samples over the course of 5 months. The prevalence of E. coli O157: H7 (68.1 versus 55.9%) and Salmonella (91.8 versus 50.3%) was higher (P &lt; 0.05), and the prevalence of Listeria spp. (37.7 versus 75.5%) and L. monocytogenes (0.8 versus 18.7%) was lower (P &lt; 0.05) for the hides of cattle slaughtered at plant A versus plant B. Similarly, the prevalence of Salmonella (52.0 versus 25.3%) was higher (P &lt; 0.05) and the prevalence of Listeria spp. (12.0 versus 40.0%) and L. monocytogenes (1.3 versus 14.7%) was lower (P &lt; 0.05) for the fence panels of the holding pens of plant A versus plant B. The prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 (3.1 versus 10.9%), Listeria spp. (4.5 versus 14.6%), and L. monocytogenes (0.0 versus 1.1%) was lower (P &lt; 0.05) for preevisceration carcasses sampled at plant A versus plant B. Salmonella (both plants), Listeria spp. (plant B), and L. monocytogenes (plant B) were detected on fabrication floor conveyor belts (product contact surfaces) late during the production day. For plant B, 21 of 148 (14.2%) late-operational fabrication floor conveyor belt samples were L. monocytogenes positive. For plant B, E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes were detected in preoperational fabrication floor conveyor belt samples. Overall results suggest that there are regional differences in the prevalence of pathogens on the hides of cattle presented for harvest at commercial beef processing plants. While hide data may reflect the regional prevalence, the carcass data is indicative of differences in harvest practices and procedures in these plants.

Enumeration of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Outbreak-Associated Beef Patties

2016 ◽  
Vol 79 (7) ◽  
pp. 1266-1268 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALEXANDER GILL ◽  
GEORGE HUSZCZYNSKI
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Ground Beef ◽  
Most Probable Number ◽  
Escherichia Coli O157 ◽  
Cross Contamination ◽  
Probable Number ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Beef Patties ◽  
Selective Agar ◽  
Agar Media

ABSTRACT An outbreak of five cases of Escherichia coli O157 infection that occurred in Canada in 2012 was linked to frozen beef patties seasoned with garlic and peppercorn. Unopened retail packs of beef patties from the implicated production lot were recovered and analyzed to enumerate E. coli O157, other E. coli strains, and total coliforms. E. coli O157 was not recovered by direct enumeration on selective agar media. E. coli O157 in the samples was estimated at 3.1 most probable number per 140 g of beef patty, other E. coli was 11 CFU/g, and coliforms were 120 CFU/g. These results indicate that the presence of E. coli O157 in ground beef at levels below 0.1 CFU/g may cause outbreaks. However, the roles of temperature abuse, undercooking, and cross-contamination in amplifying the risk are unknown.

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