A study was conducted by the Lords Universal College, which collected samples from ten local markets in Mumbai showed high microbial levels in fruit salads tested. Contaminants found in the salads included Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella sp., and Pseudomonas sp.
The study explained that these contaminants could be due to multiple factors, including improper handling, cleaning with contaminated water, unhygienic processing utensils and cross-contamination between fruits and vegetables. All of these causes lead to increased contamination of the street vended salads.
“Since no international or local standards exist in the country, standardisation of health and safety status of such products must be arbitrated by appropriate regulatory authorities which can minimise the risk of bacterial diseases to a great extent,” the report concluded.
