Md. Humayun Kobir Dept: Agro Product processing Technology Jashore University Of Science and Technology, Contamination of foods Micro organisms from various natural sources act as source of contamination. • From green plants and fruits • From animals • From sewage • From soil • From water • From air • During handling and processing. From green plants and fruits • Natural surface flora of plants varies with the plant but usually includes species of Pseudomonas, Alcaligenes, Flavobacterium, Micrococcus, coliforms and lactic acid bacteria. • The no. of bacteria will depend on the plant and its environment and may range from a few hundred or thousand per square centimeter of surface to millions. Ex: Surface of well washed tomato contains 400-700 micro organisms per square centimeter. • Outer tissue of unwashed cabbage contain 1 million to 2 million micro organisms. Inner tissues of cabbage contain fewer micro organisms. • Exposed surface of plants become contaminated from soil, water, sewage, air and animals, so that micro organisms from these sources are added to the natural flora. • Whenever conditions for growth of natural flora and contaminants are present, special kinds of micro organisms may increase. Some fruits have been found to contain viable micro organisms in their interior..From animals • Sources of micro organisms from animals include the surface flora, the flora of the respiratory tract, and the flora of the gastro intestinal tract. Hides, hooves, and hair contain micro organisms from soil, manure, feed and water but contain spoilage organisms. • Feathers, feet of poultry carry heavy contamination of micro organisms. • Skin of many meat animals may contain micrococci, Staphylococci and beta haemolytic streptococci. Pig or beef carcasses may be contaminated with salmonellae. Salmonellosis associated with eggs has been reduced because of the pasteurization of egg products. • Meat from slaughter houses is not frequently associated with human salmonellosis. • Many of these diseases have been reduced or eliminated by improvement in animal husbandry, but animal disease causing infections from foods include Mycobacterium, Coxiella, Listeria, Salmonella and entropathogenic E.Coli and viruses. • Insects and birds cause mechanical damage to fruits and vegetables, introduce micro organisms and open the way for microbial spoilage. From sewage • When untreated domestic sewage is used to fertilize plant crops, there is a chance that raw plant foods will be contaminated with human pathogens especially those causing gastrointestinal diseases. • The use of “night soil” as a fertilizer still persists in some parts of the world. In addition to the pathogens, coliform bacteria, anaerobes, enterococci, other intestinal bacteria and viruses can contaminate the foods from this source. • Natural water contaminated with sewage contributes their micro organisms to shell fish, fish, and other seafood. From soil • Soil contains greatest variety of micro organism

1. Contamination of Foods

2. Contamination of Foods

3. Types of Contamination of Foods

4. Contamination to poisoning

5. Contamination of foods
Micro organisms from various natural sources act as source of
contamination.
• From green plants and fruits
• From animals
• From sewage
• From soil
• From water
• From air
• During handling and processing.

6. From green plants and fruits
• Natural surface flora of plants varies with the plant but usually includes
species of Pseudomonas, Alcaligenes, Flavobacterium, Micrococcus,
coliforms and lactic acid bacteria.
• The no. of bacteria will depend on the plant and its environment and may
range from a few hundred or thousand per square centimeter of surface to
millions. Ex: Surface of well washed tomato contains 400-700 micro
organisms per square centimeter.
• Outer tissue of unwashed cabbage contain 1 million to 2 million micro
organisms. Inner tissues of cabbage contain fewer micro organisms.
• Exposed surface of plants become contaminated from soil, water, sewage, air
and animals, so that micro organisms from these sources are added to the
natural flora.
• Whenever conditions for growth of natural flora and contaminants are
present, special kinds of micro organisms may increase. Some fruits have
been found to contain viable micro organisms in their interior.

7. From animals
• Sources of micro organisms from animals include the surface flora, the flora of the
respiratory tract, and the flora of the gastro intestinal tract. Hides, hooves, and hair
contain micro organisms from soil, manure, feed and water but contain spoilage
organisms.
• Feathers, feet of poultry carry heavy contamination of micro organisms.
• Skin of many meat animals may contain micrococci, Staphylococci and beta
haemolytic streptococci. Pig or beef carcasses may be contaminated with
salmonellae. Salmonellosis associated with eggs has been reduced because of the
pasteurization of egg products.
• Meat from slaughter houses is not frequently associated with human salmonellosis.
• Many of these diseases have been reduced or eliminated by improvement in animal
husbandry, but animal disease causing infections from foods include Mycobacterium,
Coxiella, Listeria, Salmonella and entropathogenic E.Coli and viruses.
• Insects and birds cause mechanical damage to fruits and vegetables, introduce micro
organisms and open the way for microbial spoilage.

8. From sewage
• When untreated domestic sewage is used to fertilize plant
crops, there is a chance that raw plant foods will be
contaminated with human pathogens especially those causing
gastrointestinal diseases.
• The use of “night soil” as a fertilizer still persists in some parts
of the world. In addition to the pathogens, coliform bacteria,
anaerobes, enterococci, other intestinal bacteria and viruses
can contaminate the foods from this source.
• Natural water contaminated with sewage contributes their
micro organisms to shell fish, fish, and other seafood.

9. From soil
• Soil contains greatest variety of micro organisms.
• They are ready to contaminate the surfaces of plants growing on
or in them and the surfaces of animals roaming over the land.
• Soil dust is whipped up by air currents and soil particles are
carried by running water to get into or onto foods.
• Soil is an important source of heat resistant spore forming
bacteria.

10. From water
• Natural water contain not only their natural flora but also microorganisms from soil and possibly from
animals or sewage.
• Surface waters in streams or pools and stored waters have low microbial content because self
purification of quiet lakes and ponds or of running water.
• Ground waters from springs or wells have passed through layers of rock and soil to a definite level
hence most of the bacteria, suspended material have been removed.
• Kinds of bacteria in natural waters are chiefly of in Pseudomonas, Chromobacterium, Proteus,
Micrococcus, Bacillus, Streptococcus, Enterobacter and Escherichia coli.
• Two aspects of water bacteriology are Public health aspects and Economic aspects.
• The water commonly is chlorinated but there have been presence of chlorine resistant flora. Efficient
filtration greatly reduces the microbial content.

11. From Air
• Air does not contain a natural flora of micro organisms, but accidentally they are present on
suspended solid material or in moisture droplets. Micro organisms get into air on dust or lint, dry
soil, spray from stream, lakes or oceans, droplets of moisture from coughing, sneezing or talking
and growth of sporulating molds on floors, etc.
• Micro organisms in air have no opportunity for growth but merely persist there and the organisms
resistant to dessications will live longer. Mold spores because of their small size, resistance to
drying and large numbers of per mold plant are usually present in air.
• Cocci are more numerous than rod shaped bacteria. Yeasts especially asporogenous chromogenic
ones are found in most samples of air.
• Number of microorganisms in air at any given time depend on factors like amount of movement,
sunshine, humidity, location and the amount of suspended dust or spray. No. of micro organisms
vary from mountains to dusty air. Less on mountains and more in dusty air.
• Direct rays from the sun kill micro organisms suspended in air and hence reduce numbers.
• Dry air contains more organisms than moist air. Rain or snow removes organisms from the air.
• Number of micro organisms in air may be reduced under natural conditions by sedimentation,
sunshine and washing by rain or snow. Filters in ventilating or air conditioning systems prevent the
spread of organisms from one part of a plant to another.

12. During handling and processing
• Additional contamination
may come from equipment
coming in contact with
foods, from packaging
materials and from
personnel.

13. Thanks