The beverage industry in Pakistan has emerged as a progressive sector over the years. Juices are rich source of nutrients containing vitamins minerals but the microbial quality and sensory attributes of street vended, corners and restaurant juices is not at satisfied level. Juices squeezed from fresh fruits and vegetables contain microorganisms which are potentially hazardous to public health Therefore this study aimed to evaluate the microbial quality and sensory attributes of fresh fruit juices sold at various places of Lahore. The selling and consumption of juices are never stopped on nutritional grounds as well as livelihood of street vendors. It is alarming situation for suitable agency to take some necessary action, make guidelines to prevent potential food poisoning from juices that contain pathogenic bacteria, and find natural antimicrobials from plants that control spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms in juices.
Microbial quality and sensory attributes of Street vended, corners and restaurant juices are not in good condition.
Sample of 243 juices of three types, pineapple, peach pomegranate took from three categories, collected from 9 towns of Lahore (for 1 town 9 from each flavor that makes 27 from each town). The categories were juices from Street Vender (SV), Juice Corner (JC) and Restaurants (RT). All the samples were evaluated for sensory attributes (appearance, color, smell, taste and overall acceptability) by using 15-point hedonic scale and microbiological parameters, Aerobic Plate Count (APC), Total Coliform Count (TCC), Total Staphylococcus Count (TSC) and Salmonella detection.Data was analyzed statistically by theone way ANOVA for sensory evaluation and microbial count with 5% probability. Means were compared by LSD (least significant difference) test (Steel et al.,1997).
Results of my study indicates that juice samples collected from SV of various areas of Lahore showed very high number of microbiological counts and got very low score for its sensory attributes. While samples collected from JC showed microbiological counts less than SV and sensory attributes scores more than juices from SV. This was not only due to poor hygienic quality of these juices but also places consumers at a high risk of contracting food-borne infections. Lack of sanitary conditions in street vended juice stalls and the occurrence of pathogenic bacteria in juices are alarming enough for an immediate action by the suitable agency. Regular monitoring of the quality of fruit juices for human consumption must be introduced to avoid any future pathogen outbreaks. Juices took from RT revealed very low microbiological counts and very good score on hedonic scale which shows that they have good hygienic conditions. Their preparation methods and surrounding environment are clean.
At the end of this study we concluded that there was significant discrimination among the categories and the varieties of fresh fruit juice vendors as well as among the different towns. The microbial quality and sensory acceptability of fresh fruit juices sold at various locations of Lahore were not satisfied and we have to take step to make the conditions of our street vendors and juice corners better by giving them proper training about personal and environmental hygiene so that consumers can use the safe juices free from contamination.