EVALUATION OF MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION IN ICE ACQUIRED FROM DIFFERENT AREAS IN BHIWANDI CITY

Abstract

When food establishments and restaurants make ice for consumption, it is important to use water free from pathogens or any elements causing health hazard. Freezing can reduce number of culturable microbes but does not eliminate them completely. Coliforms are indicator of water quality. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) establishes standards for safe drinking water and has set goal for zero coliforms. The objective of present study was to determine the microbial contamination of ice in food establishments and restaurant’s in Bhiwandi, a town near Thane district in Maharashtra. Ten ice samples from local food establishments and restaurants (5 each) were analyzed using BIS standard method. Out of 10 samples one Ice sample contained E.coli (10%), 2 samples contained Corynebacterium (20%), 1 sample contained Streptococcus Pyogenes (10%), 2 contained Streptococcus Agalactiae (20%), 1 contained Salmonella Paratyphi B (10%), 2 contained Enterococcus (20%), 3 contained Staphylococcus Epidermidis (30%), 2 contained Viridans Streptococci (20%), 3contained Peptostreptococcus (30%), 1 contained Streptococcus Pneumoniae (10%), 1 contained Pseudomonas Aeruginosa (10%) and 1 sample also contained Fungal contaminant i.e. Aspergillus Spp. (10%). The current methods for inspecting ice at food establishments are insufficient for determining microbial contamination. Contaminated ice may contain pathogens and is a public health concern. Further research should be conducted to reduce the public health risk of ice and drinking water contamination in food establishments.