Abstract
Keropok lekor is a popular Terengganu heritage traditional snack and its microbiological
safety is one of the important aspects should be of concern. Thus, the present study was
carried out to assess microbiological status of keropok lekor, and its production premises
in Kuala Terengganu and Marang. A total of 136 samples were collected randomly from
eight premises (in three replicates) comprising of raw materials, food contact surfaces and
ready to eat (RTE). All samples were analysed for aerobic plate count (APC), total
coliforms (TC) count, Escherichia coli and detection of foodborne pathogens. Results
showed that the APC and TC count in raw materials (fish flesh, sago starch, ice, dough and
chilli paste) ranged from below the detection limit (< 1.0 log10 CFU/g) to 6.7 log10 CFU/g
and 4.6 log10 CFU/g, respectively. While, food contact surfaces have the APC and TC in
the range of < 1.0 to 6.4 log10 CFU/cm2 and < 1.0 to 4.1 log10 CFU/cm2, respectively. The
food handlers hand swabs had APC and TC counts between 2.2 to 6.4 log10 CFU/cm2 and
< 1.0 to 4.4 log10 CFU/cm2, respectively. RTE keropok lekor and dipping sauce contained
APC in 1.8 to 5.5 log10 CFU/g and < 1.0 to 5.1 log10 CFU/g range, respectively. TC was
detected as unsatisfactory level (> 1.7 lo g10 CFU/g) in three keropok lekor samples. E.
coli was found in 10.29% of samples and all of them were non-diarrheagenic serotypes.
Two RTE keropok lekor and display containers were contaminated with E. coli. Coagulase
positive staphylococci, Salmonella and Vibrio parahaemolyticus were detected in four, two
and one samples, respectively, with none of them found to have Vibrio cholerae and Listeria
monocytogenes. High prevalence of indicator organisms in food contact surfaces and food
handlers hand indicated that hygiene practices were not well implemented. The
unsatisfactory levels of presence of APC, TC and E. coli in RTE keropok lekor also
described cross contamination due to inadequate hygiene practices after cooking process.
Haslinda Wan, Mohd Nizam Lani, Yusnita Hamzah, Rozila Alias, Zaiton Hassan. (2019) Microbiological assessment of keropok lekor production in Kuala Terengganu and Marang, Malaysia, Asian Journal of Agriculture and Biology, Volume 7, Issue 1.
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