Recovery of Salmonella Species from Dried Foods Rehydrated by the Soak Method.

A comparison was made of the recovery of Salmonella species from brewers' yeast, dried active yeast, onion powder and soy flour after preenrichment of samples under rapid (swirling) and slow (soaking) conditions of rehydration. The soak method gave improved recovery only with soy flour. Examination of soy flour by the soak method should be limited to 25-g amounts, however, since 100- and 375-g composites were not completely wetted.

Microbiological Quality of Biscuit Dough, Snack Cakes and Soy Protein Meat Extender.

The microbiological quality of refrigerated biscuit dough, nonrefrigerated chocolate-flavored cream- or custard-filled snack cakes, and seasoned or unseasoned textured soy or vegetable protein meat extender was determined by a statistically based national survey at the retail level. For refrigerated biscuit dough, geometric means of aerobic plate counts (APC) and counts of yeasts and molds, coliforms, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were 34,000, 46, 11, <3 and <3 microorganisms/g, respectively, and for seasoned and unseasoned meat extender 1,500 and 210 (APC seasoned and unseasoned), <25, <3, <3 and <10 microorganisms/g, respectively. Because of the limited availability of unseasoned meat extender in retail markets, the APC of 210 bacteria/g is not necessarily representative of the country.

Microbiological Quality of Frozen Breaded Onion Rings and Tuna Pot Pies.

The microbiological quality of precooked or partially cooked frozen breaded onion rings and tuna pot pies was determined by a national sampling at the retail level. The number of units examined and the geometric means for aerobic plate counts at 30 and 35°C, respectively, were 1,590 units of onion rings, 340 and 250/g; tuna pot pies, 1,290 units, 2,400 and 1,600/g. Geometric means for coliform organisms, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in onion rings were <3, <3 and <10/g, respectively; those for tuna pies were 5, <3 and <10/g.

Microbiological Quality of Fresh Blue Crabmeat, Clams and Oysters.

The microbiological quality of fresh blue crabmeat, soft- and hardshell clams and shucked Eastern oysters was determined at the retail (crabmeat, oysters) and wholesale (clams) levels. Geometric means of aerobic plate counts incubated at 35°C were: blue crabmeat 140,000 colony-forming units (CFU)/g, hardshell clams, 950 CFU/g, softshell clams 680 CFU/g and shucked Eastern oysters 390,000 CFU/g. Coliform geometric means ranged from 3,6/100 g for hardshell clams to 21/g for blue crabmeat.

Microbiological Quality of Cocoa Powder, Dry Instant Chocolate Drink Mix, Dry Nondairy Coffee Creamer and Frozen Nondairy Topping Obtained at Retail Markets.

A national survey was conducted of the microbiological quality of three dry ingredients used in beverages and one frozen non-dairy topping obtained at retail markets. Geometric mean aerobic plate counts (APCs) of units examined at 35°C were as follows: 1,313 units of cocoa powder, 6,600 CFU/g; 1,552 units of dry instant chocolate drink mix, 290 CFU/g; 1,559 units of dry non-dairy coffee creamer, 37 CFU/g; and 1,532 units of frozen non-dairy topping, 34 CFU/g. At 30°C, the geometric mean APC was 34 CFU/g for frozen nondairy topping.