Microbial contamination of student meal in Chongqing

Objective To further ensure food safety for students,this study aims to investigate microbial contamination of student meal in universities,middle schools,elementary schools and kindergartens in Chongqing.Methods Based on the Manual for China National Food contamination and Harmful Factors Risk Monitoring in 2014 (Chinese edition),food samples were detected for bacterial and food-borne pathogens.Results The unqualified rates of the total number of colonies and escherichia coli bacteria count were detected in 19.57% and 6.09% of all the samples.Salmonella detection of foodborne pathogenic bacteria completely qualified,the highest fraction defective is staphylococcus aureus count,at 1.74%.In different school types,middle and primary schools were found with highest contaminated rate (34.88% and 33.33%,respectively).Salad and baked fried food were the most common food contaminated (54.55% and 44.44%).Contamination rate was highest (31.25%) in summer season,compared with winter season (16.28%).Food microbial contamination in urban schools was 26.82%,slightly higher than that of rural schools.Breakfast (27.91%) was at higher risk of contamination compared with lunch(23.67%).Conclusion Food borne microbial contamination in Chongqing could constitute a potential risk to student health,which needs further supervision.