Status : Verified
| Personal Name | Cancio, Mary Angela Janelle R. |
|---|---|
| Resource Title | Microbial safety and quality assessment of package-free food retail stores |
| Date Issued | 27 June 2025 |
| Abstract | Package-free stores, wherein consumers bring their own containers for food products, have reemerged as sustainable alternatives compared to conventional distribution systems relying on pre-packaged foods. However, there is a paucity of information regarding the microbiology of foods sold in these stores. Notably, these systems may introduce risk factors for microbial contamination and proliferation. To address this, the microbial safety and quality of foods from package-free stores was investigated based on indicators for bacteria (APC), fungi (YMC), coliforms (TCC), and S. aureus (SAC). Dried Cranberries, Rolled Oats, and Dried Herbs were selected as representatives for RTE foods, non-RTE foods, and Spices, respectively. Each sample was collected and analyzed from three package-free stores in the National Capital Region, Philippines. From 27 samples tested, 92% complied with Philippine regulatory limits for APC, YMC, TCC, and SAC. Notably, Dried Herbs exceeded SAC limits in two test stores - corresponding to 18% of all samples tested. Significant variability in overall microbial load between product categories and between test stores was also observed. This may be attributed to differences in handling and storage practices, microbial quality of tested products prior to retail, and differing intrinsic and extrinsic parameters along corresponding food value chains. Compared to conventional retail, package-free stores may exhibit elevated microbial loads for most indicators and S. aureus in particular, suggesting a potential risk of contamination and cross-contamination within said systems. This study serves as a baseline for further investigations on the microbial safety and quality of package-free stores in the Philippines to enable improvements in industry best-practices and the development of suitable regulations moving forward. |
| Degree Course | Bachelor of Science in Food Technology |
| Language | English |
| Keyword | Food—Microbiology; Zero-waste; Food—Safety measures; Microbial quality; Microbial safety; Package-free stores; Food contamination—Prevention; Sustainability—Philippines |
| Material Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
Preliminary Pages
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Category : P - Author wishes to publish the work personally.
Access Permission : Limited Access