Vol. 10, Special Issue 12 (2021)

Author(s):
Mahantesh Meti, V Appa Rao, Bilifang Daimary, G Sundaresan and Param Debbarma

Abstract:
In present day food safety has become a major concern of human health which possess a great risk due to various food borne illness like diarrhoea, fever, shock etc. The present study reports the presence of food borne pathogens viz. Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli from RTE chicken products collected from street food vendors and fast-food outlets in Chennai, India. The study showed that overall prevalence rate of S. aureus was 20% and 40% and for E. coli, it was 2.5% and 7.5% in RTE chicken products collected from street food vendors and fast-food outlets respectively. Notably, the prevalence rate was higher in RTE chicken products collected from fast-food outlets than street food vendors indicating more post handling- and cross contamination of the finished food product. Hence, mandatory periodical training concerning to food safety and quality before issuance of license to food vendors and time-to-time inspection by Food Safety/Designated Officer are to be considered.