Study of Microbiological Quality of Biscuits from Street Side Bakery Shops at Dehradun City, India

Abstract

In the present study, microbiological quality of biscuits from street side bakery shops at Dehardun city, India was conducted. A total 11 samples of bakery biscuits were collected randomly and analysed for their microbiologically quality by standard plate count method. Pure cultures of bacterial isolates were prepared by streaking on nutrient agar medium. Bacterial isolates were further studied for morphological characters, culture characters on nutrient agar medium and biochemical testes in laboratory. All samples studies were found contaminated by a variety of bacteria. The highest bacterial load was 2.2 ×105 cfu/g and lowest was 0.1×103 cfu/g, respectively. Morphological observation, culture characters and results of biochemical tests of bacterial isolates were compared with standard results of known bacteria. The bacterial isolated were identified as Alcaligenes faecalis, Bacillus cereus, Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus lactis and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. Among these, two isolates i.e., A. faecalis and P. aeruginosa were gram negative and other isolates were gram positive bacteria which suggested the poor hygienic conditions inside the bakery during preparation and storage of biscuits. Gram positive bacteria might be contaminated during storage and by bad handling. These food spoiling bacteria might be responsible for food-borne infection and diseases. Therefore, care should be taken while purchasing such products and should be purchased from certified bakery shop.