Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 10, 2026

Plant-Microbe Interaction: Transcriptional Response of Bacillus Mycoides to Potato Root Exudates
Published on: July 2, 2018
Good Manufacturing Practices and Microbial Contamination Sources in Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato Puree Processing
Derick Nyabera Malavi1,2, Tawanda Muzhingi2, George Ooko Abong'1
1Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053, Nairobi 00625, Kenya.
Abstract:
Limited information exists on the status of hygiene and probable sources of microbial contamination in Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) puree processing. The current study is aimed at determining the level of compliance to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), hygiene, and microbial quality in OFSP puree processing plant in Kenya. Intensive observation and interviews using a structured GMPs checklist, environmental sampling, and microbial analysis by standard microbiological methods were used in data collection. The results indicated low level of compliance to GMPs with an overall compliance score of 58%. Microbial counts on food equipment surfaces, installations, and personnel hands and in packaged OFSP puree were above the recommended microbial safety and quality legal limits. Steaming significantly (P < 0.05) reduced microbial load in OFSP cooked roots but the counts significantly (P < 0.05) increased in the puree due to postprocessing contamination. Total counts, yeasts and molds, Enterobacteriaceae, total coliforms, and E. coli and S. aureus counts in OFSP puree were 8.0, 4.0, 6.6, 5.8, 4.8, and 5.9 log10 cfu/g, respectively. In conclusion, equipment surfaces, personnel hands, and processing water were major sources of contamination in OFSP puree processing and handling. Plant hygiene inspection, environmental monitoring, and food safety trainings are recommended to improve hygiene, microbial quality, and safety of OFSP puree.
Related Concept Videos
Formulation and Manufacturing Process: Physical Attributes of Generic Tablets and Capsules
Plant Hormones
Contaminants and Errors
Another key consideration is determining the appropriate number of samples required to...
Plant Tissue Culture
Steel Manufacturing
During this smelting process, limestone plays a crucial role by forming slag. Slag captures impurities within the molten iron, such...
Plant Breeding and Biotechnology

