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Mold in Fruit Nectars and Infant Fruit Purees.
Ruth Bandler1, John S Gecan1, John C Atkinson1
1Division of Microbiology, Food and Drug Administration, Washington, DC 20204.
Mold contamination in fruit products was assessed. Apricot nectar showed the highest mold levels (1.5%), while pear puree had the lowest (0.5%), indicating variations in food safety across fruit-based items.
Area of Science:
- Food Science
- Microbiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Mold contamination is a concern in fruit products.
- Howard mold count is a standard method for assessing mold levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine mold contamination levels in commercial nectars and infant purees.
- To assess apricot, peach, and pear products for mold presence.
Main Methods:
- National retail market survey.
- Analysis of 1987 samples of fruit nectars and purees.
- Howard mold count method used for quantification.
Main Results:
- Mean mold counts: Apricot nectar 1.5%, Peach nectar 1.2%, Pear nectar 1.1%, Apricot puree 1.0%, Peach puree 0.9%, Pear puree 0.5%.
- Varied mold contamination ranges were observed across all products.
- Apricot nectar exhibited the highest mean mold count.
Conclusions:
- Mold contamination is present in commercial fruit nectars and purees.
- Significant variations in mold levels exist between different fruit products.
- Further investigation into sources of contamination and mitigation strategies is warranted.
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