A survey of the hygienic quality of market foods in Kandy

A total of 183 samples of consumable items of food and drink exposed for sale in the Kandy Municipal area were subjected to bacteriological examination with regard to its hygienic quality. Only 19 per cent of the samples of ice cream examined were within the limits of the bacteriological standards laid down by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Standards. Other desserts (Fruit salad, Wood-apple cream) show lower mean bacterial densities (Escherichia coli I, faecal streptococci and total viable count) than ice cream. The levels of faecal contamination of the fruit drinks did not vary with the place of preparation. This was due to the low pH. The faecal streptococci appears to be better indicator of faecal contamination than E. coli type 1 under freezing and at low pH.