Microbiological Quality of Pasta Products Sold in Canada

Abstract

Four hundred and ninety-nine samples of Canadian manufactured pasta and 130 samples of imported pasta were analyzed by standard procedures for aerobic colony counts, Staphylococcus aureus, coliforms and Escherichia coli, Salmonella and yeasts and molds. The microbial quality of these products varied considerably. One imported and two domestic products were contaminated with Salmonella. Based on the analytical results, a three-class plan for microbial guidelines for pasta is proposed in which four parameters determine the acceptability of a product.