Coliforms and Enterobacteriaceae isolates from selected foods

Coliform and Enterobacteriaceae were obtained from 5 food products, using violet red bile agar (VRB) and VRB+1% glucose (VRBG). About 80% of VRB isolates from mechanically deboned poultry (MDPM) and from broiler skin met all criteria for fecal coliforms; only 36.5% and 62.5%, respectively, of VRBG isolates met these criteria. Less than 10% of VRB and VRBG isolates from ground beef, pork sausage, or chicken pot pie produced gas in LST broth. Fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli (TYPE I or II) percentages among 179 VRB isolates were 34.1% and 33.5% ; among 193 VRBG isolates, corresponding numbers were 20.7% and 19.7%. E. Coli was the predominant species isolated from MDPM and broiler skin; Enterobacter agglomerans from pork sausage and chicken pot pie; and Serratia liquifaciens predominated in ground beef