Microbiological Assessment of Street Food: A Most Probable Number (MPN) Study on Pani Puri in Nashik

Author(s): Anita U Kadlag, Seema V Gharate, SP Khatal, Madhuri S Divekar and Priya B Thombare

Abstract:

This project reports on the Microbial Assessment of Street Food: A Most Probable Number (MPN) Study on Pani Puri Sample. Pani Puri, a popular Indian street food, poses significant public health risks due to common poor hygiene and sanitation practices. The study's primary objective was to assess the microbiological quality of Pani Puri 'pani' (spicy water) collected from various street vendors. The Most Probable Number (MPN) method was employed to estimate the concentration of coliform bacteria, a critical indicator of fecal contamination. The methodology included the standard three phases: Presumptive Test, Confirmed Test (using Brilliant Green Lactose Bile broth), and Completed Test (using Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) agar) to confirm the presence of fecal coliforms, specifically E. coli. The presumptive test results for four out of five samples showed a high MPN count of >900 per 100 ml, indicating microbial contamination. The Confirmed and Completed tests confirmed the presence of coliforms and growth on EMB plates, respectively. These findings highlight the significant public health risk associated with consuming such street foods, underscoring the urgent need for intervention to improve food safety practices among vendors, particularly concerning the use of unsafe water and poor personal hygiene.

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