Also, this study found high microbial loads in RTE vegetables that could serve as an indicator for the need to promote awareness on the critical areas commonly identified in SMEs and as guidance for local authorities to target those that may mostly affect the safety of fresh vegetables. It underscored the considerable requisite for mprovement in sanitary and good hygienic practices and for vigilant cleaning and sanitation procedures to reduce or eliminate contamination and cross-contamination risks that may occur at pre-farm gate and throughout the supply chain stages. Therefore, applications of critical control points for the preparation of fresh salad vegetables and personnel training on the hazards associated
with their preparation are fundamentals to improve the food safety of fresh produce particularly when prepared in small working facilities in SMEs.