ABSTRACT 1
This study determined the microbiological and chemical quality of ice produced and 2 bagged on-premises in retail establishments and in free-standing self-service ice vending 3 machines in the state of Georgia and compared the results with that from ice produced by 4 manufacturing companies monitored by the International Packaged Ice Association (IPIA). Two 5 hundred and fifty bags of packaged ice samples were obtained from retail locations and self-6 service ice vending machines, along with 25 bags of packaged manufactured ice. Ice samples 7 were melted within 24 h of collection and HPC SimPlates® were used to detect heterotrophic 8 bacteria present. Colisure® and Enterolert® assays were used to enumerate coliforms, non-9 pathogenic E. coli and enterococci. Membrane filtration coupled with enrichment was used to 10 detect Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. Confirmation tests were done for presumptive 11 positive pathogens. None of the manufactured ice had unacceptable microbial levels. Six 12 percent of the ice samples bagged at retail sites and from ice vending machines contained 13 unsatisfactory levels of heterotrophs compared to the limits set by the IPIA (≥500 MPN/100ml). 14 Thirty-seven percent of these samples contained an unsatisfactory level of coliforms (≥1.0 15 MPN/100 ml), 1% contained nonpathogenic E. coli and 13% contained enterococci (≥1.0 16 MPN/100 ml). One sample tested positive for the presence of Salmonella and another positive 17 for Enterobacter agglomerans. Ninety-five (38%) samples of packaged ice from retail 18 establishments and vending machines had pH levels outside the acceptable range which can 19 affect product flavor. Turbidity of 3 samples exceeded acceptable level. No samples had 20 unacceptable nitrate levels. Manufactured ice had better microbiological and chemical quality 21 than ice packaged on the premises of retail locations and from self-serve ice vending machines.