Evaluación de la calidad microbiológica de ceviches y encebollados de pescado vendidos de forma ambulante en la ciudad de Cuenca-Ecuador

Abstract

This study carried out the evaluation of the microbiological quality of ceviches and encebollado sold on the street informally, in Cuenca, Ecuador by vendors did not register in the GAD Municipal in the period from December 2017 to January 2018. Six encebollados and 32 ceviches were analyzed using Compact Dry® plates for aerobes mesophylls, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, while Salmonella spp. was determined by the Reveal 2.0 test. The compliance of the microbiological parameters was verified according to the Peruvian norm NTS No-071 MINSA / DIGESA-V-01. Among the samples of encebollado and ceviches analyzed, the 83,4% and 90,6%, respectively do not conform to the microbiological criteria established in the regulations. These results showed that the food has a high index of microbial contamination; even the presence of pathogenic microorganisms as Salmonella spp and V. parahaemolyticus that affect the safety of the food was found; therefore, it constitutes a health problem for the consumers. As part of this project, a joint training was carried out with the “Control Municipal”, a public office, from Cuenca it was addressed to the street vendors of ceviches and encebollados, so it was about good practices of handling food with the aim of reinforcing their knowledge, raising awareness about the risks involved in food preparation; consequently, the idea is to minimize the occurrence of foodborne diseases in the environment.