E.coli in meat a big concern
The assessment was carried out by purchasing chicken and mutton from about 50 retail stores in Hyderabad
Hyderabad: It is not just street food, but even meat bought from city stores can give you stomach trouble.
An assessment of the quality of meat purchased from retail stores in Hyderabad showed more than half of the samples had bacteria like E.coli and Staphylococcus.
Chicken is the most affected as the study claimed that only about a third of the chicken sold was fit to be consumed as per international standards.
The assessment was carried out by purchasing chicken and mutton from about 50 retail stores in Hyderabad.
The study was carried out by researchers led by Dr P. Ramya, assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Science in Proddatur in YSR Kadapa district, along with others from various colleges of Veterinary Science in Hyderabad, Karimnagar and Krishna districts.
It revealed that only 36 per cent of chicken samples had TVC of microorganisms within acceptable limits, as prescribed by the International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods. Total Viable Count is the indicator of the number of microorganism colonies in a food sample.
Almost 76 per cent of chicken samples had E.coli bacteria while 64 per cent mutton samples had the same. Scientists also found Staphylococcus bacteria in 52 per cent of chicken samples and 64 per cent of mutton samples. Salmonella, however, was not found in chicken samples though four per cent of the mutton samples had it.
Complete absence of E.coli is recommended in food. The bacteria can cause food poisoning and diarrhoea with its worst forms can cause kidney failure and even death.