Conventional and Molecular Characterization Based Microbial Assessment of Street Vended (Vada pav) Samples from Anand City, Gujarat, India

Sep 27, 2026

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Street foods offer convenient meal options but can pose serious health risks when hygiene is inadequate. This study evaluates the microbial profile of street vended Vada pav samples from popular locations in Anand city, Gujarat, using conventional culture and molecular characterization by polymerase chain reaction. Duplicate samples were collected from seven locations across five zones in June 2023. Total viable counts and yeast and mold counts were quantified, then S. aureus, B. cereus, E. coli, and Salmonella spp. were identified, with PCR targeting nuc, nheA, phoA, and 16S rRNA genes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

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Journal of Food Quality and Hazards Control 11 (2024) 280-290 Conventional and Molecular Characterization Based Microbial Assessment of Street Vended (Vada pav) Samples from Anand City, Gujarat, India D.P. Mall, V.H. Patel *􀀍 , R. Subhash Post Graduate Department of Home Science, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar-388120, Gujarat, India HIGHLIGHTS 􀂃 The total viable count in Vada pav samples ranged from 3.94 to 6.09 CFU/g, while the Yeast and Mold Count ranged from 1.15 to 2.85 log CFU/g tested in seven different locations. 􀂃 The dominant microbes identified in Vada pav sample, using both methods, were Escherichia coli (42.85%) followed by Bacillus cereus (28.5%) . 􀂃 Staphylococcus aureus (28.5%) was isolated by the conventional culture technique but not confirmed using molecular characterization. 􀂃 Salmonella spp. was not detected in any of the samples. | Article type
Original article | | --- | | Keywords
Molecular Typing Staphylococcus aureus Polymerase Chain Reaction Food Safety
India | | Article history
Received: 31 Mar 2024
Revised: 03 Jul 2024
Accept: 10 Nov 2024 | Abbreviations CFU=Colony Forming Units IMViC=Indole, Methyl Red, Voges–Proskauer, and Citrate MR=Methyl Red PCR=Polymerase Chain Reaction TVC=Total Viable Count VP=Voges Proskauer YMC=Yeast and Mold Count ABSTRACT Background: Street foods offer convenient meal options for the consumer, but pose safety concerns if not handled or served with proper hygiene. The purpose of the present study was the microbial evaluation of street vended Vada pav samples sold at popular locations in Anand city using the conventional culture technique and molecular characterization via Polymerase Chain Reaction. Methods: Duplicate samples were collected from seven different locations (n=14) across five zones: East (2), West (1), North (1), South (1), and Central (2) during June 2023. Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella spp. were isolated and identified. For the microbial screening, bacterial enumeration, colony morphology, Gram's reaction, and biochemical characterization were performed. Amplification of nuc (S. aureus), nheA (B. cereus), phoA (E. coli), and 16S rRNA (Salmonella spp.) genes were carried out via Polymerase Chain Reaction assay. Results: Total Viable Count (TVC) ranged from 3.93 to 6.08 log Colony Forming Units (CFU)/g while the Yeast and Mold Counts ranged from 2.30 to 4.28 log CFU/g. Using the conventional culture technique, the prevalence of S. aureus, B. cereus, and E. coli were found to be 3/14, 2/14, and 3/14, respectively; whereas based on molecular characterization, the prevalence was 0/14, 2/14, and 3/14, respectively. Salmonella spp. was not detected in any of the samples. Conclusion: The study indicates a potential health hazard for consumers due to microbial contamination of street vended Vada pav samples. Consequently, it is crucial to regulate and improve hygienic practices in street food vendors. © 2024, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences. This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. * Corresponding author (T. Zeinali) 􀀍 E-[mail: patelvh2004@yahoo.co.in](mail: patelvh2004@yahoo.co.in) ORCID ID: [https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4080-7899](https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4080-7899) To cite: Mall D.P., Patel V.H., Subhash R. (2024) . Conventional and molecular characterization based microbial assessment of street vended (Vada pav ) samples from Anand city, Gujarat, India. Journal of Food Quality and Hazards Control. 11 : 280-290. | DOI: 10.18502/jfqhc.11.4.17446 | | Journal website: [http://jfqhc.ssu.ac.ir](http://jfqhc.ssu.ac.ir) | | --- | --- | --- | Introduction Street Vended Foods (SVFs) are readily available meals for the consumer. India is famous for its unique street foods which contribute up to 40% of the daily diet of the urban population (Hirani et al., 2019) . Street food

FAQs

What microbial loads were found in the Vada pav samples?

Total viable counts ranged roughly from 3.94 to 6.09 CFU/g, while yeast and mold counts ranged from 1.15 to 2.85 log CFU/g across seven locations. The study also reports log ranges in the abstract for TVC and yeast and mold counts.

Which microorganisms were dominant in the samples based on the study methods?

Escherichia coli was the dominant organism (42.85%), followed by Bacillus cereus (28.5%). Staphylococcus aureus (28.5%) was isolated by conventional culture but was not confirmed by molecular characterization.

Was Salmonella spp. detected in the Vada pav samples?

No. Salmonella spp. was not detected in any of the samples, according to both the highlights and the abstract results.

Sep 27, 2026

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