Research of Microbiological Quality Properties in Dried Fruit Samples

In this research the aim was to determine microbiological quality in dried apricot, fig, black grape, white grape, apple, plum, and mulberry samples. Dried fruit samples were examined by standard analysis methods in terms of total mesophilic aerob bacteria, coliform, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus-Micrococcus spp., mould-yeast and sulphide reducing anaerobic bacteria. E. coli (10%) and sulphide reducing anaerobic bacteria (10%) were only detected in dried black grape samples. S. aureus was only detected in dried plum (20%) and dried mulberry (10%) samples. All of the analyzed dried fruit samples were within the acceptable limits according to Turkish Food Codex in terms of yeast and mold. By this study it was determined that analyzed dried fruit samples do not threat public health. However, presence of pathogen and hygiene indicator microorganisms in the analyzed samples makes us think that bad preservation conditions may cause problems in terms of public health