Klebsiella AND OTHER BACTERIA ON ALFALFA AND BEAN SPROUTS AT THE RETAIL LEVEL

Sprouts from nine producers were sampled from retail outlets and the microbial flora identified. Total aerobic plate counts were 10 8 cells/g; psychrotrophic counts were 10 7 cells/g; lactobacilli and fecal streptococci counts were low. Total coliforms and confirmed Klebsiella counts were each 10 6 cells/g. Fecal coliforms appeared to be part of the normal flora of sprouts (1,100 to 240,000 MPN per 100g). These were primarily K. pneumoniae. Sixty‐four percent of selected K. pneumoniae isolates were fecal coliform positive. The presence of K. pneumoniae in large numbers is a potential public health problem for people with decreased resistance.