First study in the Caribbean on molecular characterization and AMR of indicator and opportunistic Enterobacteriaceae from Chadon Beni (Eryngium foetidum), a widely consumed Caribbean culinary herb

Chadon beni ( Eryngium foetidum ) is a culinary herb grown in Trinidad and Tobago that is widely consumed in raw or minimally processed forms but there is no known scientific information on its microbiological quality and any associated public health risks. This study represents the first molecular characterization and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiling of Enterobacteriaceae (38 isolates) associated with chadon beni sold across North, Central, and South markets in Trinidad. A total of 90 samples were collected from roadside markets and supermarkets and analyzed for total aerobic plate counts (TAC), total coliforms, molecular identification, and antimicrobial susceptibility as a preliminary study. The results revealed high microbial loads, as TAC ranged from 7.10 to 7.76 log 10 CFU/g and total coliforms from 5.62 to 7.11 log 10 CFU/g, indicating contamination and hygiene concerns. Microbial loads differed significantly among the six region–vendor groups ( p < 0.001), with South roadside samples recording the highest median TAC and North roadside samples the lowest median TAC and total coliform counts. Molecular identification using 16S rRNA sequencing confirmed the presence of diverse Enterobacteriaceae and environmental or opportunistic taxa, including Klebsiella pneumoniae , Enterobacter spp., and Citrobacter spp., revealing noticeable spatial variability across sites. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed ampicillin resistance was observed in 9/12 (75.0%) of the tested isolates. These findings highlight that chadon beni can serve as a potential vehicle for exposure to opportunistic and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. This underscores the need for reinforced food safety practices across the production and supply chain, including improved hygiene, monitoring, and risk-based management approaches within Caribbean agri-food systems.