Microbiological Quality and Shelf Life Studies of Ready to Eat (RTE) Halal Burgers Sold at Street Stalls Around Kuantan City, Pahang

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate RTE halal burgers' microbiological quality and determine their shelf life.  A total of 68 samples were randomly purchased from street stalls around Kuantan city as convenience selected samples and examined for Total Plate Count (TPC), presumptive S. aureus count and presumptive E. coli count. For the shelf-life study, 14 samples were purchased at one time from one street stall and the analyses of TPC and presumptive S. aureus count were performed at seven intervals of holding times. The results showed that all samples have low to medium risks with TPC <3.0x10³ cfu/g and presumptive S. aureus count range between 0.1x10² – 3.3 x10³ cfu/g. In addition, Presumptive E. coli were not detected in all samples. Therefore, halal RTE street burgers have low to medium risks even though they were left at ambient temperature up to 24 hours of shelf life.