Abstract:
The prominence of disease transmission between individuals in confined environments is a concern,
particularly in the educational environment. With respect to school feeding schemes, food contact surfaces
have been shown to be potential vehicles of foodborne pathogens. The aim of this study was to assess
the cleanliness of the surfaces that come into contact with food that is provided to children through the
National School Nutrition Programme in central South Africa. In each school under study, microbiological
samples were collected from the preparation surface and the dominant hand and apron of the food handler.
The samples were analysed for total viable counts, coliforms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and
yeasts and moulds. The criteria specified in the British Columbia Guide for Environmental Health Officers
were used to evaluate the results. Total viable counts were high for all surfaces, with the majority of colonies
being too numerous to count (over 100 colonies per plate). Counts of organisms were relatively low, with
20% of the surfaces producing unsatisfactory enumeration of S. aureus and E. coli and 30% unsatisfactory
for coliforms. Yeast and mould produced 50% and 60% unsatisfactory counts from preparation surfaces and
aprons, respectively. Statistically significant differences could not be established amongst microbial counts
of the surfaces, which suggests cross-contamination may have occurred. Contamination may be attributed
to foodstuffs and animals in the vicinity of the preparation area rather than to the food handlers, because
hands had the lowest counts of enumerated organisms amongst the analysed surfaces.
