Orange juice, contamination, science, health
Scientists from the University of Valencia in Spain have recently concluded a rather interesting new health science study. By analyzing juicers and squeezing machines in a number of cafes and catering establishments, they were able to examine the level of bacterial presence in the juice that these machines produced. While it’s almost a given that a few of the machines will be dirtier than is acceptable, the level of overall bacterial contamination may surprise you.
The scientists examined the orange juice that came out of the machines and found that 43% of the samples exceeded the legally allowable level of contamination. While one or two machines may have represented an allowable anomaly, 43% is a number that is far too high for comfort. They recommend that oranges be handled properly, that juicers be thoroughly cleaned a properly maintained, and that fresh-squeezed juice be served immediately rather than being stored.
Orange juice is a common beverage in many places, and though it is often served from sealed jugs or made from a concentrate, many catering services and high end restaurants make it a point of pride to squeeze their own juice. Likewise, many private individuals have juicers or similar devices in their own homes, meaning that this new science may serve to help a great number of people.
The type of bacteria that proved to be the most common source of contamination is called the enterobacteriaceae family; a family that contains a number of food-borne pathogens, including salmonella and e-coli. What’s more, Staphylococcus aureusand Salmonella cultures were found in 1% and 0.5% of the samples respectively. Storing the juice for any significant amount of time only makes it worse; when the juice had been stored in jugs, a shocking 81% of the tested samples were found to have too much enterobacteriaceae bacteria. Note that when the juice was immediately served, that number dropped all the way down to 22%.
The science behind these levels of contamination is really not all that surprising. Juicers and mixers have a lot of moving parts and are designed with a great deal of surface area. They also have a lot of holes and corners. All of these characteristics can easily provide a haven for bacteria is they are not routinely and thoroughly cleaned. The oranges that are passed through the machines, even if they’ve been properly handled, will pick up the bacteria and transmit it to the people who drink the juice.
Orange juice fans need not despair however; the benefits of drinking orange juice are well documented and the drink itself won’t be going anywhere. However, a few precautionary measures ensure that those who insist on having their beverages freshly squeezed need not concern themselves with contamination.
Great pains need to be taken to make sure that juicers are properly cleaned and disinfected. After juicing an orange, it’s generally better to consume it right away rather than storing the drink for a long time. However, should you want to store the drink, make sure that the container it’s in has also been properly washed and disinfected.