| Abstrakt: |
Eleven species of spherical lactic acid bacteria (LAB) belonging to the genera Leuconostoc, Lactococcus, Enterococcus and Pediococcus were the predominant microorganisms in 40 samples of turmus, ready-to-eat lupin seeds debittered by boiling and soaking in water. The average counts of the LAB in the 20 winter samples and the 20 summer samples were 7.4 and 8.7 log CFU/g, respectively. The averages of the Enterobacteriaceae counts were 5.1 and 6.6 log CFU/g, respectively, and the 11 species isolated belonged to the genera Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Escherichia and Klebsiella. The average yeast counts in winter and summer samples were 3 and 3.2 log CFU/g, respectively, and the 5 species isolated were in the genera Saccharomyces, Cryptococcus, Rhodotorula and Candida. Although Salmonella was not isolated from any sample and the Staphylococcus aureus count in all samples was < 1 log CFU/g, microbial hazards could be associated with the high Enterobacteriaceae counts and the presence of Escherichia coli. Total alkaloid concentration in 30% of the samples examined was higher than 0.02%, thus making the seeds a potential chemical hazard. Boiling the turmus directly before consumption and discarding the seeds with a bitter taste may help in avoiding some of the microbial and chemical hazards which could be associated with turmus consumption. |
