Prevalence of Salmonella on Tomatoes from Organic and Conventional Production in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)

Introduction: Outbreaks of salmonellosis associated with tomatoes have been related over the past fifteen years. Tomatoes may become surface contaminated with Salmonella spp. from production to consumption.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of Salmonella spp. on tomatoes surface from organic and conventional production. Samples were collected in the street vendors and supermarkets, and analyzed by two methods; the mini-VIDAS SLM assay a specific enzyme-linked fluorescent immunoassay (ELFA) rapid method and the conventional FDA BAM.

Methods: A total of 263 tomatoes were collected during a two-year (2010-2012) survey. A hundred twenty-seven were from organic production, 61 from supermarkets and 66 from street vendors. From conventional production 136 samples were collected, being 84 from supermarkets and 52 from street vendors. All samples were simultaneously surface analyzed by mini-VIDAS SLM and FDA BAM.

 Results: Salmonella spp. was not detected by the conventional method and two false positives were found by mini-VIDAS SLM.

 Significance: Surface tomatoes from organic and conventional production analyzed in the city of Rio de Janeiro showed no potential Salmonella risk to their consumption.