Consumer group issues fruit juice safety warning

The Consumers' Foundation warned the public yesterday to be extra careful when buying fresh fruit juice in the Taipei area.

The foundation sampled 30 fresh orange juice, watermelon juice and sugarcane juice products in the area in May. Of the juices tested, 27 had germ counts exceeding acceptable levels, two contained Escherichia (E. coli) and eight contained staphylococcus aureus.

Yeh An-I (葉安義), a professor at National Taiwan University's Institute of Food Science and Technology, noted that germ counts above normal levels indicate contamination of produce or water.

For example, using unboiled water in production and failure to clean the fruit skin properly can both result in high germ counts in fresh juice, Yeh said.

While the presence of enterobacteriaceae indicates inadequate hygiene in the production process, E. coli shows contamination by feces, and can induce diarrhea and vomiting in those who ingest the products, he said.

Meanwhile, the main source of contamination with staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that causes food poisoning, is people who have ailments such as skin complaints and festering wounds, Yeh said.

He said fresh fruit juice not consumed immediately should be refrigerated at below 5?C.

Fresh fruit juice should not be consumed after being at room temperature for more than two hours, he said.