Vegetable raw materials are a source of flavoring and physiologically valuable ingredients, therefore, they are used in the manufacture of food products. Raw materials can be contaminated with microorganisms at any stage of cultivation, harvesting, processing, packaging, distribution, etc. The purpose of the research is to assess the microbial contamination of peppermint leaves sold in the pharmacy chain, to verify that these indicators comply with the requirements of regulatory documentation. The first, second and third samples were packed in cardboard packs, and the fourth and fifth samples were packed in filter bags and cardboard packs. The studies used standard test methods. As a result of the research, it was found that in the first and second samples the number of mesophilic aerobic and facultative anaerobic microorganisms did not exceed the values regulated by the current regulatory documentation, in the third, fourth and fifth samples it exceeded 2.3, 1.3 and 7.3 times, respectively. The number of colonies of mold fungi (spoilage microorganisms) in the studied samples did not exceed the regulated values. The study of mycobiota showed that isolates of the genus Stemphylium dominated in the first sample, isolates of the genus Cladosporium dominated in the second and fourth samples, isolates of the genus Aspergillus – the third sample, and isolates of the genus Penicillium – in the fifth sample. In all studied samples, bacteria of the Escherichia coli group (coliforms) and Bacillus cereus, as well as yeast, were not found. Consequently, the third, fourth and fifth samples cannot be used either for direct consumption or in the manufacture of food products. The results of the work indicate the need for a systematic and regular assessment of the microbiological risk of dried plant materials.

Chekryga Galina P., Golub Olga V., Paymulina Anastasia V., Motovilov Oleg K.

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