Current status of bacterial contamination in foods of boarding meals at schools in Buon Ma Thuot City in the 2023-2024 school year

The cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at 29 primary schools and preschools with boarding kitchens in Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak province in the 2023- 2024 school year. The objectives were to determine the infection rate of bacteria Escherichia coli; Staphylococcus aureus; Bacillus cereus and Salmonella spp. contamination in foods provided during boarding meals at schools participating in the study. The results indicated that 19/29 (63.33%) schools participating in the study had food samples contaminated with microorganisms; There were 33/147 (22.34%) food samples collected at school collective kitchens contaminated with at least 1 microbial indicator out of 4 tested indicators, including 18 food samples (12.24%) infected with Escherichia coli, 11 food samples (7.48%) infected with Staphylococcus aureus, 15 food samples (10.2%) infected with Bacillus cereus and 3 food samples (2.04%) infected with Salmonella spp. 12/147 food samples (8.16%) contaminated with two or more microbial indicators.