Bacterial pathogens and indicators in dried fruit and vegetable powders for smoothies - April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023

The survey was conducted to generate information on the quality and safety of dried fruit and vegetable powders for smoothies sold at retail in Canada. Similar surveys were conducted from 2014 to 2018 of dried sprouted seeds^{Footnote 2} and from 2016 to 2018 of seed powders and plant-based protein powders^{Footnote 3}.

The consumption of dried fruit and vegetable powders have grown in popularity as a convenient and healthy means of adding nutrients to smoothies and other foods. As a result, an increasing variety of dried fruit and vegetable products have appeared on the Canadian retail marketplace.

A variety of fruits and vegetables are used to make dried powders^{Footnote 4},^{Footnote 5} and their production involves several steps post-harvest. Once the fruits and vegetables are prepared (washed, peeled, sliced), they are then dried using various drying or dehydration techniques^{Footnote 6},^{Footnote 7} and then milled into a powder.

Unfortunately, plant-based powders have been associated with recalls^{Footnote 8} and foodborne illness outbreaks^{Footnote 8}. Contamination with bacterial pathogens can occur at any step in the food supply chain such as during primary production, harvest, processing, and/or packaging. Also, as these products are low moisture foods, bacterial pathogens can survive for extended periods of time^{Footnote 6}. Consequently, if pathogens are present, there is a potential for foodborne illness as dried fruit and vegetable powders for smoothies are RTE.

The survey was conducted over a 1-year period from April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023.

Samples were collected from national retail chains and local/regional grocery stores located in the following 6 major cities across Canada:

• Quebec City
• Montreal
• Toronto
• Ottawa
• Vancouver
• Calgary

The planned number of samples to be collected from each city was based on the population of the province in which the city was located relative to the total population of Canada.

A total of 71 dried fruit and vegetable powder samples which were labeled for use in smoothies or beverages were collected. A sample consisted of a single or multiple consumer sized packages of the same lot weighing at least 150g.

All samples were tested for Salmonella spp., E. coli O157 and generic E. coli. Salmonella spp., and E. coli O157 are pathogenic bacteria while generic E. coli is an indicator of the overall hygienic and sanitary conditions under which the samples have been produced, processed, stored, and transported.

Samples were analyzed using analytical methods published in Health Canada's Compendium of Analytical Methods for the Microbiological Analysis of Foods^{Footnote 9} that were appropriate for the testing of dried fruit and vegetable powders.

The samples were assessed using criteria based on the principles of Health Canada's Health Products and Food Branch Standards and Guidelines for Microbiological Safety of Food – An Interpretive Summary^{Footnote 10}, the Food and Drugs Act^{Footnote 11} (Section 4(1)), and guidelines developed by international food safety authorities^{Footnote 12},^{Footnote 13}.

No assessment guidelines had been established in Canada for the presence of Salmonella spp., E. coli O157 or indicator organisms in dried fruit and vegetable powders at the time of writing this report.

As Salmonella spp. and E. coli O157 are considered pathogenic to humans, the presence of either organism would be assessed as unsatisfactory as this might be considered a violation of the Food and Drugs Act^{Footnote 11} Section 4(1)a.

Unlike bacterial pathogens, most strains of generic E. coli are harmless. Generic E. coli is considered to be an indicator organism as their levels present in a food product are used to assess the overall sanitation conditions throughout the food chain from production to the point of sale. Their presence at some levels is tolerated, however elevated levels were assessed as investigative, possibly resulting in further follow-up actions.

All 100% of the samples tested were found to be satisfactory. Salmonella spp., E. coli O157 and generic E. coli (>10² MPN/g) were not found in any of the samples.

Survey results are also presented by production practice (table 3), origin (table 4), and product type (table 5).

Previously published Canadian studies^{Footnote 2},^{Footnote 3} investigated the microbiological quality and safety of similar products. All of the samples in the current study were found to be satisfactory, while 97%^{Footnote 2} and 98%^{Footnote 3} of the samples in the previous studies were found to be satisfactory. Differences in the % satisfactory rate between studies are most likely due to differences between product types tested.

Overall, our survey results indicate that dried fruit and vegetable powders for smoothies sold in Canada is generally safe for consumption. However, as with all foods, and especially with those that are RTE, good hygienic practices are recommended for producers, retailers, and consumers.

All results are used to:

• inform risk management decisions
• support program design and re-design

The data will be accessible on the Open Government Portal.