A survey of the microbial population and ethanol content of bagged salad

Five nationally and regionally distributed brands of ready-to-eat salads in sealed bags were sampled from major supermarket chains. At time of purchase, product temperature was 4 to 7 degrees C; the mean mesophilic microbial population was 1.0 x 10(7) CFU/g; the yeast population was 210 CFU/g; the mean headspace O-2 and CO2 concentrations were 1.2 and 12%, respectively; and the ethanol content was 700 ppm. For samples analyzed on the expiration date (14 to 16 days after packaging) the mean mesophilic microbial population was 6 x 10(7) CFU/g; ethanol content was 1,500 ppm; and the headspace gas had not markedly changed from time of purchase.