Table 2 Escherichia coli cell counts (Log CFU/g, mean±SD) in fresh meats (pork and beef) and fresh-cut lettuce after 0, 4, and 5 h- and 0, 3, 6, and 12 h-enrichment with E. coli (EC) broth

Food matrix TargetedE. coli cell counts(Log CFU/g) Enrichment time (h)
0 3 4 5 6 12
Pork 1 0.7±0.0 -1) 4.7±0.0 5.9±0.5 - -
2 1.5±0.0 - 5.8±0.0 7.1±0.4 - -
3 3.1±0.0 - 6.9±0.0 8.5±0.1 - -
Beef 1 0.8±0.2 - 4.4±0.6 6.0±0.6 - -
2 1.5±0.2 - 6.1±0.1 7.1±0.6 - -
3 3.0±0.0 - 7.3±0.1 8.0±0.2 - -
Fresh-cut lettuce 1 1.0±0.2 4.2±0.2 - - 6.3±0.0 7.2±0.0
2 1.7±0.2 5.5±0.2 - 8.3±0.0 9.0±0.0
3 3.1±0.2 6.5±0.1 - - 8.4±0.0 8.0±0.0
1) Not applied.