Microbial Quality of Pasteurized Fruit Juices Sold in Supermarkets in Ibadan, Oyo State

Commercially pasteurized fruit juices are typically expected to meet defined microbiological safety standards, yet product integrity can be compromised by post-pasteurization contamination, packaging failure, or temperature abuse during distribution. This study evaluated the microbiological quality of pasteurized fruit juices (orange, pineapple, and mixed fruit variants) from six brands sold in supermarkets in Ibadan, Oyo State, South West Nigeria. A total of 72 juice samples were collected and analyzed for aerobic mesophilic counts, yeast and mold counts, presence of E. coli, Salmonella species, and Listeria monocytogenes following ISO 4833 and relevant Codex Alimentarius standards. Results showed that 27.8 percent of samples exceeded acceptable microbial limits for commercial juices. Yeast and mold contamination was highest in products approaching or past expiry dates. E. coli was detected in 8.3 percent of samples, while Listeria monocytogenes was confirmed in 4.2 percent of mixed fruit products. Packages with compromised seals or visible deformation had significantly higher contamination rates. Temperature monitoring during supermarket storage revealed frequent cold chain violations with products stored above recommended temperatures. These findings indicate that regulatory inspections must extend beyond manufacturer-level compliance to encompass retail handling, cold chain management, and shelf-life integrity verification. Keywords: fruit juices, microbiological quality, Listeria monocytogenes, pasteurization, cold chain.