Study on the current status of exposure to pathogenic microorganisms and consumers' interest in milk tea

Abstract

The assurance of food safety is paramount, especially concerning ready-to-drink products like milk tea. This research sought to gauge the safety perceptions of both student and office worker demographics towards this beverage using a combination of direct and online surveys. The data reveals that 84.6% of respondents express significant concerns about hygiene and safety standards within milk tea consumption. A substantial portion of these consumers indicates a willingness to expend between 2-4 USD per serving. Alarmingly, analyses of several popular milk tea brands have identified considerable concentrations of pathogenic microorganisms: Coliform counts were observed at 10⁸, E. Coli at 10¹⁰, Pseudomonas at 10⁸, and Salmonella at 10⁴ (CFU/mL). A primary suspected avenue of this microbiological contamination appears to be ice, which exhibits levels exceeding nationally stipulated safety thresholds.