Microbiological Quality of Cream-Type Pies During Processing.

In-line samples of crust, filling and topping were collected from pies being prepared by all U.S. firms making frozen cream-type pies for interstate distribution. All firms adhered to Good Manufacturing Practices, as determined by visual inspection. Geometric mean aerobic plate count values were generally low for crust, filling and topping, ranging from 49 CFU/g for topping containing dairy ingredients as it was deposited onto the pie filling to 2400 CFU/g for filling containing dairy ingredients as it was deposited into the crust of the pie. Geometric mean coliform, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus values were generally lower than the limits of detection, which were 3/g for coliforms and E. coli and 10/g for S. aureus .