Herellea (Acinetobacter) and Pseudomonas ovalis (P. putida) from frozen foods.

Seventeen strains of Herellea vaginicola (Acinetobacter antitratus) and 8 of Pseudomonas ovalis (P. putida), isolated from 23 (6.3%) of 364 samples of frozen, foil-pack foods, were identified and characterized morphologically and biochemically. Herellea was isolated from 17 foods (4.7%), P. ovalis from 6 (1.6%). No Mima were found. The food samples included precooked frozen meats, precooked and uncooked frozen vegetables, and uncooked frozen desserts. The bacteria were detected in the food with a procedure used generally for the detection of salmonellae. The pseudomonad simulated the characteristics of Herellea on Sellers differential agar, except for the fact that it fluoresced. From consideration of the habitat and pathogenicity of Herellea and Mima, it is concluded that, although the presence of these bacteria may not be desirable, their significance in food remains unanswered.