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Worldwide, there are a large number of retailers in popular markets offering fresh orange juice, which is preferred for its nutritional and health value. Incorrect management during the preparation, the presence of pests, and inadequate environmental conditions can affect the microbiological quality of the juices sold in popular markets and can even make them a reservoir for enteropathogenic bacteria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbiological quality and presence of enteropathogenic bacteria in freshly prepared orange juice sold in popular markets, by quantifying the fungi, yeasts, aerobic mesophilic bacteria, and total and fecal coliforms. The fecal colonies were subjected to tests to confirm the presence of enteropathogenic bacteria. The results showed that none of the juice sold at popular markets had fungi, while all of them had yeasts, mesophilic bacteria, and total coliforms, and only 14% did not present fecal coliforms. The identification of the fecal bacteria was positive for E. coli and Salmonella. The microbiological quality of the orange juices sold in popular markets needs to be improved, since the high microbial load makes them a health risk.

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