Main Barriers in Reducing Microbial Load in Raw Vegetables Served on Brazilian School Menus
, Emanuele Batistela dos Santos 2, Gabriel Teles Câmara 1, Ester Cardoso Paes Rose 1, Pedro Tourinho Dantas 1, Raquel Braz Assunção Botelho 1 and Verônica Cortez Ginani 1,*
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript describes a survey of real data in public schools in Brazil. The objective is to see if hygiene standards are met in the provision of raw vegetables to students. The methodology is suitable for this type of work, which is not a research and/or development work, but to see what happens in reality regarding whether or not the established hygiene standards are respected. The English is good but needs some corrections related to bacterial taxonomy. The results, rather discouraging, are shown in two tables that need some adjustments. The results are of regional interest and there are some limitations in the study that are well recognized by the authors. What should be adjusted is detailed below:
- Table 1, seventh column: as they appear in columns 3 and 4, the units (log CFU/g) should be written in the table header
. If we assume that a table or figure should be able to be interpreted without having to go to the text, in the current version of the Table I do not understand what "%" and "n" mean in the last columns. Please clarify in the table footer. Improve the expression "water coliforms"
- The Discussion, which is almost 3 pages long, is too long. It should be shortened a bit to be more user-friendly since several concepts are repeated, some of which also appear in the Introduction
Comments on the Quality of English Language
- Italics for genus and species. Check References
- line 40: "...related to (5-7)." ?
- line 43: the first time the 3 species are cited in the text, they are written in full. Then they are cited in abbreviated form. Check this item throughout the text
- "Coli" appears in almost the entire text. Replace with "coli"
- line 139: E. coli, in italics
Author Response
Dear Editor and reviewers,
Thank you for the opportunity. Please see below the responses to reviewer's comments. The revised manuscript highlights all the changes using the "Track Changes" function in Microsoft Word.
- Table 1, seventh column: as they appear in columns 3 and 4, the units (log CFU/g) should be written in the table header
Answer: Changes were made to comply with the request.
. If we assume that a table or figure should be able to be interpreted without having to go to the text, in the current version of the Table I do not understand what "%" and "n" mean in the last columns. Please clarify in the table footer. Improve the expression "water coliforms".
Answer: Changes were made to comply with the request.
- The Discussion, which is almost 3 pages long, is too long. It should be shortened a bit to be more user-friendly since several concepts are repeated, some of which also appear in the Introduction
Answer: Changes were made to comply with the request.
Comments on the Quality of English Language
- Italics for genus and species. Check References
Answer: Changes were made to comply with the request.
- line 40: "...related to (5-7)." ?
Answer: The term absent was included to give meaning to the sentence.
- line 43: the first time the 3 species are cited in the text, they are written in full. Then they are cited in abbreviated form. Check this item throughout the text
Answer: Changes were made to comply with the request.
- "Coli" appears in almost the entire text. Replace with "coli"
Answer: Changes were made to comply with the request.
- line 139: E. coli, in italics
Answer: Changes were made to comply with the request.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis is a relatively small sample size of schools for the whole country and perhaps should be considered more of an initial study to be further fleshed out with more emphasis on the sanitation practices (correct use of sanitizer, etc.). Also, the micro analysis could be enhanced with the use of multiplex PCR methodology for detecting any virulent strains. This could be paralleled with a separate KAP study to understand where the gaps are for improving training. The authors admit the limitations for developing training programs for food handlers.
Line 40. Maybe clarify these have occurred in various countries and only some in Brazil. “Outbreaks have been linked to the consumption”
Lines 65-66. Dangling participle, no subject for considering. “Considering the characteristics and number of students served in School Food Services (SFS), it becomes a priority environment for public health policies.” Same here in lines 77 and 78: “In a new analysis, considering the period from 2014 to 2023, it ranked third, representing 12.5% (n=856) of reported outbreaks [14].” Maybe drop considering the period.
Line 71. Clarify the meaning of “…due to the vulnerability of the public and the proportion that an outbreak can reach.”
Line 86. Does a worrying reality refer back to the outbreaks and research finding previously documented, or to something else? Clarify.
Line 116. Clarify meaning of conditioned in “samples were conditioned”. Maybe collected?
Line 119. Check spelling of coli and ™ in PetrifilmTM Escherichia Coli/Coliforms. Website has 3M™ Petrifilm™ Rapid E. coli/Coliform Count Plate. Same in line 139 Escherichia Coli?
Line 125. Foods not Food.
Line 215. The results cannot generate outbreaks as is stated.
Comments on the Quality of English Language
There are some unusual expressions that need correcting, and these are mentioned in the comments to the authors' section.
Author Response
Dear Editor and reviewers,
Thank you for the opportunity. Please see below the responses to reviewer's comments. The revised manuscript highlights all the changes using the "Track Changes" function in Microsoft Word.
Line 40. Maybe clarify these have occurred in various countries and only some in Brazil. “Outbreaks have been linked to the consumption”.
Answer: Changes were made to comply with the request.
Lines 65-66. Dangling participle, no subject for considering. “Considering the characteristics and number of students served in School Food Services (SFS), it becomes a priority environment for public health policies.” Same here in lines 77 and 78: “In a new analysis, considering the period from 2014 to 2023, it ranked third, representing 12.5% (n=856) of reported outbreaks [14].” Maybe drop considering the period.
Answer: Changes were made to comply with the request.
Line 71. Clarify the meaning of “…due to the vulnerability of the public and the proportion that an outbreak can reach.”
Answer: Changes were made to comply with the request.
Line 86. Does a worrying reality refer back to the outbreaks and research finding previously documented, or to something else? Clarify.
Answer: Changes were made to comply with the request.
Line 116. Clarify meaning of conditioned in “samples were conditioned”. Maybe collected?
Answer: Changes were made to comply with the request.
Line 119. Check spelling of coli and ™ in PetrifilmTM Escherichia Coli/Coliforms. Website has 3M™ Petrifilm™ Rapid E. coli/Coliform Count Plate. Same in line 139 Escherichia Coli?
Answer: The excerpts have been changed for clarity. They are not the same method.
Line 125. Foods not Food.
Answer: Changes were made to comply with the request.
Line 215. The results cannot generate outbreaks as is stated.
Answer: The text was changed to express the real proposed meaning:
The results could have generated outbreaks of foodborne illness, as even though they were isolated inadequacies, they could have compromised food safety and consequently affected student performance (school attendance, absence from classes) (Line 230).
