The researchers examined 14 cabbage samples and 14 cucumber samples. All 28 samples tested negative, producing an observed STH contamination prevalence of 0 percent. The study was published in Volume 5, No. 8 of the journal in 2026, although the article does not provide an exact date for sample collection. It states that sampling was conducted on a sunny day.
Why Raw Vegetables Matter in Parasitic Infection Risk
Cabbage and cucumber are commonly served as lalapan, or raw vegetable side dishes, in Indonesia. Unlike cooked vegetables, they are not subjected to a heating process that could kill organisms attached to their surfaces.
STH refers to intestinal parasitic worms that use soil as part of their transmission cycle. The species commonly associated with Indonesia include Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Ancylostoma duodenale, and Necator americanus. These infections can become chronic and may not immediately produce obvious symptoms.
The concern is supported by previous research. Earlier studies reported STH contamination in raw vegetables sold in several Indonesian cities. Research in Bekasi found STH eggs in 25 percent of cabbage samples, while a study in Medan reported contamination of 8.3 percent in cabbage. Research in Palembang detected STH eggs in six of 12 cucumber samples collected from street food vendors and two of six samples collected from restaurants.
The situation in Samarinda was less documented, particularly for vegetables already being served as lalapan at food stalls. The researchers therefore examined cabbage and cucumber sold near an elementary school in Samarinda Seberang, an area with considerable food-vendor activity and potential exposure among school-age children.
Researchers Examined 28 Vegetable Samples
Mutia Maulani, Agus Evendi, Aliful Karim, and Lamri used a descriptive observational design with a cross-sectional approach. Samples were collected from two lalapan food stalls around SDN 016 Samarinda Seberang and examined at the Parasitology Laboratory of the Medical Laboratory Technology Department at Poltekkes Kemenkes Kalimantan Timur.
The two stalls were selected because they served lalapan vegetables every day. Of four identified food stalls, one had closed and another did not consistently serve lalapan. The final sample consisted of seven cabbage samples and seven cucumber samples from each stall.
For laboratory testing, the researchers used the sedimentation method. Each 50-gram vegetable sample was soaked in 500 milliliters of 0.2 percent sodium hydroxide solution for 30 minutes. Part of the soaking liquid was then centrifuged, and the resulting sediment was examined under a microscope at 10× and 40× magnification for STH eggs.
The approach allowed the researchers to determine whether recognizable STH egg structures were present in the vegetable samples.
All 28 Samples Tested Negative
The central finding was straightforward: none of the 28 cabbage and cucumber samples contained detectable STH eggs.
The laboratory results showed:
- Cabbage: 14 samples examined, with no detected STH eggs.
- Cucumber: 14 samples examined, with no detected STH eggs.
- Total: 28 samples examined.
- Positive samples: 0, or 0 percent.
- Negative samples: 28, or 100 percent.
Microscopic examination found no structures consistent with STH eggs at either 10× or 40× magnification. The researchers also detected none of the four species specifically examined: Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Ancylostoma duodenale, or Necator americanus.
Good Sanitation May Help Explain the Result
The researchers observed relatively good sanitation practices at both food stalls. Washing areas were separated from cooking areas, reducing opportunities for cross-contamination. Both vendors also used clean running water to wash vegetables.
Neither stall was located near a drainage channel that could potentially contribute soil contamination. One stall stored food and fresh vegetables on shelves exposed to sunlight, while the other used a covered display area to reduce contact with insects.
The study also points to storage conditions as a possible factor. STH eggs require moisture and protection from direct sunlight to survive. The researchers suggested that dry storage and exposure to sunlight may have contributed to the absence of detectable contamination in the samples.
The authors' interpretation can be summarized as follows: good stall sanitation, washing vegetables with running water, and dry, sun-exposed storage were possible factors associated with the zero contamination result. This is an interpretation of the observed conditions, not proof that any single practice caused the negative laboratory results.
Zero Contamination Does Not Mean All Lalapan Are Risk-Free
The findings provide encouraging evidence from the two food stalls examined, but the researchers caution against treating the result as evidence that all raw vegetables in Samarinda are free from STH contamination.
The study involved only two food stalls and two types of vegetables. It also did not quantitatively measure how individual vendor hygiene practices were associated with contamination levels. The researchers recommend future studies involving more food stalls and a wider range of raw vegetables, including other commonly served lalapan such as lettuce and basil.
For consumers, the findings reinforce the importance of choosing food vendors with good sanitation and ensuring raw vegetables are properly washed. Vendor hand and nail hygiene also matter because contaminated hands can provide another route for transferring STH eggs to food.
The study therefore offers a practical public-health message: safe handling of raw vegetables remains important even when a particular set of samples shows no contamination.
Author Profiles
Mutia Maulani — Poltekkes Kemenkes Kalimantan Timur. The article identifies her as a study author working on STH contamination in raw vegetables.
Agus Evendi — Poltekkes Kemenkes Kalimantan Timur. Evendi is listed as the corresponding author.
Aliful Karim — Poltekkes Kemenkes Kalimantan Timur.
Lamri — Poltekkes Kemenkes Kalimantan Timur.
The published article does not provide the authors' academic degrees or detailed individual fields of expertise, so those details cannot be stated reliably from the source.
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