MICROBIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF READY TO EAT FOOD FROM SELECTED STREET VENDING FOOD LOCATIONS IN IKPOBA-OKHA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE

Abstract

This study was conducted to analyse the microbial quality and public health effect of ready to eat food from different street food vending locations in Ikpoba-okha Local Government Area (LGA). The mean total viable plate counts (TVC) for bacteria and fungi were ascertained with the spread plate methods using nutrient agar and potato dextrose agar media respectively. The results indicated a mean TVC ranging from 5.41 x 10⁴ to 2.80 x 10³ and 3.57 x 10⁵ to 3.18 x 10³ for bacteria and fungi respectively. The highest bacterial counts of 5.41 x 10⁴ was obtained in food samples collected from Street Vending location (SFL) 7 while the highest fungal counts of 3.57 x 10⁵ was obtained from food samples collected from SFL 4. The characterization and identification of microbes showed the presence of nine (9) bacteria. The bacteria and their percentage of occurrence are: E. coli (40%), Streptococcus spp (50%), Staphylococcus aureus (60%), Pseudomonas aeroginosa (90%), Salmonella spp (30%), Enterobacter spp (50%), Bacillus cereus (40%), Micrococcus spp (30%), Alcaligenes faecalis (10%). It also showed the presence of Four (4) fungi. The fungi and percentage of occurrence are: Rhizopus spp (50%), Aspergillus flavus (40%), Aspergillus niger (40%) and Mucor spp (60%). The data obtained showed that Pseudomonas aeroginosa and Mucor spp were dominant in foods obtained from all the locations. The findings of this study shows that most of the ready to eat food samples examined did not meet microbiological quality standards. Hence, it is recommended that adequate and proper measures to ensure good quality of ready to eat foods from street food vending locations in Ikpoba-okha should be put in place by relevant authorities.