ABSTRACT
Ready-to-eat vegetables and fruits have intrinsic properties predisposing them to microbial contamination especially in the absenceof proper quality control procedures. Recently, the increased in consumables bio-burden manifested as the accumulation of potentialpathogenic microbes therein which triggered the food related ailments associated with morbidity and mortality cases. Evaluating themicrobial quality of such foods is therefore important. This study was aimed at evaluating the presence of pathogens (bacteria andfungi) associated with some select fruits and vegetables consumed within Katsina metropolis. Six different fruits and vegetablesinvolving cabbage (Brassica oleracea), carrot (Daucus carota), orange (Citrus sinensis), pineapple (Ananas comosus), spinach(Spinacia oleracea) and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) were sampled from vendors at different selling points. Analyses of thesamples were conducted at the Microbiology Laboratory, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina, Nigeria. Total Bacteria, Yeastand Mould counts were evaluated accordingly. The microorganisms were characterized using the colony morphology andbiochemical analyses. The results of the study showed that all the fruits and vegetables invariably contain concentrations of thebacteria exceeding safety thresholds set by the Committee on the Review of the Use of Scientific Criteria and Performance Standardsfor Safe Food, USFood, US Academy of Sciences (p = 0.382). Nonetheless, from the total yeast and mold counts results, watermelonand carrot have no fungal contaminants, while the rest have concentrations exceeding safety thresholds, with no significantdifferences (p = 0.459). Some of the characterized organisms for bacteria include Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Proteusspspp., Shigella spspp., Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Characterized fungal isolates include Aspergillusflavus, Aspergillus niger and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It is therefore concluded that potentially pathogenic microorganisms exist athigh concentrations in the ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables sold in Katsina metropolis which is a reflection of poor hygienicpractices. These pathogens may ultimately cause serious illness. Hence, we recommend the enshrinement of hygienic processing,educating the vendors and enforcing guidelines by statutory national bodies like standard organization of Nigeria (SON), NationalAgency for food and Drugs Administration(Administration (NAFDAC)among others
Kabir, M., , Y , , B , , K , , U & , U (2020). Bio-burdens of some selected Fruits and Vegetables consumed within Katsina metropolis in KatsinaState, Nigeria. Afribary. Retrieved from https://track.afribary.com/works/mannir-kabir-et-al-2020
Kabir, Mannir, et. al. "Bio-burdens of some selected Fruits and Vegetables consumed within Katsina metropolis in KatsinaState, Nigeria" Afribary. Afribary, 19 Sep. 2020, https://track.afribary.com/works/mannir-kabir-et-al-2020. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
Kabir, Mannir, YahayaYunusaRiko2 , BilkisuAbdullahi3 , KamaluddeenKabir4 , UmarDarmaZubairu5 and UmarAdamuHamza6 . "Bio-burdens of some selected Fruits and Vegetables consumed within Katsina metropolis in KatsinaState, Nigeria". Afribary, Afribary, 19 Sep. 2020. Web. 20 Nov. 2024. < https://track.afribary.com/works/mannir-kabir-et-al-2020 >.
Kabir, Mannir, YahayaYunusaRiko2 , BilkisuAbdullahi3 , KamaluddeenKabir4 , UmarDarmaZubairu5 and UmarAdamuHamza6 . "Bio-burdens of some selected Fruits and Vegetables consumed within Katsina metropolis in KatsinaState, Nigeria" Afribary (2020). Accessed November 20, 2024. https://track.afribary.com/works/mannir-kabir-et-al-2020