MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF FRUIT AND BOTTLED JUICES FROM CHIRO TOWN, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Fruit are very important for human being which contribute vital nutrients especially Vitamin C. However Fruit which are contaminated during harvesting and transporting. From different area. poor hygienic conditions, using of tap water for cleaning and unsafe environmental conditions of fruit resulting in different food borne illnesses. The study was aimed to assess bacteriological load of fruit served in cafes and restaurants of Chiro town. A cross sectional study was conducted from April, 2022 to May, 2022 in Chiro town. A total of 20 fruit samples 3 each of Orange , Avocado , Papaya , pineapple , Strawberry and five Mango bottled juice samples were collected randomly from five randomly selected cafes. among five cafes/restaurants in Chiro town and analyzed their bacteriologica lodel. The samples was correctly prepared and serially diluted and incubated on proper temperature and nutrient Agar to determine bacterial load. Spread plate method was used for the growth of bacteria on the Mannitol salt agar which is selective media. The aerobic mesophilic bacteria count ranged from 1.66x103-8.0x106 cfu/ml. The highest bacterial load 8.0x106cfu/ml) for fruit samples was found in papaya fruit collected from Bus station while the lowest bacterial load (1.66x103cfu/ml) were found in Bottled juice collected from Rafref The overall results indicated that the fruit samples handled had higher aerobic mesophilic bacteria count than the maximum recommended level. Comparison of aerobic mesophilic bacteria count between different sites showed that on the average more fruit samples from Bus station (8.00x106 cfu/ml) for papaya fruit and (7.5x106cfu/ml) for Avocado had higher aerobic mesophilic bacteria count than other site. The study also found (64.1%) of fruit samples with total coliform higher than maximum permitted level of Gulf Standard, 2000 (1.0x102 cfu/ml) that was relatively lower than the finding of another study conducted in Bahir Dar town Ethiopia found 76.6%. The finding of the result revealed that Staphylococci count was between 0.56x105 and 4.7x105 cfu/mL for all fruit. Therefore special training and supervision of fruit how to handle and processing juices in hygienic and safely conditions would be improved the load of fruit in the streets.