Bacteriological Quality of Fresh Vegetables and Peeled Sugar-Cane Obtained from Selected Markets in Zaria, Nigeria

P Igba ,J A Hamza ,B A Tytler ,Go Adeshina

doi:10.7176/jnsr/12-8-02

Abstract

Fresh vegetables and peeled sugar-cane serves as an essential component of a healthy diet, but despite their benefit they are prompt to bacterial contamination. The bacteriological quality of four types of fresh vegetables and peeled sugar-cane obtained from selected markets in Zaria, Nigeria was determined using standard microbiological method. The fresh vegetables, peeled sugar-cane, water and hand-swab samples were collected from four different locations namely; Samaru, Sabon-gari, Tudun-wada and Zaria-city. The total bacteria plate counts ranged from 3.3 x 10 6 cfu/g to 1.6 x 10 7 cfu/g with Tudu-wada having the highest bacteria load in lettuce. The coliform count of fresh vegetables and peeled sugar-cane varies from 1.3 x 10 4 to 8.6 x 10 5 cfu/g in the entire markets with Tudu-wada having the highest value in cucumber, the counts were obviously above specified Standard of 10 5 cfu/g and 10 3 cfu/g (ICMSF, 1978) . Pathogenic bacteria isolated include; Citrobacter fruendii, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp. , Klebsiella. spp. , Shigella spp ., Serratia spp ., Cronobacter sakazaki, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas spp ., and others Staphylococci spp .. This study showed that, fresh vegetables and peeled sugar-cane are contaminated with pathogenic bacteria making them unsafe for human consumption; hence fresh produce should be pre- treated thoroughly, so as to reduce the risk of food- borne outbreaks. Keywords: Pathogenic bacteria · Bacteriological quality, Microbiological method, Coliform counts and food- borne outbreaks. DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/12-8-02 Publication date: April 30 th 2021

Highlights

Foodborne illnesses are major public health problem which have led to an increase in morbidity and mortality worldwide (Scallan et al, 2011)
Fresh vegetables and peeled sugar cane serves as an essential ingredient of a healthy diet, the consumption rate of these fresh produce and peeled sugar-cane has been increased worldwide
Evaluation of this samples To suspend the phyllosphere-associated microorganisms from the surface of cabbage, cucumber, carrot, sugar cane and lettuce, 25g of fresh vegetable and peeled sugar-cane sample was added to each conical flask containing 225 ml sterile peptone water

Summary

Introduction

Foodborne illnesses are major public health problem which have led to an increase in morbidity and mortality worldwide (Scallan et al, 2011). The illnesses in about 2 million of these people were related to consumption of contaminated fresh vegetables. Fresh vegetables and peeled sugar-cane are extraordinary dietary source of nutrients, micronutrients, carbohydrates, anti-oxidants, minerals, vitamins and fibres (Prigulkar, et al, 2000; Reena, et al, 2012; Sararaj et al, 2014) and often consumed uncooked. Despite their health benefits; these fresh vegetables and peeled sugar-cane consumption is a risk for consumers (Soltan et al, 2015)

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Discussion

Conclusion