Abstract
Limited information exists on the status of hygiene and probable sources of microbial contamination in Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) puree processing. The current study is aimed at determining the level of compliance to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), hygiene, and microbial quality in OFSP puree processing plant in Kenya. Intensive observation and interviews using a structured GMPs checklist, environmental sampling, and microbial analysis by standard microbiological methods were used in data collection. The results indicated low level of compliance to GMPs with an overall compliance score of 58%. Microbial counts on food equipment surfaces, installations, and personnel hands and in packaged OFSP puree were above the recommended microbial safety and quality legal limits. Steaming significantly (P < 0.05) reduced microbial load in OFSP cooked roots but the counts significantly (P < 0.05) increased in the puree due to postprocessing contamination. Total counts, yeasts and molds, Enterobacteriaceae, total coliforms, and E. coli and S. aureus counts in OFSP puree were 8.0, 4.0, 6.6, 5.8, 4.8, and 5.9 log10 cfu/g, respectively. In conclusion, equipment surfaces, personnel hands, and processing water were major sources of contamination in OFSP puree processing and handling. Plant hygiene inspection, environmental monitoring, and food safety trainings are recommended to improve hygiene, microbial quality, and safety of OFSP puree.
Highlights
Sweet potato is one of the most important food crops in Kenya
Suitability and State of Hygiene of Equipment Used for Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) Puree Processing
Highest counts of S. aureus, Enterobacteriaceae, and coliform counts with means 6.5±0.0, 7.0±0.0, and 6.7±0.0 log cfu⋅cm−2, respectively, were detected on the inside cabin surface of the truck used in transportation of OFSP roots and OFSP puree
Summary
Sweet potato is one of the most important food crops in Kenya. Kenya is the sixth largest producer of sweet potato in Africa with an average yield of 8.2 tonnes/ha [2]. Breeding and utilization of biofortified Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) variety is being promoted in Kenya and other sub-Saharan (SSA) countries by research organizations due its high beta-carotene (provitamin A) content [5,6,7,8]. Since the year 2015, the International Potato Centre (CIP) has been working with a privately owned OFSP puree processing company operated on a small-scale basis and one of the largest retail chain stores in Kenya to promote utilization of OFSP puree in bakery applications and enhance intake of vitamin A among the urban population [12]
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