Microbial quality of ready-to-eat vegetable salads vended in the central business district of Tamale, Ghana

Godwin Abakari,Enoch Yeleliere,Samuel Jerry Cobbina

doi:10.1186/s40550-018-0065-2

Godwin Abakari, Enoch Yeleliere + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40550-018-0065-2

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Abstract

BackgroundFood safety problems still persist across the globe and remain a challenge to the general public and government. The study determined the microbiological quality of pre-cut vegetable salads sold in the Central Business District (CBD) of Tamale.ResultsA total of thirty (30) salad samples were purchased from four zones of the District and transported to the Spanish Laboratory of the University for Development Studies, Ghana for analysis. Standard microbiological methods that are in accordance with American Public Health Association (APHA) were used in determining the presence and levels of bacteria in the salad samples. Escherichia coli were detected in 96.7% of salad samples with levels ranging from 0 to 7.56 log10 cfu/g. Bacillus cereus were present in 93.3% of ready-to-eat vegetable salads with counts ranging from 0 to 7.44 log10 cfu/g. Further, Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. were present in 73.3% and 76.7% of salads, respectively.Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. counts ranged from 0 to 4.54 log10 cfu/g and 0 to 5.54 log10 cfu/g, respectively. Statistically, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus and Shigella spp. Contamination varied significantly (p < 0.05) across the four zones demarcated. However, Salmonella spp. contamination did not vary significantly (p > 0.05) across the zones.ConclusionsThe study revealed that salads sold by street food vendors in the CBD of Tamale were unwholesome for human consumption and could be deleterious to the health of consumers. The contamination could be attributable to the source of production of the vegetables and improper food handling. It is recommended that the Food and Drugs Authority should enforce strict compliance to food quality standards at all food vending establishments in the CBD.

Highlights

Food safety problems still persist across the globe and remain a challenge to the general public and government
Prevalence of bacteria isolates in salad Vegetables such as salad vegetables after cultivations from the farm go through a series of handling processes and preparations before they are served to consumers
The present study shows variations in bacteria presence and levels in ready-to-eat vegetable salad mixtures obtained from the Business District of Tamale which may be attributed to the different hygienic practices by food vendors as well as the sources of cultivation from which these vegetables were obtained

Summary

Introduction

Food safety problems still persist across the globe and remain a challenge to the general public and government. The interest of the public on food safety issues is on the ascendancy worldwide (WHO/FAO, 2015). Food safety problems continue to persist across the globe and remain a great challenge (Ntuli et al, 2017). It has been established that the business of food vending has created jobs and contributes significantly to the informal sector of the economies of most countries across the globe and as well resolves serious issues confronting major social problems in less developed countries due to the sector’s. Recent studies have established that consumption of salad vegetables can prevent heart diseases and skin cancers (Coulibaly-Kalpy et al, 2017)

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