Microbial Contamination Of Vended Fruit

This study assessed the microbiological quality of various ready-to-eat vended fruits sold in Abakpa main market, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. Microbiological analysis was conducted on 17 samples which included carrot, watermelon (sliced), pineapple (sliced), cucumber and tiger nuts. In the total aerobic plate count, Tiger nuts had the highest count, followed by watermelon (sliced), pineapple (sliced) and carrot with cucumber having the lowest total aerobic counts. 

Moreover, carrot had the highest total fungal count followed by watermelon, cucumber and pineapple. There was no significant growth in tiger nuts. Total aerobic count ranged from 3.5×105-1.03×106 CFU ml-1 while the total fungal count ranged from 1.1 ×105 to 1.42 × 106 CFU ml-1 A total of 6 isolates were isolated, characterised and identified from the vended fruit samples; The bacterial isolates includes: Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas sp, Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp, Shigella sp and one fungal isolate, Mucor sp. 

Escherichia coli had the highest frequency distribution followed by Mucor sp, Salmonella sp and Staphylococcus aureus, while Pseudomonas sp and Shigella sp. had the lowest frequency distribution. The isolated organisms from the vended fruits showed that contamination occurred due to poor hygiene and environmental factors like contaminated air. 

The attention of the relevant authorities should be drawn to ensure that hygienic standards are improved in the market and also adequate training programs for fruit vendors and the public should be implemented in order to maintain high standard of personal and environmental hygiene which will help to curtain fruit borne infections.