Microbial Contamination Of Vended Fruit

DISCUSSION AND CONLUSION

5.1 Discussion
Fruits in general, though very rich in vitamins and mineral elements, could pose a danger to human health if they are not properly treated prior to consumption as a result of the presence harmful microbial agents. 

The results obtained from the microbial assessment of some vended ready-to-eat fresh fruits in Abakaliki main market reveals the presence of bacteria pathogens affecting vegetable fruits such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella spp, Pseudomonas spp and mucor spp; this is in consonance with previous reports (Joy et. al., 2006; Chomvarin, 1993). Another report by (Angela et. al., 2010) revealed the presence of Clostridia spp, Bacillus spp and yeast in ready-to-eat vended fresh fruits.    
Table 1 shows total aerobic plate count (TAPC) and total fungal count in varying degrees found in selected fruits used in the microbial evaluation.

Tiger nuts had the highest average total aerobic plate count (1.03 × 106 cfu mL-1) followed by watermelon (sliced) 1.0 × 106 cfu mL-1, carrot (7.97× 105 cfu mL-1), pineapple ( 5.6 × 106 cfu mL-1), while cucumber had the least average total aerobic counts (3.5 × 105 cfu mL-1). However in the total fungal count, carrot had the highest (1.42 × 106 cfu mL-1), followed by watermelon (1.26×106 cfu mL-1), cucumber (3.0×105  cfu mL-1) and pineapple (1.1×105 cfu mL-1). There was no significant growth in tiger nuts.

This contamination might have probably been introduced at the point of distribution either from the market or from the customers and sellers handling them. E. coli and other coliform bacteria are generally indicators of faecal contamination of the water. Such contaminated water is often used by sellers and buyers in washing and processing the fruits (Sandeep et. al., 2004). 

These fruits could become contaminated with food borne pathogens by factors such as using materials in unhygienic condition (Subbannayya and Amber, 2007), when left open in unsuitable places for buyers and irregular hand washing by the sellers. Cross contamination has been identified as an important factor in food borne illnesses (Wanyenyae and James, 2004). The microbial quality of fruits in their raw forms, contaminated water or inadequate hand washing by fruits handlers and the absence of individuals’ sanitary practices are similar to the report of (Little and Metchell, 2004). Also in a related survey of retail establishment reported by (Nweze, 2010), only 52% of the fruit handlers knew how to wash their hands. 

The high microbial load in carrot and watermelon can be attributed to the direct exposure to air. In the market, products are opened as the customers demand, open display of products to attract the customers encourage sporadic visits by flies. The dusty, unhygienic environment coupled with the poor handling by vendors is factors contributing to the high microbial load (Oranusi and Olorunfemi, 2011). 

The use of trays, tables, make-shift, stalls and wheel barrows constantly used by vendors also increases the chances of having food contamination. Pathogens can invade the interior surfaces of the produce during peeling, slicing, trimming and other processes like packaging, handling and marketing (CDC, 1979).

The chances of contamination is heightened by the fact that food vending is done without adequate storage conditions, thereby exposing the foods to flies harbouring microbes and also ensuring that the food kept at ambient temperature that favours the proliferation of microbial contaminants, pathogenic mesophiles and other disease causing agents (Bryan et al., 1992; Muinde and Kuria, 2005; Barro et al., 2006).

The presence of E.coli in the vended fruit samples is critical. This organism is found in the normal intestinal flora of humans and animals but can also be an important cause of enteric illness and they constitute the major etiologic agent of sporadic and epidemic diarrhea both in children and adults (Nweze, 2010). It has also been described as an environmental organism (Sagoo et al., 2001). The incidence of E. coli could have been as a result of poor sanitary practices.

Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas sp., Shigella and Mucor had a reasonable occurrence in the samples. The presence of Salmonella is of importance because it is known as a pathogen that causes typhoid fever and food poisoning (Parry et al., 2002; Ekperigin and Nagaraja, 1998). Humans are the primary reserviour of Staphylococcus aureus in their nasal passages, hand and skins. As the fruits are handled with bare hands by the sellers and buyers alike, this organism is introduced onto the fruits and during peeling and slicing (Kumar and Ganguli, 2006). Staphylococcus aureus is a common organism found in all individuals and expelled from the respiratory tract, nose, mouth, clothing, hand and skin. Abloma (2008) and Wada-kura et al. (2009) have reported that the evidence of staphylococcus aureus in fruits and food is an indication of environmental and human contamination. 

It has also been noted that sneezing, talking; coughing may produce droplets that are carried by air as vectors (Hobbs and Golbert, 1982). Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogen of public health importance (Adak et al. 2005). Pseudomonas sp. is an opportunistic pathogen that causes bacteremia and gastrointestinal infections (Kim et al., 2009). Shigella is a pathogen and its presence has been attributed to unhygienic practices related to feacal contamination (Fredlund et al., 1987; Beuchat, 1996). The presence of Mucor could be attributed to their presence in air, since it is an environmental contaminant (Oranusi and Olorunfemi, 2011).

The result of the microbial evaluation suggests that vended fresh fruits contains microbes to a certain degree and requires absolute washing before consumption. The presence of the possible pathogenic organisms in the analyzed food samples should be of immense importance to vendors, consumers and concerned arms of government. 

5.2 Conclusion and recommendation
In conclusion, inadequate level of hygiene among sellers and buyers may be due to lack of knowledge rather than negligence with proper precaution. Among the fruits sampled, the most contaminated was watermelon which may be due to its high demand by all. This calls for improve surveillance system on fruits and public health education and enlightment of sellers and consumers. As the result of occurrence of potential food borne pathogens, contamination of fruits studied before their purchase for consumption and the possible outbreaks of food poisoning, sellers and consumers are advice to wash fruits properly before peeling, slicing or cutting and also to handle and cut fruits with clean sanitized utensils, surfaces and to store all fruits at (where facilities are available) at 4OC until sold or consumed. 

Also since the practice of consuming fruits can’t be stopped based on unhygienic grounds, and neither can the street sellers be prohibited from selling fruits, which provides them with a source of livelihood, the Government Health Agencies must put in place measures to educate the sellers on food safety and hygienic practice and enforce adequate guidelines on sellers at the market places and street (Taulo et al., 2008; Okonko et al., 2008).