Microbial load in some selected cut and vended fruits and their implications for food safety in the Tamale Metropolis

Abstract

Fruits and vegetables have been the major dietary source of vitamins, minerals, fibre and other natural substances. An improved nutrition full of fruits and vegetables reduce risk of some chronic diseases e.g., hypertension. Outbreak of some food borne diseases have been linked to fresh cut fruits available on streets. The study examines the microbial load in some selected cut and vended fruits and their implications for food safety in the Tamale Metropolis. Descriptive, crosssectional survey design involving the use of questionnaire and observation checklist were used for the study. The target population involved all street fruits vendors who sell pawpaw and water melon in the Tamale Metropolis with sample size of 113. Total of 30 cut fruit samples of both (15 each watermelon and pawpaw) were taken from ten (10) vendors selected from the 113 participants for laboratory analysis to check the levels of microbial load in them (aerobic mesophiles, E. coli, staphylococcus aureus, salmonella and listeria monocytogen). Convenience sampling was used for both field samples and for the laboratory samples. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22 while the microbial load was analysed using five different culture conditions. Identification of all bacteria was accomplished with Nordic Committees for Food Analysis (NKML) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standards. The finding shows that less than half of the respondents always washed their hands after coughing or sneezing while more than half of respondents did not wear gloves during cutting of fresh fruits. In the microbial analysis significant variations of bacteria (p<0.05) were observed in the pre-cut fruits sampled among the vendors. Salmonella spp. was not detected whereas Listeria monocytogenes was detected in 70% of the pre-cut fruits sampled. The analyses also revealed that, out of every ten sampled fruits, seven of the fruits had staphylococcus aureus and only one fruit had E. coli. Seven of the ten sampled fruits had Listeria monocyte. Based on the findings, it was concluded that, sampled fruits in the study setting had microbial load hence the consumption could lead to foodborne diseases. The study recommended that; street fruit vendors and handlers should be educated on fruit hygiene practices through engagement by the Health Directorate Unit of the Tamale Metropolis and the Ministry of health