MICROBIAL ANALYSIS AND FRUIT HANDLING PRACTICES OF READY-TO-EAT VENDED FRUITS IN UYO METROPOLIS, AKWA IBOM STATE

Abstract

The study investigated handling practices and Microbial analysis of selected ready-to-eat vended
fruits in Uyo metropolis of Akwa Ibom State. Four purposes and four research questions were
raised to guide the study. A quasi-experimental research design was adopted for the study. A
structured questionnaire titled: Fruit Handling Practices Questionnaire (FHPQ) was used for
data collection from eighty fruit vendors. Three types of fruits (Paw-paw, Pineapple and
Watermelon) were bought from vendors close to a dumpsite and taken to the Microbiology
laboratory for microbial analysis.

The research questions were analysed using mean and
standard deviation. Findings showed that watermelon was the most commonly vended fruit sold in
the study area (x= 3.79); the fruit vendors clean the display surface daily (x= 3.90) as the major
fruit handling practices; majority of the vendors indicated that they store fruits on dry floor (x=
3.96).The microbial load analysis result revealed that, Bacterial and fungal isolates such as
Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus sp., and Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus sp., Vibrio cholerae,
Salmonella sp. and Aspergillus terreus, Rhizopus stolonifer, and Saccharomyces sp. were found
on the ready-to-eat vended fruits.

However, the result showed that ready-to-eat vended pineapples
had the least microbial counts THBC (4.0 x 103); TCC (2.2 x 103); FC (0); SSC (2.2 x 103); SC
(2.0 x 103); VC (0); CC (0); and FC (1.5 x 103), irrespective of the time of purchase. It is
concluded that the fruit handling practices of ready-to-eat vended fruits in the study area are
adequate, although there were microbial counts on selected ready to eat vended fruits based on
the time of purchase. Amongst others, fruits vendors in Uyo metropolis should undergo targeted
training and awareness programmes on proper fruit handling and storage practices