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