ABSTRACT
Fruits are good dietary source of nutrients, micronutrients, vitamins and fiber for human and are essential for the overall well-being of man. They are easily prone to microbial contamination that can lead to spoilage. Therefore, the study was aimed at investigating the bacteriological quality of mixed fruit salads sold in Benin City Metropolis. Samples of mixed fruit salads were purchased from New Benin, Ring Road, Uselu and Ugbowo areas of Benin City for investigation. Bacteriological analysis was conducted on the samples periodically after every 2h for a total period of 10h. Media used were Nutrient agar, mannitol salt agar, eosin methyl blue agar and salmonalla/shigella agar for analyzing total heterotrophic, Staphylococcal, coliform bacteria and Salmonellae. The Results show the highest total heterotrophic bacteria, staphylococcal, salmonella and coliform count were recorded in sample from New Benin (68.50±48.00 cfu/g, 43.00±17.00 cfu/g, 21.50±8.50 cfu/g and 1.50 ±1.50 cfu/g respectively) stored at 27 oC, while the lowest count was recorded by Control (8.50±1.50 cfu/g), Ugbowo (4.00±1.00 cfu/g), Ugbowo (7.00±1.00 cfu/g) and New Benin (2.00±2.00 cfu/g) respectively after storage for 9h. For samples stored at 4 oC, the highest heterotrophic and salmonella count, recorded was from New Benin (10.00 ± 0.50 cfu/g and 16.00 ± 3.00 cfu/g), and the highest staphylococcal count was recorded from Ugbowo (3.00±0.00 cfu/g). The lowest heterotrophic and salmonella counts were recorded by New Benin (2.00±2.00 cfu/g) and Ugbowo (4.00±1.00 cfu/g) while the lowest staphylococcal count was recorded by Control (1.00±1.00 cfu/g). Isolated bacteria include Staphylococcus spp, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp, Proteus mirabilis, Enterobacter spp, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus spp, S treptococcus spp, Corynebacterium spp. Acinetobacter spp, and Salmonalla spp. The highest frequency of occurrence was recorded by Staphylococcus spp, and Escherichia coli (15.625%), while the lowest frequency of occurrence was recorded by Listeria monocytogenes, Enterobacter spp, and Klebsiella spp (3.125%). The presence of these bacteria in the investigated fruit salads suggests the need for stricter hygiene and quality measures and practices to be adopted by fruit salad vendors, and enforced by relevant authority to prevent transmission of diseases and illness by bacteria.
