ABSTRACT

The increasing prevalence of microbial contamination in fresh fruits poses significant public health risks, particularly in urban markets where hygiene practices may be inadequate. This study aimed to evaluate the bacterial and fungal loads on fresh fruits sold in various markets within Benin City, Nigeria, to identify the types of microorganisms present, assess their prevalence, and propose measures for reducing contamination. A total of 180 fruits where randomly selected consisting of apples, pawpaw, tangerines, oranges, and bananas. These fruits were collected from nine different markets: Oba market, New Benin market, Airport road, Ekiosa market, Uselu market, Aduwawa kara market, Sapele Santana market, Oluku market and Ikpoba hill- mami market. The markets covered four Local Government Area. Microbial analyses were performed using standard techniques consisting of macroscopy and microscropy, to identify the presence and type of microbial contaminants. The results revealed that roughly half (52.8%) of the fruits analyzed were contaminated with bacteria, predominantly Escherichia coli (22.2%) and Bacillus spp. (10.6%), while fungal contamination was found in 53.3% of the samples, with Aspergillus spp. being the most prevalent (27.2%). The study highlighted significant variations in contamination rates across different markets and fruit types, indicating that certain markets, such as Aduwawa Kara, had higher levels of bacterial contamination. The findings underscore the urgent need for improved hygiene practices among vendors and regulatory oversight to ensure food safety. In conclusion, this research provides critical insights into the microbial quality of fresh fruits in Benin City and emphasizes the importance of implementing effective food safety measures to protect consumer health.