ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF BACTERIA FROM SOME FOOD VENDORS IN EKOSODIN, BENIN CITY.

ABSTRACT

The safety and quality of food are paramount to public health, as contaminated food can lead to foodborne illnesses. The study was conducted to access foods sold by vendors in Ekosodin for bacterial contamination. The specific objectives include isolation and identification of bacterial species associated with food contamination, determination of the microbial load of isolated bacteria and establishment of public health implication of consumption of such foods. Methodology utilized in this research study include isolation of bacteria utilizing nutrient agar, MacConkey agar for coliforms, salmonella shigella agar for strains of salmonella and shigella, bacillus aureus agar, utilize citrate as the sole sources of carbon for metabolism and potato dextrose agar for fungi a total of 7street food samples were examined for bacterial contamination. The result showed the presence of seven bacteria isolates with Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus epidermidis displaying the highest level of contamination. The result showed a bacteria count of (6.6 x 103 ± 2.22 and 5.7 x 103 ± 1.01) while Staphylococcus aureus(5.3 x 103 ± 1.51), Klebsiella pneumonia (5.4 x 103 ± 2.12), Escherichia coli (2.7 x 103 ± 0.50), Staphylococcus saprophyticus ( 3.1 x 103 ± 2.31), Enterobacter cloacae( 2.8 x 103 ± 1.61). In conclusion, Street food business has remained largely unregulated in Nigeria, notwithstanding the sector contribution to the nation’s food security. Wholesome and nutritious street foods have a positive impact on food security, while consumption of street foods of low and below minimum safety standard is injurious to health on an acute or chronic basis.