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ABSTRACT
Food safety is a critical concern in public health, particularly in institutional settings like university cafeterias where large numbers of individuals consume meals daily. This study investigates the microbial content of food samples sold in cafeterias within the University of Benin, Ugbowo Campus, to assess potential health risks associated with these food sources. The aim of this study is to isolate and identify microorganisms present in food samples obtained from various restaurants within the University of Benin campus. Food samples were collected from different restaurants within the campus. The total aerobic bacterial count was determined for each sample. Microbial isolation and identification were conducted using standard microbiological techniques. The mean total aerobic bacterial count of food samples, with Buka 15 exhibiting the highest microbial count of 5.719±0.534. The levels of bacterial count of other sampled restaurants in the university were at an exponential rate above the normal flora. Microbial analysis revealed the following organisms isolated from the samples analyzed: Proteus sp., Escherichia coli, Streptococcus sp., Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus sp. The counts of these microorganisms varied across samples and restaurants, with Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus sp. being present in all restaurants sampled. The study findings indicate a concerning level of microbial contamination in food sold at restaurants within the University of Benin campus. Presence of pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus sp. highlights potential health risks associated with consuming food from these establishments. Urgent measures are warranted to improve food safety protocols and mitigate microbial contamination in university cafeteria settings.
