ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF BACTERIA FROM FOOD VENDORS SOME VEGETABLE AVAILABLE

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to isolate and identify the presence of bacteria from food vendors some vegetable available in different street vended foods collected from different market in Nigeria. Thirty food samples were collected from fixed and mobile vendors from area around major market and street in the area of the study. Sterile polythene bags were used to collect different samples from each market and street. They were tested for the presence of microorganisms following conventional microbiological processes. revealed that street foods are potential vehicles for transmitting food borne illnesses thus the need to develop practical strategies geared toward street food safety.

 

 

                                        

 

 

 

 

    CHAPTER ONE

                                                INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUNG OF THE STUDY

Bacterial are group of microorganism all of which lack a distinct nuclear membrane (and hence are considered more primitive than animal and plant cells) and most of which have a cell wall of unique composition. Most bacterial are unicellular; the cells may be spherical (coccu) rod shaped (bacillus), spiral (spirillum), comma shaped (vibrio) or corkscrew-shaped (spierocheate). Generally, they range in size between 0.5 and 5um. (Elizabeth and Martin, 2003). Food is any substance that people or animal eat or drink or that plants absorb to maintain life and growth. Food is any substance consumed for nutritional support for the body; it is usually of plant or animal origin. (Ezeronye, 2007). Food consists of chemical compounds which heterophilic living thing consumes in order to carry out metabolic processed. They are also substances which when introduced to the digestive system under normal circumstances contribute to growth, repair and production of energy. (Ezeronye, 2007). Foods are classified into six essential nutrients known as protein, carbohydrate, vitamin mineral, fat and oil, water.

PROTEIN: – One of a group of organic compounds of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen (sulphur and phosphorus may also be present). The protein molecule is a complex structure made up of one or more chains of amino acid, which are linked by peptide bonds. Proteins are essential constituents of the body; they form the structural material of muscles, tissues, organs, etc. and are equally important as regulators of function, as enzymes and hormones, proteins are synthesized in the body from their constituent amino acids, which are obtained from the digestion of protein in the diet (Elizabeth and Martin, 2003).

CARBOHYDRATE: – One of a large group of compounds, including the sugar and starch, that contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen and have the general formular CX (H20) Y- Carbohydrates are important as a source of energy: they are manufactured by plants and obtained by animals from the diet, being one of the three main constituent of food. All carbohydrates are eventually broken down in the body to the simple sugar glucose which can then take part in energy producing metabolic processes. Excess carbohydrate, not immediately required by the body is stored in the liver and muscles in the form of glycogen. In plants carbohydrate are important structural materials (e.g. cellulose and storage products (commonly in the form of starch). (Elizabeth and Martin, 2003).

VITAMIN:- Any of a group of substances that are required in very small amounts, for healthy growth and development: they cannot be synthesized by the body and are therefore essential constituents of the diet. Vitamins are divided into two groups, according to whether they are soluble in water or fat. The water soluble groups include the vitamin C; the fat soluble vitamins are vitamins A, D, E and K. Lack of sufficient quantities of any of the vitamins in the diet results in specific vitamin deficiency diseased (Elizabeth and Martin, 2003).

FAT:- A substance that contains one or more fatty acids (in the form of triglyceride) and is the principal form in which energy is stored by the body (in adipose tissue). It also serves as an insulating material beneath the skin (in the subcutaneous tissue) and around certain organs (including the kidney). Fat is one of the three main constituents of food; it is necessary in the diet to provide an adequate supply of essential fatty acid and from the efficient absorption of fat –soluble vitamins from the intestine. Excessive deposition of fat in the body leads to obesity. (Elizabeth and Martin, 2003). A vendor is a person selling something (en.Wikipedia org/Wiki/vendor). The world Health Organization (WHO) Indicated that food-borne diseases most of which are of microbial origin are perhaps the most widespread problems in the contemporary world and this is responsible for about one third of death worldwide, through infectious conditions with adverse effects can reduce economic productivity. Poor sanitary condition in most of the local markets and the environment being highly polluted and charged with spoilage and pathogenic flora is likely the source of contamination of food items sold by such vendors. (Oweghe et al., 2001). It is known that poor hygienic conditions in a food environment may encourage the multiplication of pathogenic organisms in food (Egeonu, 2002). It has been observed that Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus grow to oxygenic levels in food at 300c (Egeonu, 2003). Therefore microbiological examination of foods and food contact surfaces may provide information concerning the quality of the raw food, and the sanitary conditions under which the food is processed (Michael et al; 2004). Microorganisms live throughout the kitchen and can easily move around by attaching themselves to people easily move around by attaching themselves to people, food and equipment. Bacteria may pass from equipment to food which has not been properly cleaned and sanitized before being used to prepare another food. Examination of food consumed and also wholesomeness. This implies that the food to be consumed by humans should be pure and free from contamination especially by pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms. Failure to ensure the safety and wholesomeness of the food consumed by the public might lead to some illness. To reduce contamination by microorganisms to a minimum level, and obtain good keeping quality of the products, the raw materials should regularly be monitored and examined. Food contacts surfaces are a major concern for food service facilities in controlling the spread of food-borne pathogens, surfaces such as bench tops, table, etc. may have bacterial on them from contact with people, raw foods, dirty equipment or other things such as cartons that have been stored on the floor. If the bench tops are not properly cleaned, any food on them will be contaminated by the bacterial (Kamil, 2005).

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Fresh products like vegetables and fruits are the normal part of the human diet and are consumed in large quantities in Nigeria. Traditionally, vegetables and fruits have been regarded as microbiologically safer than other unprocessed food items such as meat, milk, eggs, poultry and sea food. These products are rich in carbohydrates and poor in proteins with pH value from 7.0 to slightly acidic and provide a suitable niche to several bacteria, yeasts and moulds (Wiessinger et al., 2000; Trias et al., 2008). Contaminated vegetable produce sold in restaurants, cafes and even road side stalls are sometimes unacceptable for human consumption and create significant health problems (Lewis et al., 2006). However, in most parts of Ethiopia continuous assessment of food safety has not been conducted on fruit juices and vegetable that has been prepared in restaurants and cafes. Therefore, this study was tried to examine the isolation and identification of bacteria from food vendors and some vegetable available.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main aim of this work is to access selected foods sold by vendors in Nigerian markets. The specific objectives is:

1. To isolate and identify bacterial species associated with food contamination in vegetables.
2. To determine the microbial load of isolated bacteria.

• To establish the public health implication of consumption of such foods.

1. To assess the contamination of processing and handling of prepared vegetables from food vendors.

 

1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

H_o: Vendor’s foods are not potential vehicles for transmitting food borne diseases.

H₁: Vendor’s foods are potential vehicles for transmitting food borne diseases.

HYPOTHESES TWO

H_o: there is no significant health implication of consumption of streets vendor’s foods.

H₂: there is a significant health implication of consumption of streets vendor’s foods.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study examine the isolation and identification of bacteria from food vendors and some vegetable available, and its negatives implications on consumer’s health. It is believed that the findings will be of benefit to; The Federal Ministry of Health, National Health Insurance Scheme Council (NHISC) in creating awareness to the people about the use of fresh vegetable. Specifically, to the National Agency on Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on the need to further strengthen their survey/fight against dangerous food products from vendors. The study will also be beneficial to street vendors and market women in assessing the handling and processing of vegetable during preparation. Finally, to the general public, scholars and future researchers to be fully aware and able to identify which strain of bacteria is found in the fresh vegetable from the findings of this study.

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study was mainly focused on isolation and identification of bacterial from food vendors and some vegetable availably prepared in different cities in Nigeria. Because most of the towns including the tourists widely used our vegetables prepared on the town which are highly affected by various diseases caused by some contaminations present during preparations. However the research has some constraints which are;

Time: the time at the disposal of the researcher which is allocated for the study was a major limitation as the researcher has to combine other academic work with the study.

Finance: The finance at the disposal of the researcher in the course of the study does not allow for wider coverage as resources are very limited as the researcher has other academic bills to cover.

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Pathogenic Organisms: In biology, a pathogen in the oldest and broadest sense is anything that can produce disease; the term came into use in the 1880s. Typically the term is used to describe an infectious agent such as a virus, bacterium, protozoa, prion, a fungus, or other micro-organism.

Ready-To-Eat Food:

Ready-to-eat food is food that will not be cooked or reheated before serving. These include salads, ham, smoked fish, desserts, sandwiches, cheese and food that you have cooked in advance to serve cold.

Isolate: in chemical isolate; the pure result of a chemical purification process

In protein isolate; the result of protein purification, which isolates a single type of protein from a complex mixture.

Food samples: Food sampling is a process used to check that a food is safe and that it does not contain harmful contaminants, or that it contains only permitted additives at acceptable levels, or that it contains the right levels of key ingredients and its label declarations are correct, or to know the levels of nutrients present.

Pathogens: In biology, a pathogen in the oldest and broadest sense is anything that can produce disease; the term came into use in the 1880s. Typically the term is used to describe an infectious agent such as a virus, bacterium, protozoa, prion, a fungus, or other micro-organism.

Microbial Contamination:

Microbiological contamination refers to the non-intended or accidental introduction of infectious material like bacteria, yeast, mould, fungi, virus, prions, protozoa or their toxins and by-products.

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