Microbiological Quality of Packaged and Exposed Cassava, Yam and Plantain Flour Sold in Markets and Supermarkets in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria

N. N. Odu^1, , M. Elenwo¹ and N. Maduka²

¹Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt Nigeria

²Department of Microbiology, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Wellspring University, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

Cite this paper:
N. N. Odu, M. Elenwo and N. Maduka. Microbiological Quality of Packaged and Exposed Cassava, Yam and Plantain Flour Sold in Markets and Supermarkets in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria. American Journal of Microbiological Research. 2019; 7(2):57-62. doi: 10.12691/ajmr-7-2-4

Abstract

The presence of pathogens in edible flours generally considered as microbiologically safe is a threat to public health. In this study, microbial load of thirty (30) samples of exposed and packaged cassava, plantain and yam flour from open markets and supermarkets were determined. Similar flours were prepared in the laboratory as control. Morphological and molecular characterization methods were adopted in this study. On average, packaged flour samples had lower total fungal count (TFC) and total heterotrophic count (THC) than exposed flour samples. Maximum THC of the flour samples were slightly above 5 log₁₀cfu/g except packaged yam flour (3.91 log₁₀cfu/g). THC, TFC, Bacillus and Staphylococcal count of the control samples range between 4.64-4.72, 2.3-2.6, 2.3-2.8, 3.44-3.53 log₁₀cfu/g, respectively. As for packaged yam, plantain and cassava flours, their TFC range between 3.45-3.55, 2.30-3.10 and 2.15-2.80 log₁₀cfu/g, while THC was 3.70-3.91, 2.0-5.69, 5.48-5.54 log₁₀cfu/g, respectively. Therefore, exposing cassava, plantain and yam flour in open markets should be discouraged and strict good manufacturing practices during flour processing are recommended in order to drastically reduce microbial load in edible flour.

Keywords:
packaged exposed flour microbiological quality

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