Bacteriological Analysis of Fermented Cereal Flour Sold in Markets in Calabar Metropolis, Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Fermented flour obtained from Maize, Sorghum and Millet is a popular product sold in Calabar. It is locally referred to as pap or ogi. . Different types of pap are sold in the market which include: white pap, yellow pap and reddish-brown pap. The aim of the study was to determining the presence of bacteria in pap samples in three markets in Calabar metropolis. The markets were Goldie, Marian and Watt market. A total of 80 pap samples were collected aseptically from the three different markets and were analyzed using standard microbiological and biochemical methods. The various pap samples were cultured on both Chocolate (CHOC) agar and MacConkey agar and incubated at 37°C overnight. Staphylococcus aureus (41.7%), non-coagulase Staphylococcus aureus (23.4%) and Bacillus cereus (27.8%) were isolated from the Pap samples purchased from the three markets.. Out of the 80 samples were examined for bacterial organisms, Staphylococcus aureus (41.7%) found in Pap samples purchased from Goldie market had the highest prevalence. However, the difference in the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus contamination, non-coagulase Staphylococcus and Bacillus cereus infection by markets were not statistically significant (P˃0.05). Therefore, there is a need for sanitary measures to be taken in the production of Pap, to minimize the rate of contamination during processing and storage and also, to ensure that pap sold to consumers are free of contamination.