Microbial Quality of Sliced and Packaged Fruits in Polyethylene Sold in Port Harcourt Rivers State, South-South Nigeria

Abstract

Fresh fruits promote good health but harbor a wide range of microbial contaminants. This study assessed the microbial quality of fruits and safety of Polyethylene packed sliced fruits sold in Port-Harcourt markets. 36 samples of freshly cut fruit comprising of Pawpaw (Carica papaya), Pineapple (Ananas comosus) and Water Melon (Citrullus lanatus) were randomly collected from different sellers within Port Harcourt metropolis. Samples were analyzed using standard microbiological methods. Mean Total viable count ranged from Log10cfu/g5.85 – 6.34, mean Total Fungi Count Log10cfu/g 3.23– 3.85. Nine bacteria were identified. Staphylococcus aureus (27.4%) was the most frequently isolated followed by Shigella spp (19.4%), Escherichia coli (16.1%), Bacillus spp(14.5%), Aeromonas Sp(8%), Enterobacter sp(4%),  Klebsiella spp and Salmonella spp (4.8%) respectively. Samples of Pawpaw had high microbial contamination when compared to other fruit samples. The study comes to the conclusion that consumers' awareness of the risks of eating packed sliced fruits should be increased, and that they should once again insist on properly processed/packaged sliced fruits.