Microbial Quality and Safety Assessment of Fresh Lettuce Collected From Marketplaces in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Foodborne disease outbreaks associated with ready-to-eat vegetables are increasing every day. Undercooked vegetables and fruits are considered the major sources of pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These days, raw vegetable consumption is becoming fashionable, particularly in cities where large populations inhabit. The current study was aimed at investigating the microbial quality and safety of fresh lettuce collected from marketplaces in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study design was employed to select 110 vegetable sellers among 11 subcities in Addis Ababa. Microbial counts (colony forming unit, CFU/g) of total coliform (TC), aerobic mesophilic bacteria (AMB), Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus spp., yeast, and molds were conducted by the standard protocols. The study results revealed that the fresh lettuce samples harbored a mean count (log CFU/g) of AMB (10.6), TC (7.1), E. coli (2.9), S. aureus (1.1), Enterococcus spp. (3.0), and yeast (0.4). P. aeruginosa and molds were not detected in any of the tested samples. Enterococcus spp. was the most prevalent, followed by E. coli and S. aureus with prevalence rates of 66.4%, 29.1%, and 10%, respectively. AMB, TC, and E. coli were found to be beyond the international acceptable limits. The high microbial loads in this study imply the poor hygienic conditions of the vegetable market in Addis Ababa. This contamination poses a potential biological health hazard to general consumers as a potential source of foodborne pathogens. The findings underscore the urgent need for improving the hygiene and safety practices of lettuce from production to consumption to safeguard the consumers in Addis Ababa.