National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS)
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PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
The microbial quality of unbranded groundnut oil sold in Mile 1 and Mile 3 Markets in Diobu area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State was investigated. Five samples of different unbranded groundnut oil bought from both markets were used for the microbiological analysis. The isolation and enumeration of total aerobic heterotrophic bacteria, total fungi, and total coliform bacteria counts was done with nutrient agar, potato dextrose agar and MacConkey agar medium using standard microbiological techniques. The results revealed that the total heterotrophic bacteria counts ranged from 0 to 2.5×106cfu/ml and 1.4×105 to 8.3×105 cfu/ml for the Mile 1 market and Mile 3 markets respectively. The total coliform count range from 0to 2.3×104 cfu/ml for samples from Mile 1 markets, while samples from Mile 3 markets did show growth of coliforms. The total heterotrophic fungi counts ranged from 0 to 9.3×104 cfu/ml and 0to 6.45×104 cfu/ml for Mile 1 markets and Mile 3 markets respectively. The counts obtained were beyond the standard limits of 5×103cfu/ml. Klebsiella, Micrococcus and Staphylococcus aureus species were the bacteria isolates identified, while the fungi include Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Curvularia, Penicillium and Rhizopus species. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) at p≤0.05 showed that there was no significant difference between the THB counts from the unbranded groundnut oil samples sold in Mile 1 and Mile 3 Markets, while there was significant difference between coliform counts. The high level of the microbial counts reveals severe contamination of the oil samples which poses a risks to the health of the consumers. Good manufacturing practices, education and enlightenment of the processors and dispensers as well as regular monitoring by regulatory agencies will ensure minimum contamination.
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