Microbiological Safety Evaluation of Ready to Eat Shrimps and Snails Sold Along Lagos-Shagamu Expressway, Nigeria

Abstract

Vending of ready-to-eat foods (RTFs) along the high ways is a common practice associated to youth unemployment in Nigeria as in some other countries of the world. RTFs sold  on  streets  have  been  implicated  in  foodborne  illnesses  and  its  attendant  economic loses.  The  microbial  quality  of  ready  to  eat  shrimps  (Penaeus  monodon)  and  snails (Achatina  maginata)  was  investigated  in  three  vending  sites  along  Lagos  –  Shagamu express road. Sixty samples (30 each of shrimps and snails) were analyzed for microbial counts  and for organisms of public health importance. The mean total aerobic plate count cfu/g samples ranged from 1.3 x 104 -  3.5 x 104and 3.8 x 104 -  5.6 x 105in abdomen and capitulum of shrimps and 5.6 x 105-  7.5 x 105 in snails. The samples were contaminated with coliforms and fungi at counts ranging from 1.0 x 102 –  2.3 x 102 and 2.0 x 102 –  8.3 x 103. The microbial isolates identified included species of  Bacillus  (31%),  Staphylococcus aureus  (18%),  Klebsiella  (13%),  Escherichia coli  (6%),  Salmonellae  (2%).  Fungal species included  Aspergillus,  Mucor,  Geotrichum,  Fusarium,  Paecilomyces,  Rhizopus  and Cladosporium.  The  presence  of  coliforms  which  are  indicator  organisms  of  feacal contamination and  Salmonellae  which are enteric pathogens is a reflection of the sanitary quality of the processing of these food products. This result is informative with respect to public  health  hazard  and  calls  for  urgent  improvement  in  hygiene  practices  by  food processors and vendors. Adoption of hazard analysis and critical control  point (HACCP) principles  in  seafood  preparation  should  be  encouraged  to  prevent  possible  foodborne illnesses and outbreaks.