Authors : Okeke Onyeka, A.C. Ozuah, Ezeh Ernest and C.C. Ezejiofor
Abstract: Studies were carried out to assess that effect of processing on the microbial load of maize meal products sold within Enugu metropolis using appropriate microbial and biochemical techniques. Eight pathogenic organisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus spp., Aspergillus niger, Bacillus cereus and Candida albican) were isolated in the processed (Akamu, Agidi and Kunu Zaki) and unprocessed maize samples. The pH levels of Kunu Zaki, Akamu, Agidi and unprocessed maize samples were 5.6, 5.1 and 4.9, respectively. The percentage mean bacterial counts in the samples were 43.32, 34.35, 15.00, 3.70 and 3.53% for Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus spp. and Salmonella enteritidis, respectively. The percentage fungal contamination of the processed and unprocessed samples were 78.49, 14.22 and 7.29% for Bacillus cereus, Aspergillus niger and Candida albican, respectively. The mean bacterial and fungal counts in the processed and unprocessed sample were within tolerable limits of human consumption. The samples were contaminated with the isolated pathogenic organisms in the following order: Kunu Zaki>Akamu>Agidi>unprocessed maize.
Okeke Onyeka, A.C. Ozuah, Ezeh Ernest and C.C. Ezejiofor, 2020. Effect of Processing on the Microbial Load of Maize Meal Products Sold Withing Enugu Metropolis. Environmental Research Journal, 14: 45-50.