Microbiological Safety of Corn-Based Snack Product, Aadun, Sold in Abeokuta, South-Western Nigeria

Abstract

The microbiological safety of Aadun sold in Abeokuta was investigated. Samples were collected from ten markets in Abeokuta, as being sold and wrapped with fresh leaves or nylon, and analyzed microbiologically. Total viable bacterial counts ranged from 5.0 log₁₀ cfu/g to 5.78 log₁₀ cfu/g; total coliform counts ranged from 0.00 to 5.30 log₁₀ cfu/g and total fungal counts ranged from 5.00 log₁₀ cfu/g to 5.85 log₁₀ cfu/g. Bacteria isolated from these samples were Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus sphaericus, Staphylococcus carnosus subsp utilis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus subsp bovis, Streptococcus australis and Edwardsiella ictaluri while the fungi isolated include Aspergillus niger, Fusarium spp, Mucor spp, Penicillium spp, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigatus. No Escherichia coli and other serious food-borne pathogens were isolated from the samples. Although the aerobic colony counts of aadun samples were higher than International Food Standards (≥105cfu/g or 5.0 log₁₀cfu/g), the absence of food-borne pathogens of microbiological standards such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, Campylobacteria spp, Listeria monocytogenes, Clostridium perfringens and other serious food-borne pathogens in these samples make the food to be microbiologically safe, to some extent, for human consumption.