Microbiological quality assessment of five common foods sold at different points of sale in Burkina-Faso

PLoS One. 2022 Apr 14;17(4):e0258435. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258435. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to assess the microbial quality of five ready-to-eat food such as bread, pasta, rice with sauce, beans and milk sold in five localities of Burkina Faso namely, Ouagadougou, Bobo-Dioulasso, Dakola, Cinkansé and Niangoloko. One hundred and one samples were collected and microbial quality were assessed by evaluating the food hygiene indicators such as total aerobic mesophilic flora, total coliforms, thermotolerant coliforms, yeast and mould. Food safety indicators such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella, coagulase-positive staphylococci, Clostridium perfringens and Bacillus cereus were also tested for contamination. Samples were tested according to ISO guidelines for all parameters. The results showed that 74 (73.27%) of samples were satisfactory while 15 (14.85%) were acceptable and 12 (11.88%) were not satisfactory according to international standards. Among the food safety indicators sought, Escherichia coli was detected in two samples and Bacillus cereus in four samples. Most of the analyzed food exhibited good hygiene behavior within the acceptable limits and the highest of not satisfactory rate was observed in milk powder and rice with sauce. Ouagadougou samples recorded the highest number of not satisfactory samples. Despite the general quality was satisfactory, the presence of specific microorganisms such as coliforms is indicative of the poor hygiene surrounded these foods. It is therefore necessary to train and follow up the vendors in the handling of equipment, hand-washing practices and selling environment hygiene for better improvement of the quality of the street foods.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacillus cereus
  • Burkina Faso
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Escherichia coli
  • Food Contamination / analysis
  • Food Handling
  • Food Microbiology*
  • Milk
  • Salmonella*

Grants and funding

This research project is jointly implemented by the National Institute of Public Health and the National Public Health Laboratory. It was fully funded by the European Union (EU) under number FED/2019/407-596 The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Grant Recipient: Pr. Elie KABRE.