Bacteriological Examination of Locally Packed Tigernut Drink Sold in Auchi Metropolis

Bacterial contamination of ready to eat food sold by street hawkers have become a major health challenge as it is associated with pathogenic microorganisms resulting from poor hygienic practices. This study investigated the bacteriological quality standard of tigerut tubers sold in Auchi metropolis, Edo State, Nigeria. The tiger nut tuber obtained from there different locations; A, B and C. A total of three samples, one from each location and a prepared control were analysed. Isolation was caried outing Nutrient agar, MacConkey agar and Salmonella- Shigela agar. The bacterial isolates obtained were suggestive of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacilus subtilis, Samlonael specei s and Pseudomonas species based no their cultural characteristics and biochemical et.st The total number of viable cel counts were 5.4 ×10' cfu/ml, 65. x 10*' cfu/ml and 3.x9 10c'f'u/ml for emalsp ,ABand Crespectively. Thsi study shows ahigh level of contamination of the tigernut tubers beyond the acceptable limit by the World Health Organisation W( HO) standard. The route of contamination is traceable to hte alck of personal and environmental hygiene by the tigemut vendors. tI si therefore, recommended that sellers of tigermut tubers should be educated on the importance of washing tigemut thoroughly with clean water before sale and also, the consumers of tigernut tubers should endeavor to make it routine to wash tigernut with clean water before consumption.