ABSTRACT

 Fried fish samples were collected from five major patronized canteens in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State and they were subjected to microbiological and quality assessment in order to ascertain their safety to students and staffs of the University community. The canteens include Post Graduate canteen (sample A), Rhema canteen (sample B), Big radio canteen (sample C), Merchandize canteen (sample D), Impeccable canteen (sample E), and the control fried fish (sample F) prepared by the researcher. in the proximate analysis, sample A had the highest moisture content of 18.61% which is significantly higher (P<0.05) than • the other samples, while sample D had the least moisture content of 10.27%. Also, the ash, fat • and carbohydrate contents of the samples were significantly different from each other. Sample F had the highest ash content of 3.81%. Sample B had the highest fat content of 31.27% while sample C had the highest protein content of 38.50%. Carbohydrate content was lound to be highest in sample E (31 .28%). However, the protein and fiber contents of sample D and Sample F were not significantly different (P>0.05) from each other. Also the carbohydrate contents of sample A and F were similar (P>005). The total viable counts indicated the presence of Staphylococcus aureus (3.2x10') from PG canteen (sample A), Enterohacier specie (5.2x10¹) from Rhema canteen (sample B,), E. coli (1.2x10¹) from Big Radio canteen (sample C), Staphylococcus and Kiebsiella spp (3 .6x10') from Merchandize canteen (sample D) and Kiebsiella .spp, .1. Coli (3.10x10¹) from Impeccable canteen (sample E) while sample F (control) recorded no total viable counts. it is also seen that the total viable counts for the first week was highest in sample D (Merchandize canteen) with microbial counts of Staphylococcus and Kiebsiella .spp, and sample E (Impeccable canteen) with microbial count of Kiebsiella spp and E. coli while sample F (control) recorded zero microbial count. In the second week Sample A (PG canteen), B (Rhema canteen), C (Big Radio canteen) and F (control) also recorded no total viable counts respectively while sample D (merchandize canteen) was found to be contaminated with F. coli (2.5x]0') while sample E (Impeccable canteen) was also found to be contaminated with E. coli (2.3x10'). Thus sample F (control) proved to be free from any microbial contaminants for 'the two weeks interval. This work revealed that all the fish samples from the various canteens can pose health danger because of the presence of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacier, F. coli, and Kiebsiella.