Microbial Contaminants Of Garri Sold In The Open Market Of Umuahia Metropolis:- Awa, Chidinma

ABSTRACT I viii Garri is a roasted granule of cassava (Manihot esculanta) a root tuber crop commonly sold in an open market which can be easily contaminated with microbiological, chemical and physical hazard. The aim of study was to assess the microbial contamination in garri sold in around Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike in Abia State. Twenty samples of garri were purchased from different vendors at Umudike during the month of May 2021. The sample were inoculated on appropriate culture media to determine the total viable bacteria and fungal counts. The total viable bacteria counts ranged from 4.10 x 105 to 9.90 x 105 CFU/g. Total fungal count ranged from 3.20 x 105 to 9.60 x 105. Five (5) bacteria genera namely Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus sp, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus fermentum were identify in the sample. Fungal genera identified were Mucorsp, Rhizopus sp, Fusarium, Candida sp, Saccharomyces sp, Aspergillus sp,. Thus the microbial count of the garri sample were within safe limit of the international food standard. It is observed from the study that, solid particle contamination increased from processing to market and street, The result of this study demonstrate the important of air as the main source of microbial contamination of garri in local market and the need to encourage hygienic packaging of garri by producer and retails in order to ensure food safety for millions of consumers.