Microbiological Analysis Of Weaning Foods Consumed In Umuariaga Community, Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State:- Nwozor, Nwanneka C

ABSTRACT

Microbial analysis of weaning foods given to infants aged between two and ten months from Umuariaga community was carried out. Organisms. isolated from the food samples were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus plantarum, Streptococcus thermophilus, I . . Penicillium sp Aspergillus sp and Rhizopus Sp. The microbial counts of the food samples were highest for Dawa and pap with counts : 4.5 x 1Ocfu/ml and 4.1 x 10 5 cfu/ml ree spectively while the least counts were recorded for Golden morn and Quaker oats with counts 2.3 x 10° cfu/ml and 2.1 .x I 05 cfu/ml respectively. Contamjnations were highest among uneducated mothers and market» women and lowest among the educated mothers. The presence of these organisms, especially the fo,od pathogens poses a big threat to the heath of the infant, therefore hygienic handling of weaning foods from production to consumption is recommended