Seiyaboh EI, Kigigha LT, Alagoa CT and Izah SC
Palm oil is an active ingredient in diets in many families in Nigeria. Palm oil production is majorly carried out by smallholder processors that use local equipment for processing. This study evaluated the microbial quality of palm oil sold in Amassoma, Bayelsa state, Nigeria. Triplicate samples of palm oil were purchased from six palm oil retailers in Amassoma. Microbiological techniques were applied in the analysis. Results revealed that the total heterotrophic bacteria and total fungi ranged from 0.68-14.40 × 104 cfu/ml and 1.23-12.60 × 102 cfu/ml, respectively. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the total heterotrophic bacteria and total fungi population in most of the locations. The microbial isolates that were identified included Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Micrococcus species (bacteria), and Aspergillus niger, Aspergililus flavus, Rhizopus, Mucor and Penicillium species (fungi). The similarity interaction between the various locations with respect to microbial diversity (bacteria and fungi) ranged from 50.00-92.31%. The microbial interactions of the samples from the different locations were above the similarity critical level of significance=50%. The mean microbial density were within the limits for palm oil used as food, while the diversity of microbial species in the palm oil samples exceeded the specified limit by Nigerian Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC). As such, there is the need for improved handling processes of palm oil by both processors and retailers/marketers.
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