Microbiological Contamination Levels of Tomatoes Produced and Sold in Niamey, Niger: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

Fruits and vegetables are an important food source of nutrients, vitamins and fiber, and play a vital role in human health and well-being. They are also recommended for reducing the risk of several diseases. This study aims to assess the microbiological quality of a few samples of tomatoes produced and sold in Niamey. To this end, contamination indicator germs such as Total Aerobic Mesophilic Flora (FAMT), Total Coliforms (TC), Faecal Coliforms (FC), Enterobacteriaceae (ENTR), Faecal Streptococci (FS), Clostridium perfringens (CP) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were enumerated, using methods specific to each germ. Analysis of the results shows that market 4 samples were heavily contaminated with FAMT, CT, CF, Ent and SF (7.06, 5.93, 5.74, 6.31 and 6.06 Log10 CFU/g of tomato respectively), market 1 with CP (5.12 Log10 CFU/g) and market 5 with E. coli (5.35 Log10 CFU/g). Twelve (12) species of enterobacteria were identified, including Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli1, Escherichia vulneris, Pantoea spp 1, Providencia stuartii, Salmonella spp, Salmonella arizonae and Serratia liquefaciens. The sanitary quality of these vegetables is poor. That's why it's essential to follow good hygiene practices in the market, to ensure a healthy vegetable.