INVESTIGATING FOOD SAFETY PRACTICES AND MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION IN MANDATE MARKET ILORIN KWARA STATE

Abstract

Foodborne illnesses remain a major public health concern, particularly in low and middle-income countries where 
street-vended foods are widely consumed. This study assessed the microbiological safety of ready-to-eat foods sold 
in Mandate Market, Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State, Nigeria. The objective was to identify the 
presence and types of microbial contaminants and evaluate the hygiene practices of food vendors to determine their 
potential risks to public health. A total of 8 food samples comprising rice, beans, meat, and stew were randomly 
collected from various food vendors within the market. Standard microbiological procedures were employed, 
including serial dilution, inoculation on MacConkey and blood agar, incubation, and colony characterization using 
morphological and biochemical methods. The bacteriological analysis revealed the presence of pathogenic 
organisms such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella species, indicating fecal contamination 
and poor handling practices. The study concludes that the microbial quality of ready-to-eat foods sold in Mandate 
Market is substandard and may contribute to the burden of foodborne diseases in the area. It recommends regular 
food safety training for vendors, strict enforcement of hygiene regulations by health authorities, and periodic 
microbial surveillance of market foods. Ensuring safe food handling practices is essential to protecting public health 
and preventing disease outbreaks in urban markets.