An evaluation of the microbiological quality of commercial beef S uya sold in B enin city, S outh south of N igeria

Abstract

The safety of suya a ready to eat barbecue meat for consumption has been of growing concern as a result of the handling practices associated with its processing . Of major concern is the microbiological quality of the product. This study evaluate d the microbial content of suya meat processed and consumed in Benin City , Edo State, Nigeria . A total of nine (9) suya meat samples were purchased from popular suya spots within each of the three Loc al Government Areas of Benin City, namely: Ikpoba Okha, Egor and Oredo. Samples were subjected to microbiological analysis by first evaluating for the Total Heterotrophic Bacterial Count (THB C)C), Mean Bacterial Count (MBC) MBC), Total Heterotrophic Fungal Count (THFC) and Mean Fungal Count (MFC) followed by characterization and identification of the organisms present and t he n the sensitivity of the bacteria to some antibiotic s . Results showed that highest THB C cfu / and THFC ( cfu / w ere recorded in suya obtained from Aduwawa of Ikpoba Okha L ocal G overnment A rea as 6.14 x 10 ⁴ and 2.24 x 10 ⁴ , respectively ; with lowest values recorded in samples from Ring road of Oredo LGA as 1.83 ×10 ⁴ and 0.66 x 10 4 , respectively . MBC values cfu / ranged from 3.29 x 10 ⁴ to 4.37 x 10 ⁴ while MFC values were in the range of 1.19 x 10 ⁴ to 1.58 x 10 ⁴ . Bacterial species detected in suya sample s were Proteus sp, Micrococcus sp, Serrattia sp, Bacillus sp, Escherichia coli, Klebsella sp, and Pseudomonas sp while fungi isolates detected were Aspergillus niger, Fusarium sp, Saccharomyces sp, Penicillium sp , Aspergillus sp and Penicillium sp The bacteria and fungi isolates with the highest distribution were Bacillus sp, and Penicillum sp , while Escherichia coli and Aspergillus sp, were least distributed in the study. The bacteria with the highest susceptibility was Escherichia coli while Pseudomonas auruginosa was the least susceptible to the antibiotic discs.