1.1 Introduction
The diet of many African peoples especially the Nigeria people are supplement with cassava products preserved by special method such as Garri, fufu etc. It may be partially or completely backed or precooked ready for eating and serving. During preparation, food may be contaminated with microorganisms. Unless the growth and metabolism of this microorganism are controlled, they are capable of altering the condition of food resulting in food spoilage. Microorganism are organisms that cannot be seen by an invaded eyes, their size are within the range of (NM) micrometer to (nm) Nanometre and their activities on food produce food poisoning food poisoning ie an illness that result from the consumption of contaminated food containing toxin screted into it by contaminated microorganism or contaminated by microorganisms when the body release their toxin (Okoli, 1991). Also the (Kay and Dennis 1986) defined food poisoning as any substance applied to the body externally or taken internally that can cause injury to any part of the body or cause death.
In Garri preparation the cassava is pealed, washed, grated then follow by dehydration under pressure, finally frying, packaging and storage. These process if not handle in a good hygiene condition or good environment, microorganism will contaminated it and will result in food can lead to the death of many people which can reduce the working force and increase poverty rate due to heavy hospital bills. To avoid this problem, this research work is designed to know the microbial organisms of Garri in Ogbete market. The microbial organisms present will be analyzed to see if it can cause food poisoning. From the analysis the list of microorganism present or microorganism contamination on garri can be control effectively and our Garri will be save for consumption at anytime.
The intoxication from nature source is that found naturally in contain plants or animals (Frazien and Westhof. 1978). The intoxications caused by bacterial are of two types by clostridium botulinum, staphylococcal intoxication, caused by a toxin in the food produced by staphylococcus aureus. in the production of food, such as in the fermentation of garri, the fermentation reduced the cyanile toxicity in the cassava which if present in large quantity causes food poisoning. The processing of cassava involves the contamination of the cassava if it is not properly processed.
1.2 Statement of Problem
The sources of contamination many include:
- High moisture content of Garri before storage enhances growth of mould.
- Transportation during rainy reason caused wetness of the jut bag which brought about mould growth.
- Seller probably a pathogen carrier of any classification. Some sellers have some infection which are contagious and can contaminate the Garri on sale
- Open air exposure and duration of sale past production. The microbial load in the air can raise above toxic level became of some air borne organism and if Garri is kept in such environment it will be contaminated.
- Storage for longtime may enhance deterioration. Keeping Garri in storage room for longtime will affect the nature of the Garri.
1.3 Aim and Objective of the Study
The aim of the study is to evaluate the Microorganisms on Garri At Ogbete Market. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To evaluate he microbial organisms of garri in Ogbete market.
- To characterize for microbial organism of Garri if any to relate the above to personnel hygiene and environmental hygiene.
1.4 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: The Garri on sale at Ogbete market have no microbial lead
- H1: The Garri on sale at Ogbete market have some bacterial load.
1.5 Significance of Study
This study is based on the fact that Garri which is the staple food of man may caused a lot of harm to his life. This is due to the unhygienic condition of the environemnt during processing, storage and further exposure to the market in which Garri is sold. These microbes can leads to food poisoning and other intoxication (ailment) which can lead to loss of man power and loss of life.
Therefore this work is to stem down ugly trend which may even affect our socioeconomic life by educating the people that are involved inteh processing, storage and selling of Garri about personnel hygiene on the product and how it can be store.
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