Improving Food Safety Culture in Nigeria: A Review of Practical Issues

Mitigating physical hazards in food processing: Risk assessment and preventive strategies

Physical contaminants in food, such as glass, metal, and plastic, can cause significant health risks and economic loss. This study explores these understudied physical hazards, aiming to provide comprehensive risk analysis and preventive solutions. Our research identified several key infiltration points in the food supply chain, including raw material sourcing and packaging stages. These hazards can be effectively mitigated by employing advanced technologies like metal detectors and optical sorting machines, along with stringent quality control measures. The findings offer valuable insights for stakeholders in the food industry, emphasizing the need for regulatory compliance and consumer education to ensure food safety.

Surveillance of Vibrio parahaemolyticus pathogens recovered from ready-to-eat foods

This study examined the occurrence of V. parahaemolyticus from ready-to-eat (RTE) food in Delta State, Nigeria. It also characterized antibiotic resistance and virulence gene profile patterns to determine the associated health risk hazard. Food samples total of 380 were collected randomly and assessed for V. parahaemolyticus. V. parahaemolyticus isolates were characterized for their virulence and antibiogram potentials using a phenotypic and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approach. A total of 42 (11.1%) samples were contaminated with V. parahaemolyticus. In 17/42 (40.5%) of the V. parahaemolyticus-positive samples, the densities were < 10 MPN/g. However, 19/42 (45.2%) and 6/42 (14.3%) of the samples had densities of 10 - 10² and > 10² MPN/g, respectively. A total of 67 V. parahaemolyticus isolates were identified using PCR; 54(80.6%) isolates were multidrug resistant. A total of 22 (32.8%), 39 (58.2%), and 67 (100%) of the V. parahaemolyticus harbored the tdh, trh, and tlh toxin genes, respectively. The T3SS1 gene (vcrD1) was detected in 67 (100%) of the isolates. The T3SS2α genes which were vcrD2, vopB2, and vopT were detected in 21 (31.3%), 11 (16.4%) and 30 (44.8%) of the isolates respectively. Some of the V. parahaemolytics strains harbored the orf8 gene 20 (29.9%), and a combination of orf8 + tdh genes 12 (17.9%), categorized as pandemic strains. The antibiotic resistance genes detected in this study include bla_TEM 33 (49.3), tetM 19 (28.4), cmlA 32(47.8) and sul1 14 (20.9). The concentration levels and prevalence of V. parahaemolyticus in RTE foods indicate contamination of ready-to-eat foods, particularly street foods consumed in the Delta State of Nigeria, threatening public health and consumer safety.

Microbial Contamination and Antibiotic Resistance in Marketed Food in Bangladesh: Current Situation and Possible Improvements

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a public health problem worldwide. Bangladesh, like its neighboring countries, faces many public health challenges, including access to safe food, inadequate food surveillance, as well as increasing AMR. This study investigated bacterial contamination and the AMR profile of pathogens in marketed food in Bangladesh and explored barriers to reducing AMR in the country. We collected 366 tomatoes, 359 chicken and 249 fish samples from 732 vendors in traditional markets in urban, peri-urban and rural areas in Bangladesh, as well as from 121 modern retails in Dhaka capital to analyse Vibrio cholerae and Escherichia coli in fish, Salmonella in chicken, and Salmonella and E. coli in tomatoes. Antibiotic susceptibility against 11 antibiotics was tested using a disc diffusion test and interpreted by an automated zone inhibition reader. In addition, a qualitative study using key informant interviews was conducted to explore antimicrobial use and AMR reduction potential in Bangladesh. We found E. coli in 14.21% of tomatoes and 26.91% of fish samples, while 7.38% of tomatoes and 17.27% of chicken were positive for Salmonella, and 44.98% of fish were positive for Vibrio cholerae. In total 231/319 (72.4%) of all pathogens isolated were multidrug-resistant (MDR) (resistant to three or more antibiotic groups). Qualitative interviews revealed an inadequate surveillance system for antibiotic use and AMR in Bangladesh, especially in the agriculture sector. To be able to fully understand the human health risks from bacterial hazards in the food and the AMR situation in Bangladesh, a nationwide study with a one health approach should be conducted, within all sectors, including AMR testing as well as assessment of the antimicrobial use and its drivers.

Impact of COVID-19 on foodborne illness in Africa - A perspective piece

Food safety investments in Africa, through international donors or national programs, were primarily focused on the formal market sector. However, increasing consumer food safety concerns about foods sold in the growing informal food markets, the rising foodborne disease burden in Africa, and the emergence of COVID-19 have all made food safety a major concern and ultimately brought it to an inflection point in Africa. In addition, Data on foodborne disease outbreaks revealed a scarcity of reported cases before and during the pandemic. The lack of information on foodborne disease reporting in Africa translates into one of the reasons why food safety in Africa is becoming a rising subject matter. This perspective discusses the situation of food safety in Africa before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, challenges confronting ongoing efforts to improve food safety in the post-COVID era in Africa are summarized and highlighted.

Antibiotics Resistant Pattern of Bacteria Isolated from Spoiled Avocado Fruit Sold in Sokoto Metropolis

Consuming fruit contaminated with bacteria remains a crucial route of foodborne infection in developing countries and creates a severe public health burden. The research aimed to determine the antibiotic-resistant pattern of bacteria associated with the spoilage of Avocado pear (Persea americana) sold in the Sokoto metropolis. Twenty spoilt avocado fruits were obtained from market three in Sokoto Metropolis. The bacteriological analysis was carried out using the pour plate method. The antibiotic resistance pattern was determined using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. A total of five species of bacteria were isolated and identified in this study. The mean and standard error of total viable bacterial counts of avocado samples across three different locations ranged from 4.20±5.77 to 8.43±33.49 (x 104CFU/g). A total of 19 bacterial isolates were identified from avocado samples. Staphylococcus aureus had the highest frequency of occurrence, 16 (29.2%), while Klebsiella sp. had the lowest frequency of occurrence, 7 (12.7%). Among all antibiotics tested against bacterial species, Escherichia coli isolates were found to have 10 (91%) and 9 (82%) resistance against ciprofloxacin and streptomycin, respectively. Pseudomonas sp. was found to be 100% resistant to chloramphenicol and Septrin (cotrimoxazole). However, S. aureus was found to have 12 (72%) resistance to pefloxacin. Similarly, Klebsiella spp. were found to be 7 (100%) resistant to Septrin. Isolation of these bacterial species, especially E. coli from avocado samples analyzed, is of public health significance, especially the presence of antibiotic resistance species.