Prevalence of pathogenic bacteria in street vended ready-to-eat meats in Windhoek, Namibia

• Published in: Meat science Vol. 148; pp. 223 - 228
• Main Authors: Shiningeni, Daphney, Chimwamurombe, Percy, Shilangale, Renatus, Misihairabgwi, Jane
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2019
• Subjects: Animals; Bacteria - classification; Bacteria - isolation & purification; Cattle; Chickens; Food Contamination - analysis; Food Handling - methods; Food Microbiology; Food Safety; Meat - microbiology; Namibia; Pathogenic bacteria; Prevalence; Street vended meat; Namibia; Pathogenic bacteria; Street vended meat; Prevalence
• ISSN: 0309-1740; 1873-4138
• DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2018.05.014

To determine the prevalence of pathogenic bacteria in street vended ready-to-eat meats in Windhoek, Namibia, a total of 96 street vended ready to eat meat samples were evaluated. Prevalences of 42%, 52%, 15%, 6% and 83% were observed for Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Shigella and Enterobacteriaceae respectively, while the highest aerobic plate counts were 7.74 Log10 cfu/g, 5.67 Log10 cfu/g, 5.12 Log10 cfu/g, 4.56 Log10 cfu/g, 3.3 Log10 cfu/g, 5.75 Log10 cfu/g respectively. Unsatisfactory microbial levels were 32% for aerobic plate count, 26% for Enterobacteriaceae, 35% for Escherichia coli, 11% for Listeria monocytogenes, 7% for Staphylococcus aureus and 6% for Shigella. Salmonella was detected in 11% and 40% of samples from two suburbs. The unsatisfactory microbiological quality of some ready-to-eat meats necessitates the provision of training on food safety and hygiene to street vendors for consumer protection. •Prevalences of L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, E. coli and Enterobacteriaceae determined in street vended ready to eat meats.•Detection of potentially hazardous Salmonella and Shigella, posing health risks.•Determined unsatisfactory levels of E. coli are indicative of likelihood of presence of pathogens.