Isolation and Identification of Moulds Associated with Four Selected Snacks Sold in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and its Environs

Abstract

Food contamination is a major problem associated with food and snacks hawking in our society today. At a time when a lot of resources are being pumped into improving consumer health through food, it is ironic that more and more people are getting sick or dying from what they eat because of safety slips. This study was,therefore, carried out to determine the level of mould infestation associated with four selected snacks namely meat pie, buns, egg roll and doughnut. The snacks were purchased from vending sites in Amawbia, Aroma, Eke-Awka and Ifite all within Awka, Anambra State. Nnamdi Azikiwe University is within Ifite. Results obtained showed that seven moulds species were associated with the selected snacks. The mould species isolated were Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Penicillium digitatum and Rhizopus sp. Mean total fungal count from the four snacks was significantly higher in Meat pie (21.4 ± 2) and Egg roll (15.3±3) than in Doughnut (6.2 ± 2) and Buns (5.9 ± 1.6). Also, Eke Awka had mean total fungal count of 18.03 ± 3 which was significantly higher than at any other location. The lowest mean fungal count of 8.75 ± 1.8 was recorded at Amawbia. There was variation in the pattern of occurrence of the moulds in the snacks with P. digitatum havingthe highest percentage occurrence in all the locations put together.