SAFETY EVALUATION OF POPULARLY CONSUMED STREET ROASTED CORN AND PLANTAIN IN NIGERIA

This study aimed to determine the level of heavy metal and microbial contaminations of street roasted and vended corn and plantain and determine antibiotic resistance pattern of isolates. Roasted corn and roasted plantain samples were procured from four locations to evaluate the heavy metal, microbial load, identify and antibiotic resistance profile of the isolates using standard methods. The levels of copper found in roasted plantain samples ranged from (3.71 to 12.02 mg/kg) while roasted corn ranged from (3.75 to 10.72 mg/kg). Zinc levels ranged from (5.06 to 7.52 mg/kg) and (23.83 to 28.92 mg/kg) for roasted plantain and corn respectively. Cadmium and lead were not detected. Total viable count ranged from (2.2 to 4.8 x107 CFU/g) and (3.8 x106 to 5.8 x107 CFU/g); Staphylococcal (5.0 x106 to 2.4 x107 CFU/g) and (3.9 x106 to 5.0 x107 CFU/g); Salmonella-Shigella (3.3 to 5.2 x107 CFU/g) and (4.7 to 6.5 x107 CFU/g); and Fungal content (2.2 to 8.2 x106 CFU/g) and (1.3 to 3.1 x107 CFU/g) for roasted plantain and corn respectively. Organisms isolated from samples included Salmonella spp. E. coli, Staphylococcus. Microbial strains showed varied resistance patterns to the different antibiotics screened. All strains were resistant to Augmentin (5 µg), Ceftazidime (30 µg) and Cefuroxime (30 µg). Conclusively, heavy metal content, microbial content, types of microorganisms and the number of antibiotics the isolates are resistant to is of public health concern particularly if street roasted plantain and corn are consumed regularly.