MICROBIAL POPULATION ASSESSMENT OF SOME FAST FOOD ITEMSCONTAINING VEGETABLES IN SYLHET METROPOLITAN AREA

Abstract

The Present study was conducted with a view to demonstrate the bacterial loads and identification of the bacterial and fungal organisms contaminating some fast food items in the retail outlets of Sylhet metropolitan area and in around Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet. Bacteriological and fungal investigation was conducted on 4 of different types of fast food. The result was expressed in cfu/gm of sample. Mean value of Total Viable Count (TVC) per gram of fast food items Vegetable singara, Shamucha, Alur chop and Vegetable roll were found to be 104.5×10 respectively collected from Balurchor Bazar, Uposhohor, Zindabazar and Shibgonj. The highest mean value of TVC was 104.5× 10 9 9 , 93.5×10 9 , 100.5×10 9, , 67×10 9 from Vegetable singara. The lowest mean value of TVC was 67 ×10 9 , from Vegetable roll. Mean value of TCC per gram of fast food item was (99×10 , 79.5×10 3 3 , 85×10 3 from Vegetable singara. The lowest mean value of TCC was 67.5 ×10 3 , 67.5×10 ). The highest mean value of Total Coliform Count was 99 ×10 3 from vegetable roll. The percentage distribution of Escherichia coli was found in area (75%) in Baluchor area and the lowest was 25% in Uposhohor and Shibgonj area. The antibiotic sensitivity was done in this study and found that isolated Escherichia coli was susceptible to Chloramphenical, Gentamycin and Ceftriaxone. Escherichia coli was resistant to Amoxicillin, Nalidixic Acid Ceftriaxone and Bacitracin. Of the total 16 fast food samples analyzed for the presence of fungal agents also. The samples contained 50% of Aspergillus fumigatus, 43.75% of Aspergillus paraciticus, 56.25% of Fusarium proliferatum & 37.5% of Fusarium graminearum. Of the fungal agents isolated Fusarium proliferatum 9 (56.25%) has the highest frequency of occurance, followed by Aspergillus fumigatus 8 (50%). In Balurchor area the highest fungal agents isolated was obtained in Aspergillus fumigatus 100% followed by F. proliferatum 75% F. graminearum 75% and A. paraciticus 50%. In Uposhohor area the highest fungal agents isolated was counted in F. proliferatum 75% followed by F. 3 graminearum 50%, A. paraciticus 50% and A. fumigatus 25%. In Zindabazar area the highest fungal agents isolated was found in F. proliferatum 75% followed by F. graminearum 50%, A. paraciticus 50% and A. fumigatus 25% and in Shibgonj area the highest fungal agents isolated was obtained in Aspergillus fumigatus 50% followed by F. graminearum 50%, A. paraciticus 25% and F. paraciticum 25%.