Microbiological safety assessment of ready-to-eat cooked foods in the Addis Ababa School Feeding Program, Ethiopia

This investigation assessed microbial contamination indicators in RTE school meals and drinking water in the Addis Ababa SFP, Ethiopia. Samples were collected from 18 primary school kitchens in March and April 2024. Microbiological analysis was performed on 37 cooked food samples and 18 drinking water samples using ISO and NMKL guidelines. The microbiological investigation of RTE prepared meal samples revealed an overall acceptable level of quality and safety. However, concerns were identified. Yeasts and molds surpassed reference standards in 78.4 % of samples (>10² cfu/ml), <i>E. coli</i> exceeded standards in 10.8 % of samples (>10² cfu/ml), and <i>S. aureus</i> counts exceeded limits in 5.4 % of samples (10³ -10⁴). Cooked rice the highest microbiological counts, especially of <i>E. coli and S. aureus.</i> Approximately 14.4 % of food samples were unsatisfactory, showing contamination from <i>E. coli, S. aureus,</i> and yeasts and molds. Regarding drinking water, the non-potable percentage in drinking water was 23.4 %, raising concerns about APC microbial count, <i>TC,</i> and <i>FC.</i> In particular, 72 % of the drinking water samples surpassed the APC criteria (>100 cfu/ml), 16 % exceeded the <i>TC</i> standard (>1 cfu/ml), and 5.5 % exceeded the <i>FC</i> threshold. The microbiological quality of meals served through the Addis Ababa SFP generally met established standards. However, some food samples exceeded the permitted limits, indicating hygiene difficulties. Therefore, stringent premises and personal hygiene measures must be implemented to safeguard their safety and well-being of the school children.