ASSESSMENT OF MICROBIAL LOAD/COUNT IN ABATTIORS AND RETAIL MEAT OUTLETS IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

The study was carried out to evaluate the microbial load in abattoirs and retail meat outlets in Osun State. The microbial analysis were carried out on swabs of clothes, tables, knives and samples of meat and water were collected in six Abattoirs and retail meat outlets in six towns and cities to evaluate the microbial loads which include Total Viable Count (TVCs), Total Faecal Count (TFCs), and Total Coliform Counts (TCCs). The result of microbial analyses revealed that TVCs was highest (269.00 log10 CFU/cm/g/ml) in Ede and lowest (153.00 log10 CFU/cm/g/ml) in Ile Ife. TFCs was highest (45.00 log10 CFU/cm/g/ml) in Osogbo and lowest (1.10 log10 CFU/cm/g/ml) in Iwo. TCCs was highest (680.00 log10 CFU/cm/g/ml) in Ila Orangun and lowest (108.00 log10 CFU/cm/g/ml) in Ilesa. In conclusion, the result obtained from the study shows that there was higher microbial load in abattoirs and retail meat outlets. This is as a result of animals being processed in unsanitary environment, low level of hygiene and sanitation conditions of tools and material used for processing. The higher microbial log means values TVCs, TCCs, and TFCs from swabs and samples analysed are indication of meat contamination and making it a potential source of food spoilage and food borne infections. From the study, it can be deduced that contamination was present right from Abattoirs and retail meat outlets before it's get into the hands of consumers.