MICROBIAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF EXPOSED POWDERED MILK SOLD IN OMBI I, LAFIA, NASARAWA STATE

ABSTRACT This study investigates the microbial quality of exposed powdered milk sold in Ombi I, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria, from 2023 to 2024, focusing on bacterial and fungal contamination and associated public health risks. The high susceptibility of powdered milk to microbial contamination due to unhygienic handling, poor storage, and environmental exposure in informal markets poses significant food safety concerns, yet localized data in Lafia remains scarce. The study aims to isolate and identify bacterial and fungal contaminants, assess total bacterial and fungal counts, and evaluate factors contributing to contamination in powdered milk samples. Employing a survey research design, five powdered milk samples were collected from distinct vendors in Ombi I and analyzed at the Microbiology Laboratory of Isa Mustapha Agwai I Polytechnic, Lafia, using standard microbiological techniques, including plating on Nutrient, MacConkey, Eosin Methylene Blue, and Potato Dextrose agars. The study, grounded in Food Safety and Microbial Ecology theories, identified significant contamination by pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus (2.429×10³–2.551×10⁵ cfu/ml), Escherichia coli (3.392×10⁵–10.995×10⁴ cfu/ml), Salmonella spp. (4.523×10⁵–17.278×10⁵ cfu/ml), Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus cereus, and fungi including Penicillium notatum, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Rhizopus stolonifer, and Aspergillus flavus. Key contamination sources include unhygienic handling, open storage, and environmental exposure. Statistical analysis using colony-forming unit calculations confirmed high microbial loads, rejecting the null hypothesis of negligible contamination. The study recommends stringent hygiene practices, sealed storage, routine microbial testing, regulatory enforcement by NAFDAC, and public health campaigns to enhance consumer safety. These findings underscore the urgent need for improved handling and regulatory oversight to ensure the safety of powdered milk in informal markets. Keywords: Bacterial Contamination, Fungal Contamination, Food Safety, Public Health, Hygiene Practices.