ASSESSMENT OF MICROBIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION LEVELS IN CASSAVA PRODUCTS SOLD WITHIN IKOT EKPENE URBAN

The assessment of microbiological and chemical contamination levels in cassava products sold within Ikot Ekpene urban was conducted and the results revealed that sample A recorded highest bacterial 9.0 x 104 cfu/g, sample C 8.9 x 104 cfu/g, sample B 6.2 x 104 cfu/g, sample D 5.0 x 104 cfu/g and sample E 4.0 x 104 cfu/g, while fungal count indicated highest from A 3.8 x 104 cfu/g, sample B 3.0 x 104 cfu/g, sample E 2.5 x 104 cfu/g, C 2.2 x 104 cfu/g and sample D 1.8 x 104 cfu/g. The finding revealed the presence of five bacterial and three isolates, Bacillus sp, Staphylococcus sp., Lactobacillus sp, Leuconostoc sp, and Corynebacterium sp, Aspergillus sp, Penicillium sp and Mucor sp. The frequency and percentage occurrence of isolated organisms in a descending order is indicated as followed. Lactobacillus sp 13(31.6%), Staphylococcus sp 10(26.3%), Leuconostoc sp 9(23.7%), Bacillus sp 4(10.5%), Corynebacterium sp 3(7.9%) for bacteria and Aspergillus sp 10(40%), Penicillium sp 9(36%), Mucor sp, 6(24%) for fungal. The chemical contents of different cassava products revealed that white garri recorded hydrogen cyanide (HCN) contents of (6.2575 ± 0.173 mg/100g), and tannins value of (2.8115 ± 0.016mg/100g), red garri HCN (1.2665 ± 0.054 mg/100g), and tannins (0.63 ± 0.004 mg/100g), fufu recorded HCN (0.983 ± 0.003 mg/100g), and tannins (0.0945 ± 0.004 mg/100g), abacha indicated HCN (11.912 ± 0.004 mg/100g), and tannins (3.2955 ± 0.005 mg/100g), while tapioca recorded HCN (2.152 ± 0.004 mg/100g), and tannins (2.9035 ± 0.004 mg/100g). Microbial load of this study, is above the permissible standard recommended by FDA/CFSAN.