BACTERIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF SOYBEANS CAKE (AWARA) SOLD AROUND MUBI METROPOLES ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT Soybean cake (Awara), a popular protein-rich street food in Mubi metropolis, Adamawa State, Nigeria, is highly valued for its nutritional benefits but is susceptible to microbial contamination due to poor handling and storage conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the bacteriological quality of hawked soybean cake sold around Mubi, focusing on isolating and identifying bacterial contaminants and assessing their antimicrobial susceptibility. A total of 36 Awara samples were collected aseptically from different locations within Mubi and subjected to microbiological analysis including total coliform counts, bacterial isolation using selective media, biochemical identification, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Results revealed high total coliform counts exceeding permissible limits, indicating poor hygienic conditions. The predominant bacteria isolated were Escherichia coli (30.3%), Staphylococcus aureus (23.3%), Klebsiella spp. (20.2%), Salmonella enterica (14.1%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12.1%). Alarmingly, many isolates exhibited multidrug resistance, particularly to ampicillin and tetracycline, though they remained susceptible to gentamicin, levofloxacin, and ceftriaxone. These findings demonstrate that Awara sold in Mubi poses significant food safety risks due to bacterial contamination and antibiotic-resistant pathogens. It underscores the urgent need for improved hygiene practices among vendors, stringent food safety regulations, and public awareness to safeguard consumer health.