MICROBIAL STUDIES ON NIGERIAN GROUNDNUT AND GROUNDNUT PRODUCTS SOLD IN IKOT EKPENE METROPOLIS

The microbial studies on Nigerian groundnut and groundnut products sold in Ikot Ekpene Metropolis was carried out using standard microbiological techniques. The results of the study revealed the bacterial and fungal counts from peeled groundnut samples as (2.6-3.5 x 105cfu/g) and (0.1- 0.3 x 104cfu/g) among vendor A-C, with control sample recording (0.7 x 104cfu/g) and (0.1 x 104cfu/g), kuli-kuli (2.0 -3.5 x 105cfu/g) and (0.3 -0.5 x 104cfu/g), unpeeled groundnuts (2.8 - 3.3 x 105cfu/g) and (0.3-0.6 x 104cfu/g), with control sample (0.8 x 104cfu/g) and (0.3 x 104cfu/g), raw groundnut (2.6-3.3 x 105cfu/g) and (0.5-0.6 x 104cfu/g), shelled cooked groundnuts (2.5 - 3.2 x 105cfu/g) and (0.2 - 0.3 x 104cfu/g) with control sample (0.6 x 104cfu/g) for bacteria and zero count for fungal, while peanut butter indicated (2.0 - 3.2 x 105cfu/g) and (0.4 - 0.5 x 104cfu/g), and control sample (0.5 x 104cfu/g) and (0.5 x 104cfu/g). The study revealed the presence of eight (8) bacteria genera with frequency and percentage of occurrence in a descending order to include Proteus sp 35(15.9%), Klebsiella sp 32(14.5%), Escherichia sp 30(13.6%), Micrococcus sp 27(12.3%), Bacillus sp 26(11.8%), Staphylococcus sp 25(11.4%), Pseudomonas sp 23(10.5%), Streptococcus sp 22(10.0%), while five (5) fungi genera with their frequency and percentage of occurrence in a descending order are Fusarium sp 10(33.3%), Saccharomyces sp 8(26.7%), Penicillium sp 6(20.0%), Aspergillus sp 4(13.3%), while Rhizopus sp 2(6.7%) respectively. The results therefore reflected a higher bacterial plate count above permissible limit in all purchased samples for bacteria, fungi counts were within permissible limit as stated by CFSAN, hence proper processing, storing, distribution should be observe by producers.