Microbial contamination in palm oil selected from markets in major cities of Ghana

The study assessed the microbiological contamination of palm oil sold in the major cities of Ghana's oil-producing regions. Seventy samples (10 samples from each region) were randomly collected in sterile bottles and transported aseptically to the laboratory for analysis. AOAC standard methods...

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Main Authors: Roseline Love MacArthur, Ernest Teye, Sarah Darkwa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2021-07-01
Series:Heliyon
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844021017849
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spelling doaj-49695659cc9046c5a6c9d1bc1336fdc82021-08-02T04:42:01ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402021-07-0177e07681Microbial contamination in palm oil selected from markets in major cities of GhanaRoseline Love MacArthur0Ernest Teye1Sarah Darkwa2University of Cape Coast, School of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Cape Coast, Ghana; University of Cape Coast, Faculty of Science &amp; Technology Education, Department of Vocational and Technical Education, Cape Coast, Ghana; Corresponding author.University of Cape Coast, School of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Cape Coast, GhanaUniversity of Cape Coast, Faculty of Science &amp; Technology Education, Department of Vocational and Technical Education, Cape Coast, Ghana; Corresponding author.The study assessed the microbiological contamination of palm oil sold in the major cities of Ghana's oil-producing regions. Seventy samples (10 samples from each region) were randomly collected in sterile bottles and transported aseptically to the laboratory for analysis. AOAC standard methods and procedures were used to isolate and identify bacteria and fungi based on their cultural, morphological, and biochemical characteristics. The results were analysed using One-Way ANOVA with 5% significance level, using GraphPad Prism, version 5.0 for windows, and the results presented in graph and tables. The quality of oils was moderately good with total Coliform counts of 2.0×101 ± 6.03 CFU/g and 1.72×103 ± 6.66 CFU/g. Microbial counts from the selected regions were statistically different at P < 0.05. Findings established the absence of yeast and moulds in the oils in addition to extremely pathogenic Coliforms such as Salmonella and Shigella species. Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were highlighted as dominant coliforms found in the oils after the assay. The overall findings suggest that the oil from the Greater Accra region was of best quality and safest for consumption. Oil samples from the Central and Ashanti regions were of relatively poor quality recording the highest dominant coliforms. Nonetheless, the presence of the isolated potentially harmful microorganisms in the palm oil samples points to hygienic issues and poses a relative health hazard to consumers.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844021017849Crude palm oilGhanaHealth impactsMicrobiological contamination
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Roseline Love MacArthur
Ernest Teye
Sarah Darkwa
spellingShingle Roseline Love MacArthur
Ernest Teye
Sarah Darkwa
Microbial contamination in palm oil selected from markets in major cities of Ghana
Heliyon
Crude palm oil
Ghana
Health impacts
Microbiological contamination
author_facet Roseline Love MacArthur
Ernest Teye
Sarah Darkwa
author_sort Roseline Love MacArthur
title Microbial contamination in palm oil selected from markets in major cities of Ghana
title_short Microbial contamination in palm oil selected from markets in major cities of Ghana
title_full Microbial contamination in palm oil selected from markets in major cities of Ghana
title_fullStr Microbial contamination in palm oil selected from markets in major cities of Ghana
title_full_unstemmed Microbial contamination in palm oil selected from markets in major cities of Ghana
title_sort microbial contamination in palm oil selected from markets in major cities of ghana
publisher Elsevier
series Heliyon
issn 2405-8440
publishDate 2021-07-01
description The study assessed the microbiological contamination of palm oil sold in the major cities of Ghana's oil-producing regions. Seventy samples (10 samples from each region) were randomly collected in sterile bottles and transported aseptically to the laboratory for analysis. AOAC standard methods and procedures were used to isolate and identify bacteria and fungi based on their cultural, morphological, and biochemical characteristics. The results were analysed using One-Way ANOVA with 5% significance level, using GraphPad Prism, version 5.0 for windows, and the results presented in graph and tables. The quality of oils was moderately good with total Coliform counts of 2.0×101 ± 6.03 CFU/g and 1.72×103 ± 6.66 CFU/g. Microbial counts from the selected regions were statistically different at P < 0.05. Findings established the absence of yeast and moulds in the oils in addition to extremely pathogenic Coliforms such as Salmonella and Shigella species. Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were highlighted as dominant coliforms found in the oils after the assay. The overall findings suggest that the oil from the Greater Accra region was of best quality and safest for consumption. Oil samples from the Central and Ashanti regions were of relatively poor quality recording the highest dominant coliforms. Nonetheless, the presence of the isolated potentially harmful microorganisms in the palm oil samples points to hygienic issues and poses a relative health hazard to consumers.
topic Crude palm oil
Ghana
Health impacts
Microbiological contamination
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844021017849
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