Authors : C.N. Obi and N.C. Nwozor
Abstract: Weaning foods fed to infants aged between 2-10 months old from Umuariaga community were subjected to bacteriological analyses. All the food samples analyzed (dawa, pap, custard, Golden Morn and Quaker oats) were contaminated bacteria isolated from the collected food samples were Staphyloccocus aureus, Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus plantarum and Streptococcus thermophillus. The total heterotrophic bacterial counts of the food samples were highest for dawa followed by pap collected from uneducated mothers with counts of 4.43x105 and 4.07x105 cfu mL-1, respectively while the least total heterotrophic bacterial counts were recorded for Quaker oats followed by Golden Morn from educated mothers with counts of 2.13x105 and 2.24x105 cfu mL-1, respectively. The total coliform count (2.63.0x105 cfu mL-1) was highest for pap from uneducated mothers while the least coliform count (1.76x105 cfu mL-1) was from Golden Morn collected from educated mothers. The presence of food pathogens poses a big threat to the health of the infants therefore, proper hygienic handling of weaning foods from production to consumption is recommended.
C.N. Obi and N.C. Nwozor, 2012. Bacteriological Analyses of Weaning Foods Consumed in Umuariaga Community, Ikwuano L.G.A. Abia State. Research Journal of Applied Sciences, 7: 208-211.