BACTERIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF FERMENTED MILK SOLD LOCALLY IN SAMARU AND SABONGARI MARKET, ZARIA – NIGERIA

Ten (10) fermented milk samples (nono) from Samaru and Sabongari market  were collected and mesophilic bacteria count in colony forming unit per ml (cfu/ml) using plate count method was carried out. The average aerobic mesophilic bacteria count obtained ranges from 2.0 x 10⁷ to 2.23 x 10³cfu/ml. Most probable number method was employed for presumptive coliform count and out of the 10 samples analyzed, 8 samples had less than 10MPN/ml coliform which indicated that they were satisfactory and safe for consumption while the remaining two (2) samples had MPN/ml coliform greater than 10, indicating that they are unsatisfactory and may constitute health hazard. Confirmatory and completed test also confirmed the presence of E. coli and Klebsiella species. The pH of the samples determined ranges from 3.61 to 4.01, the average titratable acidity and their percentage occurrence in the samples were also calculated. Staphylococcus species (100%), Escherichia species(90%), Streptococcus species(80%), Bacillus species (40%) and Klebsiella species(10%) were isolated in the nono samples. Methylene blue reduction test classified the nono into good (C, D, E, F), Fair (A,B,I,J) and Poor (G,H).Though, the coliform bacterial count was less in some samples, but nevertheless the presence of these bacteria identified is an indication that the fermented milk was feacally contaminated and this can pose a health hazard to the consumers of this fermented milk. As such, the government and authorities concern should enlighten the populace that is the nono sellers on the health hazard associated with unhygienic processing of this milk so as to safeguard the health of the people.