Abstract

During investigations on street food vendors’ materials, seventy samples of three types of dish washing water (E₁, E₂, E₃), eighty-five pieces of money, eighty utensils were collected for microbiological assessment. Hands microbiological status of one hundred twenty-five consumers and seventy sellers were also assessed. The analysis revealed that 100% of E₁ washing waters were very impure, while, 44.5% of second washing water (E₂) were impure, 44.5% very impure and 11% acceptable. 45.45% of E₃ washing water were acceptable, 27.27% impure and 27.27% very impure. The spoons and the dinner plates were sometimes contaminated with unacceptable levels (above 10²) of different bacteria such as, coliforms and Staphylococcus aureus (P ≤ 0.05). Knives microbiological examination revealed presence of numerous bacteria (8.6 x 10⁵ cfu/knife) such as coliforms, S. Aureus, Salmonella and Shigella. Pieces of money analysis revealed presence of coliforms and S. aureus. These data showing pathogen bacteria in food vending sites indicates hygiene monitoring failure.

Key words: Street foods, hands, pieces of money, utensils, dish washing waters, bacteria, hygiene.