Incidence of Bacterial Contaminants in Fermented Milk (Nono/Kindirmo) Sold By Fulani Women to Consumers in Wukari Metropolis, Taraba State, Nigeria

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate contaminants in fermented milk sold by Fulani women in Wukari, Nigeria. Fifteen milk samples were obtained from five different sales points (A, B, C, D, and E) for analysis. The Standard Plate Count method was employed to detect contaminants, with spread plate techniques isolating bacteria. The total aerobic bacteria count on nutrient agar plates was found on sample 2 of sales point D with a bacteria count of 3.3 x 10⁶. The total aerobic bacteria count on Manittol salt agar plates was found on sample 2 of sales point D with a bacteria count of 2.4×10⁶. The highest bacterial growth was staphylococcus aureus with 73.33%. The least bacterial growths was Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with 13.33% respectively. Sample 1 of sales point A, samples 1 and 2 of sales point D and sample 3 of sales point E show bacteria growth on the Mannitol salt agar plate, while the other samples shows no growth. Also on a Nutrient agar plate, sample 1, 2, and 3 of sales point A, sample 3 of sales B, sample 3 of sales point C, and sample 2 of sales point D were negative, while the other samples were positive. It can be concluded that the high incidence of contamination with bacteria in nono could be attributed to the unhygienic milking process and post-contamination after pasteurization and during sales.