ASSESSMENT OF MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF DRIED VEGETABLES MARKETED IN VHEMBE DISTRICT, SOUTH AFRICA.

Fruits and vegetables are important sources of nutrients and are included as part of healthy and balanced diet globally. Contamination of these commodities with pathogens during growth, harvesting, storage, transportation, processing and handling might occur. However, some of the pathogens are originated from human, animal or environmental sources. This study was conducted in order investigate the microbiological quality of sixty (60) different types of dried vegetable (pumpkin flower, leaves and cowpea leaves) samples that were purchased from various street vendors around Vhembe district municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Five (5) different locations were identified, and twenty (20) samples of each dried vegetables were randomly collected. Microbiological analyses were conducted for coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli, Salmonella species, Bacillus cereus, total plate count, yeasts and moulds. Data analyses were conducted using SPSS version 25. Coliform counts were present in all dried vegetables samples ranging from 0.00 - 3.70 log10cfu/g. Escherichia coli counts ranged from 0.00 - 4.62 log10 cfu/g. Salmonella spp. varied from 0.00 - 3.75 log10 cfu/g. Bacillus cereus ranged from 0.00 - 3.72 log10 cfu/g. Total plate count ranged from 2.13 - 2.66 log10 cfu/g. Yeast counts ranged from 2.03 - 5.61 log10 cfu/g. However, mould counts did not grow after incubation for the dried vegetable samples. Most of the microbiological results were in line with the Food and Drug Administration standards of Philippines and Department of Health of South Africa. The study showed that most dried vegetable samples were safe for human consumption which means that good hygiene practices were properly implemented by street vendors However, there is a need for food scientist, policy makers and government officials to train street vendors on how to handle their food products as most of them are sold uncovered which lead to high microbial growth. The aim of the study was to assess the microbiological quality of dried vegetables such as pumpkin flowers (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne), pumpkin leaves (Cucrbita pep L.) and cowpea leaves (Vigna sinensis) sold in Vhembe district municipality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]