Abstract:
Vegetables are important protective food and highly beneficial for the maintenance of health and prevention of diseases. However, during growth, harvest, transportation and further handling the product can be contaminated with pathogens from animal and human sources. This study was aimed to assess the bacteriological load of post-harvest vegetables sold at Jimma town markets. A total of 32 vegetable samples were purchased from Ajip and kochi of Jimma town, specifically from road side and supermarket and analyzed for their bacteriological loads following standard bacteriological methods. Result showed that the total aerobic count in cabbage samples( 2.34x10 9 to 2.75x10 9 cfu/ml) and carrot samples (2.18x10 9 to 2.5x10 9 cfu/ml) taken from the road sides were higher than the total aerobic count for cabbage samples (1.41x10 9 to 1.78x10 9 cfu/ml) taken from supermarket and carrot samples (1.65x10 9 to 1.72x10 9 cfu/ml) taken from the shops. The two pathogenic bacteria namely, S. aureus and E.coli were identified from all samples. Samples taken from both shops and road sides were contaminated by pathogenic bacteria. The cabbage and carrot might be contaminated as a result of handling by farmers or retailers. Improper handling and improper hygiene might lead to contamination of raw cabbage and carrot and this might eventually affect the health of the consumers. It is necessary and important that both the farmer who harvests the vegetables into bags for transportation, the marketers and consumers take necessary and appropriate precautions in preventing contamination and eating of contaminated vegetables.
