EVALUATION OF MICROBIAL CONTAMINATIONS OF FLOOR, TABLES AND FOOD DISPENSING TABLES IN SELECTED EATERIES IN OZORO

Food is one of the vehicle involved in the transmission of diseases. Microorganisms like all other living things need food to grow and reproduce. As a result of this, contaminating microorganism consume the chemical components of food and later replace them with metabolic products, which are capable of altering the texture, tenderness, flavor and color of food, or even cause loss nutritional value or become unpleasant and harmful to consumers. Millions of people die every year as a result of food borne diseases and about 5000 victims die every year. Poor food handling is largely responsible for food contamination with bacteria, fungi, and protozoa being the major contaminants and their presence in food causes a wide range of diseases. The effect of these microorganisms has been mild, severe or fatal depending on the ineffective dose.