Microbial Flora Of Frozen Chicken Parts Sold In Umuahia Metropolis.

ABSTRACT

Thirty samples of four different parts of chicken varieties were analyzed to determine their microbial flora; the samples were collected from cold rooms, local market and super markets. All the chicken parts examined (Gizzard, Wings, Legs and Laps) were contaminated. The isolates include Staphylococcus, Escherichia spp., Pseudomonas, Salmonella spp, Aspergillus and Penicillium spp. Samples from supermarkets for all the chicken parts produced 1.3x10' — 3.2x102cfu/g, those from local markets gave a range of 1.2x102 — 9.3x103cfu/g and those from cold rooms gave a range of 1.lxlO' — 1.5x103These findings suggest that most of the frozen chicken parts stored in the open market may constitute sources of bacterial food poisoning and consequently health hazard.