Evaluation of the bacteriological quality of fourth range products in the commune of Douala 3, Cameroon: Sanitary risks and public health implications

  • Gerard Kaptue Wambo Research Unit of Biology and Applied Ecology, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
  • Honorine Ntangmo Tsafack Research Unit of Biology and Applied Ecology, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
  • Arielle Marie Pierre Kammegne Research Unit of Biology and Applied Ecology, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
  • Laura Ladouce Yangem Research Unit of Biology and Applied Ecology, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
  • JulesVales Teikeu Teoussi Research Unit of Biology and Applied Ecology, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
  • Godfroy Rostant Pokam Djoko Research Unit of Biology and Applied Ecology, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
  • Joseph Lubala Amani Research Unit of Biology and Applied Ecology, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
  • Teh Exodus Akwa Research Unit of Biology and Applied Ecology, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
  • Franck Rubean Wamba Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
  • Emile Temgoua Research Unit of Soil Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, Department of Soil Sciences,Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
Keywords: Fourth range products; Bacteriological quality; Consumers; Health risk; Waterborne disease

Abstract

Rapid urbanization in Sub-Saharan Africa has led to the expansion of the informal sector, particularly in the sale of fourth-range food products, as in Douala. This situation, without adequate regulation, exposes consumers to health risks, notably water-borne diseases due to precarious hygiene conditions. This study assesses the bacteriological quality of fourth-range products in the Douala 3 commune in order to identify sanitary risks and analyze the implications in public health. A total of 112 samples, including apples, oranges, African eggplants, sweet peas, carrots, papayas and pineapples, were collected from vendors and transported in refrigerated containers to the laboratory. Bacteriological analysis was carried out by plating the samples on selective media. Results showed that, except for apples and some papayas, most samples were contaminated, exceeding EU thresholds (0 cfu/g). Oranges were highly contaminated with fecal coliforms (4.75x103 cfu/g), but lesser with Vibrio spp. (1.4 cfu/g) and Salmonella spp. (5.33 cfu/g). Contamination with Vibrio spp was higher in carrot (603.80 cfu/g). Papayas and pineapples showed high concentrations of fecal streptococci (5.37x104 cfu/g and 4.74 x104 cfu/g, respectively). Sweet peas were the most contaminated, with high levels of Escherichia coli (2.93x106 cfu/g), Salmonella spp. (3120 cfu/g), Shigella spp. (6.63x107 cfu/g) and fecal coliforms (5.38 x107 cfu/g). These results underline the urgent need to improve hygiene conditions and strengthen regulation of the informal food sector. Control and awareness-raising measures are essential to protect public health.

Published
2025-04-01
Section
Articles