Handling practices and contamination of raw milk sold for consumption in markets of Kwara State, Nigeria

• DOI: 10.4314/sokjvs.v20i1.7
• Publication Date: 2022-05-20T11:38:52Z
• Authors: I. Ghali-Mohammed; I.A. Odetokun; I.A. Raufu; V.O. Adetunji
• Keywords: Consumption; Personal hygiene

Milk handling practices in the Nigerian informal sector are usually poorly done. This is a threat to food safety and public health. We investigated common by handlers involved milk processing contamination levels of raw cow marketed for consumption Kwara State, Nigeria. In cross-sectional survey, pre-tested questionnaire (n = 500) was administered consenting vendors assess employed processing. Raw cattle 1225) sold markets State were assessed using Total aerobic count (TAC) coliform (TCC) methods. Data analysed descriptive inferential statistics. The majority respondents married (84%), females (65.2%), had no formal education (43.2%). Some unwholesome among such as pooling unsold (40.6%), adding unsterilized water (22.2%), sourcing from streams (53.2%) reported. Females (OR 0.09; 95% CI: 0.040, 0.170; p < 0.001) those with tertiary educational level (OR=0.01, 0.002, 0.041; less likely be associated unsatisfactory hygienic practices. All TAC TCC higher than 5logcfu/ml counts observed dry season. Because safety, high-level good – while enlightenment on standard hygiene, required.