Bacteriological Quality of Ready-to-Eat Meat (Smoked and Kilishi) Sold in Nigerian Markets

Nine different samples of ready to-eat meat comprising of three samples of smoked meat bought from hawkers in Ihiala market and three samples bought from hawkers in Danboyi market, Jos. Three samples of kilishi meat were purchased from West Mile market, Jos. These were analyzed to access the public health implications of eating vended ready-to-eat meat. Standard microbiological methods were used for isolation. Morphological and biochemical analysis were carried out on discrete colonies using pure cultures to establish their identities. The biochemical tests utilized include: catalase, oxidase, coagulase, citrate utilization, and urease tests. The result of this study revealed that a total of four Genera were isolated, characterized and identified. The isolates include: Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Bacillus and Proteus species. Meat from all three sources were contaminated with heterotrophic bacteria. Results revealed that ready-to-eat kilishi and smoked meat studied were grossly contaminated with bacteria. Aseptic precautions should be employed in the processing, packaging and preservation of ready-to-eat meat to avoid outbreak of diseases