Abstract

Food is an important tool for promoting health and avoiding illness. Poorly prepared and contaminated street food may be the source of foodborne illnesses. Jollof rice was tested for microbiological safety on the Plateau State University campus and in the surrounding community in Bokkos, Nigeria. Jollof rice samples were obtained from seven (7) different food vendors and tested using standard methods. Ten pathogenic species were isolated, including five bacteria and five fungi. The isolated bacteria are Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus species, Bacillus lincheniformis, and Bacillus firmus, while the isolated fungi are Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Cladosporium species, Penicillium species, and Trichophyton species.  According to the results, Escherichia coli had the highest percentage of isolated bacteria (30.7%), followed by Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus species (23.1% each), while Bacillus firmus had the lowest percentage (7.7%). Aspergillus fumigatus, Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Trichophyton species all had a 14.3% prevalence among the fungi. Among fungi, Aspergillus niger has the highest percentage of occurrence (42.8%). Food sellers selling prepared foods on the street must adhere to strict public health regulations and follow food sanitary procedures.

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