Microbiological Quality of Fresh and Grilled Mutton Sold in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Abstract

In Ouagadougou, grilled meats in the form of pieces and brochettes are very popular and well-known to consumers. The aim of this study was to assess the microbial quality of mutton meat sold in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. A total of 120 samples were collected from 20 meat grillers 60 samples of fresh meat and 60 samples of grilled meat. The sampling was done between the month of August 2018 and the month of February 2019. The samples were analyzed according to standard methods. The test performed were counts of Aerobic Mesophilic Bacteria (AMB), yeasts and molds, enterobacteria, Campylobacter spp, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Brucella spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the search for salmonella, and the detection of antibiotics residues. Results showed a high count of AMB (8.77 and 6.78 log UFC/g); enterobacteria (6.58 and 3.05 log UFC/g), Staphylococcus aureus (6.45 and 4.35 log UFC/g), Bacillus cereus (6.98 and 4.52 log UFC/g), Campylobacter (6.03 and 3.86 log UFC/g), yeasts and molds (4.80 and 3.26 log UFC/g) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (0.45 and 0.15 log UFC/g), respectively in fresh meat and grilled meat. Presumptive Salmonella was found in 95% of fresh meat samples and in 75% of grilled meat samples. In the tested samples, no Brucella spp were detected. However, residues of antibiotics were found in 5% of fresh meat samples and 5% of grilled meat samples. Means of moisture and pH were respectively 74.91% and 6.05% for fresh meat and 53.21% and 6.06% for grilled meat. The average microbial counts recorded in fresh and grilled meat are significantly high and indicate poor hygiene in the raw material and ready-to-eat meat. Good practices of hygiene and processing guides should be developed for the meat grilling value chain actors to reduce contamination risks.