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

Education and regulations of hygienic practices are poorly carried out in the informal sector of food supply chain in developing countries, especially rural communities. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate microbiological status of fish and meat retail surfaces in Ebelle market. Four swab samples of fish and meat retail surfaces were collected and examined for microbiological load and profile. Safety of selected isolates was assessed by haemolytic analysis and antibiotic susceptibility profile tests. The total bacterial counts from the surfaces were within the range of 5.06 - 6.40 Log10 CFU/cm². Coliforms were detected only in fish retail surface swab samples; EF1 (3.96 Log10 CFU/cm²) and EF2 (5.58 Log10 CFU/cm²). EF2 had a total E. coli count of 4.78 Log10 CFU/cm². The identified species include Bacillus sp. (23.08%), Escherichia coli (7.69%), Proteus sp. (15.38%), Pseudomonas sp. (7.69%), Salmonella sp. (97.69%), Staphylococcus aureus (15.38%) and Streptococcus sp. (23.08%). The total heterotrophic fungal counts were between 2.27 and 3.29 Log10 cfu/cm². β-, α- and γ-haemolysis was exhibited by 9, 2 and 2 isolates respectively. Antibiotic susceptibility test showed that some isolates were multidrug resistant. The results obtained in this study indicate the retail surfaces are potential sources of food contamination. Therefore it is pertinent for regulatory and public health authorities to establish cleaning and sanitation guidelines and train rural food vendor and retailers on the steps and importance of cleaning and sanitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informal vendors are a critical source of food security for urban residents in African cities. However, the livelihoods of these traders, and the governance constraints they encounter, are not well-understood outside of the region's capital and primate cities. This study focuses on two distinct secondary cities in Nigeria, Calabar in the South-South geopolitical zone of the country and Minna in the Middle Belt region. Interviews were collected with local and state officials in each city on the legal, institutional, and oversight functions they provide within the informal food sector. This was complemented with a survey of approximately 1097 traders across the two cities to assess their demographic profile, contributions to food security, key challenges they face for profitability, engagement with government actors, and degree of access to services in the markets. The analysis highlights two main findings. First, informal traders report less harassment by government actors than has been observed in larger Nigerian cities. At the same time, however, the enabling environment is characterized by benign neglect whereby government-mandated oversight functions are not comprehensively implemented and service delivery gaps remain a major hindrance to food safety. Second, there are important differences in the needs of traders across cities, suggesting that policies focused on food safety and improving the livelihoods of this constituency more broadly need to be properly nuanced even at the subnational level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Foodborne disease is a major public health problem in poor countries, but we lack effective, sustainable and scalable approaches that work in the traditional, informal markets where most fresh, risky food is sold. A promising intervention is working with informal sector vendors to provide: a) training and technologies; b) an enabling environment; c) motivation for behaviour change. Materials and methods: We present a long-term follow-up of pilot project in one of the largest abattoirs and meat markets in Nigeria. An evaluation shortly after implementation found the intervention was acceptable, cost-effective and resulted in safer meat. The follow-up nine years later using mixed methods: qualitative surveys and microbiological tests. Results and Discussion: The policy environment had become disabling, partly as a result of authorities attempts to move butchers to a modern, hygienic but more distant abattoir. This was resisted by the butchers. Authorities revoked the license for Bodija market and stopped providing services. Matters escalated and forceful attempts to remove butchers resulted in deaths followed by riots. Meat safety deteriorated. Conclusion: The case study shows the importance of an enabling environment and need for stakeholder collaboration in attempting to improve food safety in the traditional sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]