TITLE:
Microbiological Quality of Cyperus esculentus L. Products Sold in Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso (Burkina Faso)
AUTHORS:
Zénabou Semdé, Passinguemsin Alice Sonia Tiendrebeogo, Bahanla Edwige Oboulbiga, Charles Parkouda, Hagrétou Sawadogo Lingani
KEYWORDS:
Cyperus esculentus L., Tiger Nut Tubers, Tiger Nut Milk, Microbiological Quality
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.14 No.3,
March
18,
2024
ABSTRACT: This
study aimed to assess the microbiological quality of tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) products sold in Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso. The microbial load of
tubers and tiger nut milk was determined using ISO 4833-1 (2003) standard
(total mesophilic aerobic flora), NF ISO 7954 (1998) standard (yeasts and
molds), and ISO 4832 (2006) standard (total coliforms, thermotolerant
coliforms). The results showed that tiger nut tubers had an average microbial
load between 4.86 ± 7.03 × 106 UFC/g and 1.82 ± 2.30 × 107 UFC/g for total mesophilic aerobic flora, from 4.34 ± 10.6 × 105 UFC/g to 3.52 ± 4.54 × 106 UFC/g for yeasts and molds, from 2.23 ±
2.25 × 105 UFC/g to 1.41 ± 2.16 × 105 UFC/g for total
coliforms and from 1.83 ± 2.03 × 105 UFC/g to 7.0 ± 10.8 × 104 CFU/g for thermotolerant coliforms. For tiger nut milk samples, the average
microbial load varied from 3.48 ± 2.98 × 106 CFU/g to 2.80 ± 5.69 ×
107 CFU/g for total mesophilic aerobic flora, from 5.00 ± 7.21 × 104 CFU/g to 1.88 ± 3.31 × 105 CFU/g for yeasts and molds, from 4.58 ±
10.4 × 104 CFU/g to 6.31 ± 9.17 × 105 CFU/g for total
coliforms and 7.00 ± 7.00 × 103 CFU/g to 2.87 ± 5.86 × 105 CFU/g for thermotolerant coliforms. This study revealed that the tubers and
tiger nut milk sold in Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso had a high microbial load
which could lead to the degradation of these products and food poisoning for
consumers.