The factors influence microbial contamination in relation to water activity, aflatoxins and food borne diseases in Mbeya city, Mbeya region, Tanzania

The study sought to explore the status of microbial contaminants in street vended food and the incubatory carriers among street food vendors conducted in Mbeya City in 2014. The questionnaires and observation checklists were administered whereas, bacteriological examination of stool specimen and food were collected from 96 street food vendors. The results showed that 21 (27%) out of 78 of food samples collected and five out of 25 stool specimens were found with food borne disease pathogens. Some of the pathogens are not only among the top ten least wanted food borne diseases but also some vendors were convalescent carrier and multidrug resistant. The pathogens include Escherichia coli O157: H7, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Typhimurium. The results showed that 70% of respondents had formal primary education, 27% had secondary school education, 1% had university education suggesting that majority of vendors never had basic knowledge on food safety training to better understand the concept of the food safety in relation to microbial contamination in food and human health carriers. The results of microbial quality of the food demonstrated that the food vendors had to offer unsafe food to their clients. The study identified infrastructure, food equipment, casual helpers, presence of pests, holding temperature for food and storage, weak regulatory systems as a gap in Mbeya City Council. The outcome of this study can serve as a baseline data for management and improvement of the street food safety based on study area.