65 were contaminated after usage of toilet and improperly sanitizing before using the tea
towels. Fecal contamination in outlet III may have resulted from some sort of cross-
contamination. Animalpest droppings on the tables or from raw vegetables contaminated through handling thus when placed on table tops could have transferred
the organisms onto the surface of the table because soto is a ready-to-cooked served hot upon ordering thus, if cooked well, most of the organisms could have been killed. Tea
towel contamination is suspected to have been due contaminated surfaces of which it was placed on or being used to dry which could have had cross-contamination when in
contact.
Table 7.0 MPN counts for fecal coliforms.
RTE food outlets
Utensils washing water
Tea towel Food preparation
table Hands of food
handlers MPN100ml MPN100cm
2
MPN100cm
2
MPNhand I
7.07 x 10
1
1.87 x
10
1
5.03 x
10
1
4.87 x
10
II 4.67 x 10
1
2.05 x
10
1
1.13 x
10
1
3.20 x
10
III 3.00 x 10
1
1.74 x
10
1
4.04 x
10 3.00
x 10
4.3.2.1 Utensils’ washing water
The results in Table 7.0 show that there is fecal contamination in the utensils washing water of ready-to-eat food outlets I, II and III. According to statistical analysis
using LSD least significant difference test, it was seen that there was significant difference between outlets I and III, whilst between I and II and between II and III
showed no significant difference; meaning that fecal contamination of the outlets were almost in the same range except between outlets I and III. Washing water contamination
by fecal coliforms may have been due to ground water source being contaminated by fecal materials from human, and animals; other improper hygiene practices such as dirty
hands of food handlers after using the toilets or wind and pestst like rodents bringing in the organism into the washing area.
Fecal coliform count in outlet I is highest most probably to the type of foods sold and prepared in the outlet such as raw meat, and cooked ready-to-eat foods. Out of the
three ready-to-eat food outlets, outlet I was the one having to sell the most different kinds of foods, therefore much care should be taken to work hygienically and safely as
66 possible. Such practices as, washing water being changed frequently, raw meaty foods
and vegetables should not be washed near or over the utensils washing area and washing of personnels hands should have its own defined place so as to not contribute to
increasing fecal contamination. Many a research carried out stated that water is a very good transmitter of fecal
coliforms. It could be the result of having the water source contaminated by fecal coliforms and thereby result if contaminating the items that come in contact with the
water used. In a study carried out by Sarwar G et al 2007 on bacterial analysis of drinking water, he reported ninety-two 81 untreated and forty-two 19 treated
water samples were positive for coliforms. Furthermore, faecal coliforms were found in 52 of the samples, indicating contamination of faecal origin, and inadequate treatment of
water supplies. Escherichia coli were found in 43.28 of the samples, which is substantial indicator of faecal pollution. These all indicate that fecal coliform
contamination can be found in water, in this case drinking water. E.coli was found in household stored water in Peru, revealed in a study carried
out by Oswald et al 2007. Nevertheless, the best solution remains a connection in the
home providing clean, chlorinated water; all else falls short. Sobel et al 1998 in the
research study in Guatemala detected fecal coliforms using membrane filtration method from stored water, which is water stored in holding vessels like buckets. It was
noted that even after washing their hands, after several hours of working and hand samples then again were taken and found to be recontaminated. With this problem
prevailing, it was proposed that water supplies be chlorinated to reduce coliform loads.
4.3.2.2 Tea towels
