MICROBIAL QUALITY AND HYGIENIC PRACTICES OF SELECTED FRESH FRUIT JUICES IN HARAR CITY, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Freshly prepared fruit juices are widely consumed in urban centers of Ethiopia due to their nutritional value, affordability, and accessibility. However, their microbiological safety remains a growing public health concern, particularly when juices are prepared under poor hygienic conditions. This study assessed the microbial quality and hygienic practices associated with mango (Mangifera indica) and avocado (Perseaamerican)juices vended in Harar city. A total of 20 juice samples (10 Mango and 10 Avocado) were collected from local juice houses such as Addot, Selam, Silase, TeshitaJuice, and Berger house between April and May 2022. Standard culture-based methods were employed to enumerate indicator organisms (total coliforms, fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli) and spoilage microbes (yeasts, molds, Staphylococcus species), and to detect selected pathogens (E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, and Shigella). Additionally, a structured questionnaire was administered to 30 vendors and consumers to assess socio-demographic characteristics, awareness, and hygienic practices. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Results showed that both mango and avocado juices were contaminated with coliforms, E. colicounts ranging from 2.42 ± 0.05 to2.77 ± 0.08 log₁₀ cfu/mL. Staphylococcal counts were significantly higher in avocado juices (4.97 ± 0.15 log₁₀ cfu/mL) than in mango (4.30 ± 0.12 log₁₀ cfu/mL, p ≤ 0.05). Yeasts and molds exceeded Codex limits (≤3 log₁₀ cfu/mL) in all samples. Pathogen prevalence included E. coli (30% of samples), S. aureus (40–50%), Salmonella (10–20%), and Shigella (20% in avocado only). All juice samples failed to meet Codex microbiological standards, indicating potential health risks to consumers. Survey data revealed that most respondents were young (67% aged 21–23 years), lacked formal training in food hygiene (83%), and relied exclusively on untreated tap water during preparation.Hence, freshly prepared mango and avocado juices sold in Harar are unsafe for consumption due to high microbial loads and the presence of pathogens. So, it needs urgent interventions on food hygiene training for vendors, stricter regulatory monitoring, improved water quality, and consumer awareness campaigns to safeguard public health