Microbiological quality of food sold in Maputo city markets

The consumption of fresh vegetables has increased worldwide due to the health benefits they offer. Rich in nutrients and low in calories, they reduce inflammation and the risk of chronic non-communicable diseases. However, vegetable salads are a vehicle for the transmission of foodborne illnesses because they do not undergo heat treatment to eliminate microorganisms that can contaminate these products from the production site to the consumer's plate. In recent years, we have witnessed an increase in the number of people selling food in the markets and streets of Maputo. However, these locations lack adequate hygienic and sanitary conditions, which compromises the quality of the products and, consequently, the health of the consumer. A study was conducted to assess the level of contamination of vegetable salads, water, and utensils used in food preparation. The results showed the presence of microorganisms from the Enterobacteriaceae family in the samples, with the exception of the water, confirming that most of these places do not have adequate conditions for the sale of ready-to-eat food, which compromises the health of the food handler.