Fungal Contaminants Associated with Vigna subtarranea Cakes (Okpa) Hawked in Three Packaging Materials within Selected Areas of Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

Fungal contaminants and safety of ready-to-eat V. subterranea cakes (Okpa) packaged in milk tins, polythene, and banana leaves, hawked within 4 areas in Makurdi; Wurukum, Wadata, Modern Market and North Bank were assessed. Sixty Okpa samples were purchased from 5 sites at the selected locations, aseptically serially diluted in saline, cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar, and incubated at 25oC for 7 days. Fungal growths were identified by gross colonial morphology, and microscopically, after staining with lactophenol cotton blue. Chi-square (ꭓ2) tested relationships between variables. P values ≤ 0.05 were considered significant. Five fungal species were isolated from all samples, irrespective of packaging material or location. They included A. flavus, A. niger, Candida sp., Penicillium sp., and Rhizopus sp. Across the 5 sites, A. niger, 151 (36.21%), was most isolated, while Penicillium sp., 52 (12. 47%) was least isolated. Okpa in tins had the most isolates, 144 (34.5%), while Okpa in banana leaves had the least, 132 (31.7%). The difference in Isolates from packaging materials was statistically significant (p<0.05). Okpa from Benue Links Park had the highest isolates, 95 (27.8%), while the least isolates were from Okpa from North Bank Market; 75 (18.0%). The difference in fungal occurrence between sample locations was statistically significant (p<0.05). Okpa hawked within selected areas of Makurdi were highly contaminated with fungi of public health concern. Setting standards, regular inspection by public health authorities, and educating vendors and patrons of Okpa on the importance of food hygiene and contamination prevention measures will help in safeguarding public health.