BACTERIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF EXPOSED SLICED WATERMELON FRUIT (CITRULLUS LANATUS) SOLD BY VENDORS AROUND THE COMMERCIAL AREA OF FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC DAMATURU

This study was aimed at determining the bacteriological quality of exposed sliced watermelon fruit (citrullus lunatus). Three (3) different sliced watermelon were purchased randomly from three vendors around the commercial area of Federal Polytechnic Damaturu. The samples purchased were taken to the laboratory and analyzed using standard microbiological techniques. Pour plate techniques was used for bacterial count wands and isolation after the samples had been serially diluted. The result revealed high bacterial colony count that ranged from 3.88×102 cfu/g and the lowest is 1.80×101 cfu/g respectively. the findings showed that freshly cut watermelon contains a variety of bacteria which include pseudomonas aeruginosa, streptococcus, epidermidis, E. coli, Salmonella and S. aureus. It was concluded that watermelon slices were contaminated and this might result in bacterial infections to consumers. Therefore, it is recommended to sliced fruits properly and maintain a clean environment to prevent microbial infection.