Sanitary Quality of the Meals Served in the Canteens and Vicinity of the Lagoon Mother and Child University Hospital Centre and National Hospital and University Centre Hubert Koutoukou Maga of Cotonou (Benin)

Background: Food safety is an integral part of food security. It refers to the protection of the food supply against risks of microbial, chemical and physical origin at every stage of the food chain. The study aimed to investigate the sanitary quality of meals served in the canteens and vicinity of the Lagoon Mother and Child University Hospital Centre (CHU-MEL) and National Hospital and University Centre Hubert Koutoukou Maga (CNHU-HKM) of Cotonou. Methods: It was a cross-sectional with a data collection period from 16 March to 22 April 2021. There were 32 vendors surveyed and 40 meals sampled for microbiological examination. We collected data on the vendors’ socio-demographic characteristics, working environment, health status, knowledge and food hygiene practices. Results: About 83% of the meals contained pathogenic microorganisms. All meals had a temperature from 4°C to 60°C called the “danger zone”. The level of knowledge about food hygiene was low in 65.7% of the vendors. About 47% had poor personal and clothing hygiene, food storage and service practices. Conclusion: These results show that the meals sold in the CHU-MEL and CNHU-HKM could present a health risk for the consumer. There is a need for improvement of the sanitary quality of the meals delivered in the canteens and vicinity of these hospitals.

Evaluation of Health Risks Related to the Consumption of Fish from the Guéssabo River

Fish is rich in essential nutrients but can remain a potential source of food poisoning. A study was, therefore, carried out with the general objective of highlighting the probable biological and chemical dangers associated with the consumption of fish and freshwater fruits from the Guéssabo river. The present study was conducted on 50 carp fish, 50 mackerel fish, 50 frogs and 50 mollusks caught in the Guéssabo River. Microorganisms were enumerated by conventional tests and heavy metals were investigated by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry. The enumeration showed high levels of thermotolerant Coliforms (2.5 × 104), Enterobacteriaceae (3.4 × 104), S. aureus (2.3 × 103) and Yeast/Molds (2.1 × 104), in all samples the standards were not in conformity with the required standards. High levels of Al (7230 μg/kg) and Cd (21.57 μg/kg) were observed in carp fish and these values are above the standard. In conclusion, the fish caught in the Guéssabo River could be a health risk factor for the consumer.