Assessment of Physico-Chemical and Microbial Quality of Sugarcane Juice Sold by Street Vendors in Three Regions of Bangladesh

Sugar cane juice is a popular refreshing drink in most part of Bangladesh. It has great taste and health benefits;also it is available most of the public places at reasonable prices which consumed by road side customers including general public, shopping personals, tourists, students. In our country, street vendors crushing sugarcane between roller crusher and sold without any heat treatment or preservative, also served with or without added ice and lemon juice. The study aimed to identify and compare the physico-chemical and microbial quality of sugarcane juice. The chemical qualities of juices including moisture, PH, ash, total soluble solid, total sugar, reducing sugar and titrable acidity were found slightly different in Mymensingh, Gazipur and Narayangonj areas. The highest and lowest value of moisture, ash, PH, total soluble solids, total sugar, reducing sugar and titrable acidity were found in 84.33% - 79.26% (Gazipur-Mymensingh), 0.57% - 0.04% (Mymensingh-Gazipur), 5.9 - 2.9 (Gazipur-Narayangonj), 17.48% - 4.98% (Mymensingh-Narayangonj), 21.9% - 6.56% (Mymensingh-Gazipur), 3.7 - 2.1 (Gazipur-Mymensingh) and 0.523% - 0.007% (Narayangonj-Gazipur) respectively. For microbiological analysis, the total viable count of sugar cane juice in Mymensingh, Gazipur and Narayangonj were ranged from 0.6 × 105 - 43.6 × 105 cfu/ml, 4.6 × 105 - 21.6 × 105 cfu/ml and 3.6 × 105 - 36.6 × 105 cfu/ml respectively, where the permitted value is 1.0 × 104 cfu/ml, whereas the total coliform count was ranged from 0.4 × 105 - 6.4 × 105 cfu/ml, 0.6 × 105 - 8.4 × 105 cfu/ml and 0.00 - 8.4 × 105 cfu/ml, where the permitted value is 100 cfu/ml and total fungal count was ranged from 5.5 × 105 - 56.5 × 105 cfu/ml, 21.5 × 105 - 54.5 × 105 cfu/ml and 32.5 × 105 - 68.5 × 105 cfu/ml, where the permitted value is 1000 cfu/ml. According to the Gulf standard, the microbiological parameters of all the collected sugar cane juice were out of the permitted standards, so that a serious health outbreak can be caused anytime.

High Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Self-Medication among Street Vendors in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR)

Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a set of peri-articular conditions that result mainly in pain and functional discomfort. They represent a major occupational health problem in all areas of activity. The objective of this work was to determine the prevalence of MSDs among street vendors in the city of Bangui in the Central African Republic (CAR). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 01 to October 31, 2021 in Bangui, the capital of CAR. The study population consisted of street vendors which were included at the entrance of 4 large markets of Bangui after giving informed consent. The sample size, calculated according to the Schwartz formula, was 384. Sociodemographic data (age, gender, level of education, marital status), professional data (the duration of sale in hours, the distance traveled per day);and health data (the health problems suffered by itinerant sellers and the means of dealing with them) were collected using a pre-established self-questionnaire. This collected data was processed using Microsoft Excel 2013 and Epi-Info version 7 software. Results: Among 384 street vendors included, women represented a quarter (24.9%). The average age was 27 years;the 25-34 age group was the most represented (50%). About two-thirds (64.8%) sold for at least 12 hours and traveled more than 10 km (69.3%) per day. The main health problems reported by street vendors were musculoskeletal disorders (95.8%). Their locations concerned the upper limbs shoulder 65.36% (251), elbow 24.22% (93). Non-ergonomic postures that stress the back and joints all day long, causing pain are risk factors for MSDs. These MSDs were treated by self-medication with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (22.0%), mainly sold on the street. Conclusion: MSDs dominated the health problems of street vendors. These problems raise the need for recognition and support for these workers to optimize their performance while preserving their health through awareness and good management of MSDs whose chronicity generates a disability.

Estimates and burden of foodborne pathogens in RTE beverages in relation to vending practices

Objectives:Growing trend of street-vended food in underdeveloped countries offers low-cost food to many sections of population.Although it provides job opportunities to many urban dwellers,several health hazards are associated with this business.The present study investigates the burden of foodborne pathogens in Ready-To-Eat(RTE)beverages in relation to vending practices among street vendors of Rawalpindi City,Pakistan according to standardized methods and protocols.Materials and Methods:Six densely populated locations of Rawalpindi city were selected.Commonly consumed sugar cane juice(SCJ)and tamarind prune(dried plums)drink(TPD)(locally called as Imli Alu Bukhara sherbet)from five vendors from each location were chosen in summer season where the temperature reaches above 40℃.Mean and the standard deviation were obtained by univariate and bivariate analyses.Association between the study variables was assessed through cross-tabulations,chi-square,and correlation tests.Results:All the samples were found unsatisfactory in comparison to guidelines of aerobic plate count.Total coliform was observed in 86.7 per cent of SCJ and 70.0 per cent of TPD samples.Fourteen samples of SCJ exceeded the limit of>1100 MPN/ml value,whereas samples of TPD exceeded this limit for Escherichia coli.All of SCJ and 93.3 per cent of TPD samples depicted the presence of Salmonella aureus.Salmonella spp.were found significantly high in 73.3 per cent samples of SCJ and 23.3 per cent samples of TPD.Conclusions:The incidence of high bioloads attributes towards a potential reservoir of foodborne pathogens due to unhygienic vending practices.