Foodborne Microbiological Hazards in Ghana: A Scoping Review

Overview

Journal Environ Health Insights

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty Environmental Health

Date 2024 Jul 26

PMID 39055116

Authors

Wisdom K Ahiabor

Fleischer C N Kotey

Patience B Tetteh-Quarcoo

Eric S Donkor

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Foodborne diseases pose a significant public health threat, particularly in regions with poor sanitation and food handling practices. These diseases, mainly caused by microbiological hazards like bacteria, fungi, and parasites, affect millions globally. Despite the global burden, the true extent of these hazards remains underestimated, especially in low- and middle-income countries like Ghana. This study aimed to map the available literature on foodborne microbiological hazards in Ghana, providing an overview of the evidence and identifying areas where further research is needed.

Method: This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews. A detailed search was done in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, and articles were exported to Rayyan for screening. A three-phase screening process was used to identify relevant articles. Data from the included articles were extracted and analysed, with specific information related to food type, specific hazards, sample population, and hazard groups summarised using proportions and tables.

Results: This review included 72 studies which were published between 2001 and 2023. Eighty-five percent of these studies (85%) reported on bacterial hazards, while 19%, 11%, and 6% reported on fungi, parasites, and mycotoxins, respectively. The most reported bacterial, fungal, and parasitic hazards were , spp. and , respectively. Aflatoxins were reported in maize, groundnut, and spices, with prevalence ranging from 61% to 100% and at levels exceeding standards set by Ghana Standards Authority and European Food Safety Authority.

Conclusion: This review highlighted the spectrum of microbiological hazards in foods in Ghana. The hazards identified pose significant public health risks, particularly among vulnerable populations. It is crucial that stricter enforcement of food safety laws and improved food handling practices are implemented in the country, particularly in the informal food sector, to protect consumers.

References

Eraky M, Rashed S, Nasr M, El-Hamshary A, Salah El-Ghannam A . Parasitic contamination of commonly consumed fresh leafy vegetables in benha, egypt. J Parasitol Res. 2014; 2014:613960. PMC: 4084512. DOI: 10.1155/2014/613960. View

Donkor E, Aning K, Quaye J . Bacterial contaminations of informally marketed raw milk in ghana. Ghana Med J. 2007; 41(2):58-61. PMC: 1976296. DOI: 10.4314/gmj.v41i2.55302. View

Zhang H, Yamamoto E, Murphy J, Locas A . Microbiological safety of ready-to-eat fresh-cut fruits and vegetables sold on the Canadian retail market. Int J Food Microbiol. 2020; 335:108855. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2020.108855. View

Sackey B, Mensah P, COLLISON E, Sakyi-Dawson E . Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella and Escherichia coli in live and dressed poultry from metropolitan accra. Int J Food Microbiol. 2002; 71(1):21-8. DOI: 10.1016/s0168-1605(01)00595-5. View

Vassar M, Yerokhin V, Sinnett P, Weiher M, Muckelrath H, Carr B . Database selection in systematic reviews: an insight through clinical neurology. Health Info Libr J. 2017; 34(2):156-164. DOI: 10.1111/hir.12176. View

Asuming-Bediako N, Kunadu A, Jordan D, Abraham S, Habib I . Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Campylobacter jejuni in raw retail chicken meat in Metropolitan Accra, Ghana. Int J Food Microbiol. 2022; 376:109760. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2022.109760. View

Adjei V, Mensah G, Kunadu A, Tano-Debrah K, Ayi I, Addo K . Microbial Safety of Beef Along Beef Value Chains in the Ashaiman Municipality of Ghana. Front Vet Sci. 2022; 9:813422. PMC: 9257630. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.813422. View

Nkekesi B, Amenya P, Aboagye G, Kortei N . Street-vended grilled beef sausages as potential vehicles of bacterial and fungal pathogens: An exploratory survey in Ho, the capital city of the Volta Region of Ghana. Food Sci Nutr. 2023; 11(11):7013-7025. PMC: 10630801. DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.3625. View

Baah D, Kotey F, Dayie N, Codjoe F, Tetteh-Quarcoo P, Donkor E . Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria Contaminating Raw Meat Sold in Accra, Ghana. Pathogens. 2022; 11(12). PMC: 9784824. DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11121517. View

10.

Scallan E, Griffin P, Angulo F, Tauxe R, Hoekstra R . Foodborne illness acquired in the United States--unspecified agents. Emerg Infect Dis. 2011; 17(1):16-22. PMC: 3204615. DOI: 10.3201/eid1701.091101p2. View

11.

Madoroba E, Magwedere K, Chaora N, Matle I, Muchadeyi F, Mathole M . Microbial Communities of Meat and Meat Products: An Exploratory Analysis of the Product Quality and Safety at Selected Enterprises in South Africa. Microorganisms. 2021; 9(3). PMC: 7997435. DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9030507. View

12.

Christiana Cudjoe D, Balali G, Titus O, Osafo R, Taufiq M . Food Safety in Sub-Sahara Africa, An insight into Ghana and Nigeria. Environ Health Insights. 2022; 16:11786302221142484. PMC: 9755555. DOI: 10.1177/11786302221142484. View

13.

Dela H, Egyir B, Behene E, Sulemana H, Tagoe R, Bentil R . Microbiological quality and antimicrobial resistance of Bacteria species recovered from ready-to-eat food, water samples, and palm swabs of food vendors in Accra, Ghana. Int J Food Microbiol. 2023; 396:110195. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2023.110195. View

14.

Mohamed M, Siddig E, Elaagip A, Edris A, Nasr A . Parasitic contamination of fresh vegetables sold at central markets in Khartoum state, Sudan. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob. 2016; 15:17. PMC: 4788893. DOI: 10.1186/s12941-016-0133-5. View

15.

Siluma B, Kgatla E, Nethathe B, Ramashia S . Evaluation of Meat Safety Practices and Hygiene among Different Butcheries and Supermarkets in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023; 20(3). PMC: 9916278. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032230. View

16.

Abass K, Ganle J, Adaborna E . Coliform Contamination of Peri-urban Grown Vegetables and Potential Public Health Risks: Evidence from Kumasi, Ghana. J Community Health. 2015; 41(2):392-7. DOI: 10.1007/s10900-015-0109-y. View

17.

Tuglo L, Mishra S, Mohapatra R, Kortei N, Nsor-Atindana J, Mulugeta H . A systematic review and meta-analysis of food handling practices in Ghana vis-a-vis the associated factors among food handlers during 2009 and 2022. Sci Rep. 2023; 13(1):18748. PMC: 10618560. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46150-8. View

18.

Mahami T, Odai B, Nettey S, Asamoah A, Adjei I, Offei B . Microbial food safety of lettuce produced under irrigated wastewater from Onyasia River in Ghana. Heliyon. 2023; 9(9):e19273. PMC: 10474412. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19273. View

19.

Botha N, Ansah E, Segbedzi C, Darkwa S . Public health concerns for food contamination in Ghana: A scoping review. PLoS One. 2023; 18(8):e0288685. PMC: 10414628. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288685. View

20.

Mensah G, Adjei V, Vicar E, Atsu P, Blavo D, Johnson S . Safety of Retailed Poultry: Analysis of Antibiotic Resistance in From Raw Chicken and Poultry Fecal Matter From Selected Farms and Retail Outlets in Accra, Ghana. Microbiol Insights. 2022; 15:11786361221093278. PMC: 9067029. DOI: 10.1177/11786361221093278. View