Abstract:
African sausages are local popular delicacies in Kenya. Demand for these sausages has resulted
in this delicacy’s vendors being on the increase. However, the health risk posed to unsuspecting
consumers of African sausages sold in informal, unhygienic makeshift road-side kiosks in
major cities of Kenya is largely unknown. A purposive study was designed to isolate and
quantitate bacteria from raw vegetable salad and roasted African sausages sold at Embu town
and nearby Kangaru market. A total of 4 samples (2 vegetable salads and two roasted African
sausages) were conveniently collected from two vendors (one in Kangaru and the other in
Embu town) and studied in the Research Laboratory of the University of Embu. Four genera
of bacteria, namely, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella species, and Shigella
species, were isolated from these samples in large numbers. The results affirmed the presence
of bacterial pathogens in roasted African sausages and raw salad, which are potentially
zoonotic to humans, sold at these two sites. Therefore, there is a need to establish these
pathogens sources due to the high microbial load defined in the current study and the need for
regulatory bodies to ensure that microbiological standards are prioritized by farmers and
vendors in the distribution and processing of salads.
