American Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2018, Vol. 6, No. 5, 219-222 Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajfst/6/5/5 ©Science and Education Publishing DOI:10.12691/ajfst-6-5-5 Assessing the Hygienic Status of Processed Fresh Water Clam (Galatea paradoxa) in Yenagoa Metropolis, Bayelsa State, Niger Delta, Nigeria Tonbarapagha Kingdom 1,* , Douye Victor Zige 2 , Deborah Anesakeme 1 1 Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, P.M.B. 071, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria 2 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria *Corresponding author: tonbarapagha@ndu.edu.ng Abstract This study was carried out to assess the sanitary quality of processed (fried) freshwater clam (Galatea paradoxa), sold in Yenagoa metropolis, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. “Water snail” as it is popularly called is vended by women and children. This delicacy is widely consumed in Yenagoa and its environs. Sixteen (16) Samples were collected randomly from four different hawkers within the Swali market in Yenagoa. Analysis included cultural techniques and bacterial quality assessment by enumeration of viable bacterial colonies using dilution techniques. The microbial analysis revealed Total Coliform Count of 7.33 × 10 6 ± 1.18 ×10 6 cfu\ml, Total Thermotolerant Count of 3.3 × 10 5 ± 0.05 × 10 5 cfu\ml, Total Heterotrophic Count (22°C) of 5.6 × 10 6 ± 2.02 × 10 6 cfu\ml and Total Heterotrophic Count (37°C) of 5.13 × 10 6 ± 0.55 × 10 6 cfu\ml. Thus, the Total Viable Count ranged from 3.3 ×10 5 ± 0.5 × 10 5 cfu\ ml to 7.33× 10 6 ± 1.18 ×10 6 . A routine biochemical test was carried out to confirm the presence of potential pathogenic bacteria. The pathogens isolated were Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermis, Enterobacter spp, Shigella spp, Proteus spp and Salmonella Paratyphi A. The presence of indicator organisms from faecal sources, environmental contamination and relatively potential bacteria could be attributed to poor hygienic practices during handling and processing of the clams and waste management practices within the point of sales. A good health education package needs to be given to vendors on good handling practice of vended foods. Keywords: bacteria load, clams, pathogens, viable counts Cite This Article: Tonbarapagha Kingdom, Douye Victor Zige, and Deborah Anesakeme, “Assessing the Hygienic Status of Processed Fresh Water Clam (Galatea paradoxa) in Yenagoa Metropolis, Bayelsa State, Niger Delta, Nigeria.” American Journal of Food Science and Technology, vol. 6, no. 5 (2018): 219-222. doi: 10.12691/ajfst-6-5-5. 1. Introduction The increasing demand for fish and fishery products is greatly challenged globally by microbial infection of fish and contamination of fish products. They are prone to contamination at various stages of handling, processing, and quality is a major concern to food processor and public health authorities [1]. Food borne diseases continued to be a major public health problem on a global scale, especially in developing countries due to difficulties in safeguarding food from cross contamination [2]. However, street foods have been in transmission of foodborne diseases [3,4,5,6]. The problem of food safety in developing countries is usually attributed to poor hygiene practices during foods processing and packaging [7,8,9]. Processed freshwater Clam (Galatea paradoxa) is a well-known delicacy in towns and communities of the Niger Delta, including the city of Yenagoa, in Byaelsa State. It is commonly called “water snail” and “Gbou” by the Izon-speaking people of Bayelsa State. The processed Clams are prepared either smoked, fried or cooked and sold in the streets and markets of Yenagoa. They are readily available for purchase and consumption. Several pathogenic microorganisms have been associated with many street vended foods [10]. Published literatures on the microbial load in the processed clams, even though, a popular delicacy in Bayelsa State in particular and Niger Delta as a whole, is absent. Therefore, this study was therefore undertaken to examine the bacterial quality of processed freshwater Clam that is a highly patronised delicacy within the state and its environs. 2. Materials and Methods 2.1. Study Area This study was carried out in Yenagoa Metropolis, capital of Bayelsa state, while facilities at the Federal Medical Centre was used for laboratory analysis. 2.2. Collection of Samples Sixteen (16) samples used for this study were fried Clam (Galatea paradoxa). The samples were bought from