Mwakasonda, Abel2026-04-182026-04-182014https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/20.500.14820/7487Masters ThesesThis study was conducted to assess the microbiological quality of formulated infant flour meals sold in local shops in Morogoro Municipality. A total of 105 infant flour bags from 16 different shops were collected and assessed. All the infant flour meals collected in this cross-sectional study were cereal based for which case the raw materials were obtained locally. The main raw material used as observed on the labels of the packages were rice, maize, soybean, groundnuts, finger millet, sorghum, wheat, carrot, vegetable and fish. The samples were analysed for total plate count (TPC), for Escherichia coli and fungal (moulds) contaminants using enumeration methods. Results of all sampled infant flour meals were in the range of (3.43 ± 0.71) xl04cfu/g to (4.09 ± 1.77) xlO5 cfu/g for total plate count, 0 to 71.22 ±58.13 MPN/g for Escherichia coli and (2.32 ± 0.60) xl03cfu/g to (8.01 ± 1.10) xl04cfu/g for moulds. Microscopic observation for moulds indicated the presence of Aspergillus spp., Cladosporiuni spp. and Penicillium spp. The findings of this study indicate a huge load of microorganisms as observed in the total plate count which is above the required range of the Tanzanian standard for processed cereal based weaning foods (TZS 180, 1983) for all flour meals. After statistical analysis using Open Epi (ANOVA) program, it was revealed that there is a significant difference (p<0.05) in microbiological quality between brands of infant flour meals. The findings from this study pose an alarm to the responsible authorities dealing with food quality issues bearing in mind that infants are at high risk of getting health problems associated with consumption of the infant meals. There is thus a need for responsible government institutions to strengthen efforts of safe food production from farm to final stage of consumption and initiate sustainable intervention measures to improve the microbiological qualities of formulated infant flour meals that will comply with set standards.enMicrobiological qualityInfant flour mealsLocal shopsMorogoro municipalityThesis