Assessing Parasitic Contamination Risks in Foods Prepared in Cafeterias at Omar Al-Mukhtar University
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58987/13k7xh17Keywords:
Foodborne parasites, cafeteria hygiene, spatial mapping, food safetyAbstract
Foodborne parasitic infections are one of the most significant problems of the population of the developing world since improper hygiene and low environmental standards still contribute to the spread of diseases. University cafeterias are highly susceptible to institutional food outlets especially because of high turnover of meals and lack of hygiene supervision. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the threats of parasitic contamination of foods prepared in the five university cafeterias (Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Al-Bayda, Libya). Two hundred food samples of five major food categories: meat-based sandwiches, vegetable-filled sandwiches and snacks, sandwiches and snacks, dairy-based products, and fruit juices were collected during a period of six months (March to August, 2025). The presence of intestinal parasites was detected using the standard methods of parasitological examination, and environmental and hygiene parameters were measured using the direct observations and the structured checklists. The overall rate of parasitic contamination was found to be between 11% and 24%, where the upper limit of 24% being the most comprehensive diagnostic condition. The most common species detected were Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia. The contamination rate was highest in the vegetable-filled sandwiches and snacks (33.3%), then fruit juices (30.0%), and sandwiches (22.5%). Statistical analysis demonstrated that there was strong correlation between hygiene level and contamination (r = -0.68, p = 0.009), and poor hygienic cafeterias were having a high level of risk.
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