title: Quality evaluation of processed clay soil samples.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study assessed the microbial quality of clay samples sold on two of the major Ghanaian markets.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a cross-sectional assessing the evaluation of processed clay and effects it has on the nutrition of the consumers in the political capital town of Ghana. The items for the examination was processed clay soil samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Staphylococcus spp and fecal coliforms including Klebsiella, Escherichia, and Shigella and Enterobacterspp were isolated from the clay samples. Samples from the Kaneshie market in Accra recorded the highest total viable counts 6.5 Log cfu/g and Staphylococcal count 5.8 Log cfu/g. For fecal coliforms, Madina market samples had the highest count 6.5 Log cfu/g and also recorded the highest levels of yeast and mould. For Koforidua, total viable count was highest in the samples from the Zongo market 6.3 Log cfu/g. Central market samples had the highest count of fecal coliforms 4.6 Log cfu/g and yeasts and moulds 6.5 Log cfu/g. "Small" market recorded the highest staphylococcal count 6.2 Log cfu/g. The water activity of the clay samples were low, and ranged between 0.65±0.01 and 0.66±0.00 for samples collected from Koforidua and Accra respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clay samples were found to contain Klebsiella spp. Escherichia, Enterobacter, Shigella spp. staphylococcus spp., yeast and mould. These have health implications when consumed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Biological Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
authors.forename: Matilda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steiner-Asiedu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Biological Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
authors.forename: Obed Akwaa
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Biological Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
authors.forename: Frederick
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vuvor
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Biological Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
authors.forename: Kwaku
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tano-Debrah
mesh_terms: D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000592:standards*; D000077215:Clay; D003297:Cooking and Eating Utensils / Q000592:standards*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005506:Food Contamination; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D000077215:Clay
keywords: Pica; ayilo; clay; geophagia; microbiology