Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Caraga Administrative Region
Bayugan City Division
BAYUGAN NATIONAL COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL

Microbiological Assessment of street foods in the Nightmarket of

Bayugan City

In Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements

In Research Subject

CHRIS CLARENCE R. TAGUNO *

REAN ZOE G. TERIOTE
GIEMUEL HARRIS P. TAMPON

Researchers

Vincent Butch
Research Adviser

(2023).-2024
 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

2.5 billion people Worldwide are estimated to eat Street Foods everyday

(Jaffee et al., 2019). Street food vending is ubiquitous in much of Asia

(Jayasuriya, 1994). Street food is becoming increasingly popular, with new

cuisines emerging and gaining popularity, led by the Caribbean, Venezuelan,

and Japanese styles of cooking (General, 2022). While street foods are

appreciated for their unique flavors and convenience, they are also often

perceived to be a major public health risk due to unsafe food handling (FAO &

WHO, 2019). Lack of knowledge among street food vendors about the causes

of foodborne diseases is a major public health risk factor (FAO & WHO, 2019).

Educational status, training, vending experience, and monthly income have

all been identified as determinants of street food vendors with food safety

compliance (Negassa et al., 2023) . Regulations on street food vending vary

from country to country and even city to city (Wheels, 2021).

Street Foods in the Philippines play Vital Role in providing and ensuring

the residents a variety of different foods that are easily accessible and are

quickly prepared for the consumers. One thing that is unrealized by most of

the residents are the Health and Safety of the foods that they are buying and

Consuming, unawareness of the foods safety may cause diseases, illnesses to

the consumers due to the food that they are eating. The estimated amount of

diseases that are caused by eating food tainted with bacteria, virus, parasites

or chemical substances such as heavy metals are more over 200 diseases

(World Health Organization: WHO, 2019).

 In some local cities, such as Bayugan City, may consist of an urban

area with street food stands with street food vendors, just like the Bayugan

City Night Market. The Bayugan City Night Market attracts many costumers

and consumers due to it being positioned at a public an easily accessible area,

and also there are many different variety of Foods that are sold, such as

Kwek-Kwek, Fish Balls, Tempura, Hotdogs, Siomai on sticks, BBQ, etc. Based

on the Researcher’s observations, foods such as Kwek-Kwek, fish balls,

tempura, hotdogs and siomai on sticks are normally displayed out for the

public, leaving it exposed to potential bacteria and viruses.

The main common types of bacteria commonly found in street foods

world wide are (E. Coli) Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella

spp (Birgen et al., 2020).

E. coli (Escherichia coli), is a type of bacteria that normally lives in your

intestines. It’s also found in the gut of some animals. Most types of E. coli are

harmless and even help keep your digestive tract healthy. But some strains

can cause diarrhea if an individual eats contaminated food or drink fouled

water. While many individuals associate E. coli with food poisoning, you can

also get pneumonia and urinary tract infections from different types of the

bacteria. In fact, 75% to 95% of urinary tract infections are caused by E. coli.

E.coli is a normal resident of the bowel, which is how it makes it way to the

urinary tract. Some versions of E. coli make an individual sick by making a

toxin called Shiga. This toxin damages the lining of an individual’s intestine.

(What Is E. Coli?, 2017)

 The strains of E. coli that make the toxin are sometimes called STEC,

which is short for “Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.” One especially bad strain,

O157:H7, can make an individual very sick. It causes abdominal cramps,

vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. It is the leading cause of acute kidney failure

in children. It can also cause life-threatening symptoms such as: Adult kidney

failure, Fever, Bleeding, Confusion, Seizures (What Is E. Coli?, 2017)

Staphylococcus aureus is the most dangerous of all of the many

common staphylococcal bacteria. These gram-positive, sphere-shaped (coccal)

bacteria often cause skin infections but can cause pneumonia, heart valve

infections, and bone infections and may be resistant to treatment with some

antibiotics. (Bush, 2023)

-These bacteria are spread by having direct contact with an infected person,

by using a contaminated object, or by inhaling infected droplets dispersed by

sneezing or coughing.Skin infections are common, but the bacteria can spread

through the bloodstream and infect distant organs. (Bush, 2023)

-Skin infections may cause blisters, abscesses, and redness and swelling in

the infected area. (Bush, 2023)

-The diagnosis is based on the appearance of the skin or identification of the

bacteria in a sample of the infected material. (Bush, 2023)

-Antibiotics are chosen based on whether they are likely to be effective against

the strain causing the infection. (Bush, 2023)

-Thoroughly washing the hands can help prevent spread of infection. (Bush,

2023)
 Staphylococcus aureus is present in the nose (usually temporarily) of

about 30% of healthy adults and on the skin of about 20%. The percentages

are higher for people who are patients in a hospital or who work there. The

bacteria can spread from person to person by direct contact, through

contaminated objects (such as gym equipment, telephones, door knobs,

television remote controls, or elevator buttons), or, less often, by inhalation of

infected droplets dispersed by sneezing or coughing. Carriers are people who

have the bacteria but do not have any symptoms caused by the bacteria.

Carriers can move the bacteria from their nose to other body parts with their

hands, sometimes leading to infection. People who are hospitalized or work in

a hospital are more likely to be carriers. (Bush, 2023)

Salmonella infection (salmonellosis) is a common bacterial disease that

affects the intestinal tract. Salmonella bacteria typically live in animal and

human intestines and are shed through stool (feces). Humans become infected

most frequently through contaminated water or food. Some people with

salmonella infection have no symptoms. Most people develop diarrhea, fever

and stomach (abdominal) cramps within 8 to 72 hours after exposure. Most

healthy people recover within a few days to a week without specific treatment.

In some cases, diarrhea can cause severe dehydration and requires prompt

medical attention. Life-threatening complications also may develop if the

infection spreads beyond the intestines. The risk of getting salmonella

infection is higher with travel to countries without clean drinking water and

proper sewage disposal.

 Salmonella infection is usually caused by eating raw or undercooked

meat, poultry, and eggs or egg products or by drinking unpasteurized milk.

The incubation period — the time between exposure and illness — can be 6

hours to 6 days. Often, people who have salmonella infection think they have

the stomach flu. (Salmonella Infection - Symptoms & Causes - Mayo Clinic,

2022)

Possible signs and symptoms of salmonella infection include:

Diarrhea, Stomach (abdominal) cramps, Fever, Nausea, Vomiting, Chills,

Headache, Blood in the stool. (Salmonella Infection - Symptoms & Causes -

Mayo Clinic, 2022)

Signs and symptoms of salmonella infection generally last a few days to

a week. Diarrhea may last up to 10 days, but it may take several months

before bowels return to usual stool habits.A few varieties of salmonella

bacteria result in typhoid fever, a sometimes deadly disease that is more

common in developing countries. (Salmonella Infection - Symptoms & Causes

- Mayo Clinic, 2022).

This research aims to determine the abundance of the three following

bacteria namely Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli (Escherichia

coli) present in different samples of street foods from the Bayugan City Night

Market.

1.2 Statement of the problem

1.3 Theoretical Framework and Conceptual Framework

1.4 Significance of the Study

The following groups will benefit from the study’s findings.

Community Health Office. The findings of this study will help the city health

office assess the situation of the Public night market, which would allow them

to develop guidelines and regulations for street food vendors to follow to

ensure the safety of the food they sell in the food stalls of the Bayugan City

Public Night Market.

Street food vendors. The vendors within the Public Night market would be

informed of the microbiological safety and quality of their street foods so that

they will know about the proper sanitation of utensils and tools used in

preparing street foods, protecting their food from dust, and proper handling of

food.

Consumers. The findings of this study will redound to benefit the consumers

by being aware of the potential health risks associated with consuming street

foods and taking necessary precautions to avoid foodborne illnesses since the

study can show them the overall microbiological safety and quality of the

street foods from the Bayugan City Night Market.

1.5 Scope and Limitations of the Study

To the best of our knowledge, studies have yet to be conducted in the

night market of Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur, evaluating the food

microbiological safety and quality issues of street foods. This study will focus

on street food’s microbiological safety and quality by determining the

abundance of the three kinds of bacteria found in street foods namely

Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli (Escherichia coli). The study

will only include the street food vendors within the vicinity of the Bayugan

Night Market, only the regular street food vendors in the night market will be

included.

Map showing the location and outline of the study area.

The photo is from google maps
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673354718628&q=Bayugan+City+Night+market+google+maps&rflfq=1&num=10&ved=2ahUKEwjO7diMhL38
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