Some Risk Factors Contributing to Contamination of Beef in Abattoirs and Retail Meat Outlets in Osun State

Abstract

The people living in Osun State depend on beef produced at the different abattoirs for maximum animal protein sources and this has led to the increase in number of cattle slaughtered per day. However, the available dilapidated facilities and unhygienic tools and environment have resulted in risk factors causing contamination of meat. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate some of the risk factors contributing to the contamination of beef in abattoirs and retail meat outlets in Osun State. Questionnaires were administered in three Senatorial Districts of Osun State. Two abattoir and retail meat outlets were selected from each Senatorial District, and 20 questionnaires were administered to assess some information such as utensils to wash hands, substances to wash hands, types of cloth used for operation, the hygienic condition of the overall, time of tool washing, time of inspection of animal by veterinary officers, condition of drainages facilities system used to collect dirt, health status of the workers and suggestions om how to improve the hygienic condition of the abattoirs and retail meat outlets. The results showed that the majority (53.3%) used only water inside the basin to wash their hands, 76.6% used any available clothes for operation. It was gathered from the survey that 46.2% of the respondents agreed that the hygienic condition of the fabric used for the operation was poor, 58.4% agreed that the hygienic condition of drainage was poor, 62.5% of the respondents washed their equipment and tools after an operation, 62.5% reported that meat inspection was done by a veterinary officer only after slaughtering. The results showed that 54.2% of the workers used refuse dump site for collection of dirt, 75.0% of the respondents recommended that provision of adequate infrastructural facilities by Government will go a long way in improving the hygienic condition. It was concluded from this study that there were risk factors that contributed to the contamination of beef in abattoir and retail meat outlets in Osun state. This may be due to inadequate infrastructural facilities, unhygienic equipment, tools and environment.