The microbial conditions of locally made yoghurt (shalom) marketed in three areas of Cameroon were evaluated during the dry and rainy seasons alongside three commercial brands. A total of ninety-six samples were collected and the microbial conditions were based on total aerobic bacteria (TEB), coliforms, yeasts, and moulds counts as well as the identification of coliforms and yeasts using identification kits. Generally, there was a significant increase (p ≤ 0.05) in total aerobic and coliform counts (especially samples from Bamenda), but a decrease in yeast and mould counts of the same samples during the rainy season when compared to those obtained during the dry season. These counts were mostly greater than the recommended standards. Twenty-one Enterobacteriaceae species belonging to 15 genera were identified from 72 bacterial isolates previously considered as all coliforms. Pantoea sp. (27.77%) was highly represented, found in 41% (dry season) and 50% (rainy season) of samples. In addition, sixteen yeast species belonging to 8 genera were equally identified from 55 yeast isolates and Candida sp. (76.36%) was the most represented. This result suggests that unhygienic practices during production, ignorance, warmer weather, duration of selling, and inadequate refrigeration are the principal causes of higher levels of contamination and unsafe yoghurts.

The microbiological quality of artisanal yoghurt marketed in some regions of Cameroon was evaluated during the dry and rainy seasons alongside three commercial brands and the susceptibility of isolates to some conventional antibiotics. A total of ninety-six (96) samples were collected, and the microbiological quality was based on the total count of lactic acid bacteria (lactobacilli and cocci) as well as the identification of species present using identification kits. The susceptibility of isolates was determined using the microdilution method. The lactobacillus counts of locally made yoghurts during both seasons were lower than those of the commercial samples. However, there was a general reduction of viable count of lactobacilli within the samples during the rainy season when compared to the dry season while a general increase in the total coccus count was observed during the rainy season except samples from Bamenda which instead decreased. Five (5) Lactobacillus species belonging to one genera were identified from 29 lactobacillus isolates. Lactobacillus bulgaricus was the highest (64.28%), present in 71.42%, 50.00%, 33.33%, and 33.33% (dry season) compared to 85.71%, 100%, 33.33%, and 25.00% (rainy season) from Bamenda, Dschang, Bafoussam, and commercial, respectively. More so, 14 cocci, 3 coccobacilli, and 1 rod species belonging to 5, 3, and 1 genera were identified, from 74 cocci, 12 coccobacilli, and 3 rod isolates, respectively, with Streptococcus thermophilus being the highest (35.55%). However, 93.33% of the lactobacillus isolates were very sensitive to the antibiotics used, while only 20% of cocci were sensitive. This result suggests that the paucity of the appropriate lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and presence of pathogenic LAB caused by the absence of quality control and ignorance might hinder its health benefits and protection offered to consumers with a resultant exposure to high risk of food borne infection and intoxication coupled to the resistant strains.

The effects of various processing methods on the proximate composition and dieting of Amaranthus hybridus and Amaranthus cruentus from West Cameroon were investigated in this study. Both amaranths leaves were subjected to same treatments (sun-dried and unsliced, sliced and cooked), milled, and analysed for their mineral and proximate composition. Thirty-Six Wistar albino rats of 21 to 24 days old were distributed in six groups and fed for 14 days with 10% protein based diets named D0 (protein-free diet), DI (egg white as reference protein), DII (sun-dried and unsliced A. hybridus), DIII (cooked and sliced A. hybridus), DIV (sun-dried and unsliced A. cruentus), and DV (cooked and sliced A. cruentus). The protein bioavailability and haematological and biochemical parameters were assessed in rats. The results showed that K, P, Mg, Zn, and Fe had the higher content in both samples regardless of processing method. The sun-dried and unsliced A. cruentus contained the highest value of crude protein 32.22 g/100 g DM (dry matter) while the highest crude lipid, 3.80 and 2.58%, was observed, respectively, in sun-dried and unsliced A. hybridus and cooked and sliced A. cruentus. Cooked and sliced A. hybridus and A. cruentus contained high crude fiber of 14 and 12.18%, respectively. Rats fed with diet DIII revealed the best protein bioavailability and haematological parameters whereas 100% mortality rate was recorded with group fed with diet DIV. From this study, it is evident that cooked and sliced A. hybridus and A. cruentus could play a role in weight reduction regimes.

The effects of chemicals commonly used in Cameroon to eliminate slime from the flesh of the African giant land snail, Archachatina marginata, during processing on some nutritional and biochemical parameters were investigated. Groups of snails were processed with these chemicals at three different concentrations. Proximate analysis of all the treated snail groups was carried out, and groups with the highest concentration of each chemical were used to compose diets for experimental rats. Thirty weanling male Wistar albino rats ( 31.25 ± 3.09   g ) aged 21days old were distributed into four groups and fed with 10% protein based diets of A. marginata named D1 (washed with only water), D2 (lime C-treated), D3 (alum C-treated), and D4 (salt C-treated). The crude protein contents of the treated groups reduced significantly when compared with the control (CW), with lime C-treated (LC) having the least here and in crude fiber, but higher (LC, LB, and LA) in dry matter. There was a significant reduction in the crude lipid of alum C-treated (AC) and salt A-treated (SA). In vivo studies showed a general decrease in food consumption, weight gained, efficiency of feed utilization (EFU), true protein digestibility (TD) (except D2), and hematological indices (RBCs (red blood cells), PCV (packed cell volume) of the treated groups (D2, D3, D4) when compared to the control (D1). On the other hand, an increase in the relative weight of the liver (RWL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and total cholesterol was observed with some of the treated diets; meanwhile, protein efficiency ratio (PER), net protein ratio (NPR), relative weight of the kidneys (RWK), HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides were not affected by these diets. These chemicals should only be used at low concentrations or not at all because of its toxicity at high concentrations.