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International Journal of Food Science and Agriculture

ISSN Online: 2578-3475 ISSN Print: 2578-3467 CODEN: IJFSJ3
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ArticleOpen Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/ijfsa.2025.09.008

Water Safety in Food Systems: Evaluation of Handling Practices, Microbiological and Physicochemical Quality of Stored Drinking Water in Households and Food Services in Parakou

Ulbad Polycarpe Tougan1,*, Ostella S. Gani1, Achille Dedjiho1, Carole Sossa-Vihotogbe1, Bassiti D. Tidjani1, Rebecca A. Assa Epse Yao2

1Department of Nutrition and Food Science of the Faculty of Agronomy, University of Parakou, Benin BP 123, Parakou, Republic of Benin.

2UFR Biosciences of the University Felix HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY, Abidjan 01 BP V 34, Ivory Coast, Côte d'Ivoire.

*Corresponding author: Ulbad Polycarpe Tougan

Published: October 20,2025

Abstract

Water safety is very important for food systems and food quality, encompassing production, processing, preparation, consumption, and distribution. The current study aimed to assess the sources, handling practices, and physicochemical and microbiological quality of stored drinking water in households and food services in Parakou. Methodologically, 200 respondents were surveyed. 60 composite stored water samples were collected for physicochemical and microbiological analyses, including 15 samples from well source, public tap source, borehole source, and plastic-packaged (sachet) water. The study revealed that most of the respondents were urban residents (77.0%) and female (60.0%), aged primarily between 30 and 40 years (49.0%), with secondary education (41.0%). Domestic and catering water sources were diverse, including wells (24.0%), a combination of wells and public taps (35.0%), boreholes (17.0%), plastic-packaged water (13.0%), and public taps (11.0%). Common storage containers were basins (34.0%), traditional clay pots (31.0%), jerry cans (23.0%), and drums (12.0%). Most respondents stored water for more than three days (61.0%) and drew water by scooping from the container (82.0%), with hand contact reported in 76.0% of cases. Handwashing before collection and daily container cleaning were rare (14.0%). Physicochemical analysis showed similar pH and safe turbidity and hardness, but nitrite levels exceeded WHO limits, especially in packaged water (p < 0.05). Microbiologically, total bacterial counts were similar across sources (p = 0.594), but faecal coliforms and E. coli loads were highest in well water (79.6 and 16.86 CFU/100 mL, respectively). These results show that the storage and handling practices affect drinking water quality and highlight the need for improved water hygiene within the food systems in the municipality of Parakou.

Keywords

Benin; Drinking water; Handling practices; Microbiological quality; Physico-chemical quality; Food systems

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How to cite this paper

Water Safety in Food Systems: Evaluation of Handling Practices, Microbiological and Physicochemical Quality of Stored Drinking Water in Households and Food Services in Parakou

How to cite this paper: Ulbad Polycarpe Tougan, Ostella S. Gani, Achille Dedjiho, Carole Sossa-Vihotogbe, Bassiti D. Tidjani, Rebecca A. Assa Epse Yao. (2025) Water Safety in Food Systems: Evaluation of Handling Practices, Microbiological and Physicochemical Quality of Stored Drinking Water in Households and Food Services in Parakou. International Journal of Food Science and Agriculture9(3), 205-217.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/ijfsa.2025.09.008