Quality and safety of pork sold in the informal urban street markets of the Cape Metropole, South Africa

Pork in the informal market significantly contributes to food, nutrition and income security in low-income countries' urban areas but is a safety concern to value chain actors and public authorities due to potential contamination by pathogens. To evaluate the physicochemical quality, microbial and oxidative profiles of pork sold from the informal urban street market, 50 samples were collected from 40 street vendors and 10 supermarkets in five different low-income, high-density suburbs in the Cape Metropole District, South Africa. Results showed no differences (P > 0.05) in pH, colour, proximate attributes (except for lipid content), antioxidant activity, lipid oxidation, and Escherichia coli counts in pork collected from the formal and informal markets, and open-air and enclosed market stalls. Lipid content, Enterobacteriaceae, and total bacterial counts of pork collected from the informal market were higher (P ≤ 0.05) than those from the formal market. Positive cases of Listeria monocytogenes (6-8%) and Salmonella spp. (4%) were reported for pork sampled in the informal market, especially in open-air stalls. It was concluded that higher levels of microbial contamination in the informal market, particularly in open-air stalls compared to the formal market require constant monitoring, provision of appropriate market infrastructure, and hygiene behaviour change of vendors to ensure pork safety.