Microbial Safety Assessment of Fresh-Cut Ready-To-Eat Fruits in Sunyani Municipality, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study of Bacterial and Fungal Contamination Pattern

Fresh-cut ready-to-eat fruits have gained popularity in urban Ghana due to increasing health consciousness and convenience demands, yet their microbial safety remains poorly controlled. A cross-sectional study assessed microbial contamination in 200 fresh-cut fruit samples (pineapple, watermelon, pawpaw, mango, and avocado) collected from six markets in Sunyani Municipality, Ghana, between April-May 2025. Samples underwent bacterial and fungal analysis using standard microbiological methods. High contamination rates were observed with 94.0% of samples containing pathogenic bacteria and 67.0% showing fungal contamination. Total coliform levels ranged from 2.39 ± 0.13 to 3.12 ± 0.17 log CFU/g across fruit types. Shigella spp. and E. coli were equally prevalent (35.0% each), followed by Salmonella spp. (30.5%). Avocado demonstrated highest bacterial contamination, while watermelon showed greatest fungal loads (3.86 ± 0.21 log CFU/g). No significant differences existed between stationary vendors and mobile hawkers. The exceptionally high microbial contamination levels pose serious public health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations. Study limitations include single-season data collection and geographic restriction to one municipality. These findings provide baseline data for developing targeted food safety interventions in Ghana’s informal food sector. Urgent interventions addressing water quality, sanitation infrastructure, and vendor training are crucial to ensure food safety while maintaining affordable nutrition access.