MICROBIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF NOODLES SOLD AT RAMADAN BAZAAR IN KUCHING, SARAWAK, MALAYSIA

The Ramadan bazaar offers a diverse array of food options for many during the month of Ramadan. However, with the rising incidents of food poisoning, there are ongoing concerns about the microbiological quality of the food. This study investigates the microbialquality of various noodle types sold at the Ramadan bazaar in Kuching, Sarawak. A total of thirtythree (33) samples were collected from various locations and tested for Aerobic Plate Count (APC), coliforms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Salmonella spp. Among the samples, 88%, 3%, 21%, 6%, and 16% exceeded acceptable limits for APC, coliforms, E. coli, S. aureus, and B.cereus, respectively, while none of the samples tested positive for Salmonella spp. Additionally, local noodle dishes such as Laksa Sarawak, Kolo mee, and mee Jawa showed the highest levels of contamination with E. coli, S. aureus, and B. cereus in this study. The presence of APC, coliforms, E. coli, S. aureus, and B. cereus indicates cross-contaminationresulting from insufficient hygiene practices  before and after the cooking process.