Assessment of Hygiene Conditions in Fish Processing Sites Along the Benue River, Benue State

Fish processing along Nigeria's riverine communities involves traditional practices that may compromise product safety and public health. This study assessed hygiene conditions at fish processing sites along the Benue River in Benue State, North Central Nigeria. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at six processing sites in three local government areas. Structured hygiene checklists were used to evaluate site sanitation, fish handling procedures, worker hygiene, and waste management. Forty processed fish samples were collected for microbiological analysis, targeting total plate counts, coliform bacteria, and Vibrio species. Interviews with 60 fish processors addressed training, health status, and awareness of food safety standards. Hygiene assessments revealed that none of the six sites met the minimum standard requirements for food processing environments. Microbiological analysis found that 75% of samples exceeded acceptable total plate counts, and Vibrio species were isolated from 32.5% of samples, raising particular concern given the proximity to river water. Workers lacked personal protective equipment and conducted no formal sanitation procedures between processing batches. The study recommends construction of standardized processing sheds, provision of clean water infrastructure, health training for fish processors, and periodic government inspections to enforce food safety compliance at artisanal processing sites. Keywords: fish hygiene, fish processing, Benue River, Vibrio, food safety