Foodborne pathogens contamination status of weaning foods, drinking water and domestic surfaces in a low-income settlement in Dhaka, Bangladesh

<title>Abstract</title> <p> Weaning food contamination can occur through multiple environmental pathways, including contact with dirty hands, food, unsafe water, soil, flies, or domestic animals. This study assessed pathogen contamination in weaning foods, drinking water, and domestic surfaces in an urban informal settlement in Dhaka, Bangladesh to better understand household exposure risks. We conducted a mixed-method cross-sectional study in 32 households with children aged 6–24 months. Samples (n = 197) were collected to detect major foodborne pathogens using real-time qPCR. Structured observations and qualitative interviews (FGD, IDI, SSI) documented food preparation, storage, reheating, utensil cleaning, water use, and household hygiene practices. Overall, 44% of drinking water, 33% of food, and 80% of domestic surface swabs tested positive for at least one targeted pathogen. <italic>Vibrio cholerae</italic> , <italic>Bacillus cereus</italic> , and <italic>Staphylococcus aureus</italic> were the most frequently detected bacterial pathogens. Stored foods (54%) showed higher contamination than freshly cooked foods (19%), while domestic surfaces had the highest contamination prevalence. Rotavirus was detected in 34% of drinking water samples, indicating a possible viral exposure pathway. Qualitative findings suggested unsafe storage, inadequate reheating, untreated water, dirty utensils, and inconsistent handwashing as key drivers, highlighting that interventions should extend beyond hygiene education to include practical food safety packages. </p>