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Fish spoilage is one of the greatest challenges confronting the fishing industry globally, and efforts aimed at its reduction through various food processing methods have impacted on the nutritional composition of fishes. This study investigates the effects of oven-drying and smoke drying methods on the nutritional composition of fish species and their nutrient availability to meeting the required nutritional intake (RNI) for consumers. Results showed a significant variation in the nutritional composition of Clarias gariepinus and Tilapia zillii processed by oven drying and smoke drying. The increase in protein content of C. gariepinus (from 15.79% to 16.62%) and T. zillii (from 16.68% to 17.29%); and mineral contents in oven-dried samples as compared to the reduced protein content in C. gariepinus (from 15.79% to 14.62%) and T. zillii (from 16.68% to 13.76%) of smoked dried samples, makes oven-dried samples good sources of dietary protein and mineral elements for human consumption. Potential contribution to RNI showed that oven-dried and smoke dried C. gariepinus meet = 25% of RNIs for iron and zinc in children. Oven-dried and smoke dried T. zillii meet = 25% of the RNI of iron in pregnant and lactating women (PLW) and children; and meet = 25% of the RNI of zinc in children only. This indicate the need for increased per capital consumption of fish in Nigeria. It is therefore recommended that the traditional method of smoke drying should be discouraged in lieu of its diminutive effect on nutritional composition of fishes, environmental pollution and health risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fermented millet flour called "Ibyer" traditionally available in Nigeria is increasingly being enhanced with ginger powder, of which its quality characteristics to our best knowledge appears not yet reported. To supplement existing information, therefore, the microbiological (which involved bacteria and fungi counts), pasting (which involved peak viscosity, trough, breakdown, final viscosity, set back, peak time, and pasting temperature), proximate (which involved moisture, ash, crude fat, fiber, protein, as well as carbohydrates), and sensory (which involved appearance, aroma, mouth-feel, consistency, taste, and overall acceptability) properties of fermented millet "ibyer" beverage enhanced with ginger powder were investigated. The major experimental stages included assembly of millet flour and ginger powder, preparation of blend formulation, making of "ibyer" beverage blends, and laboratory analysis. The blend involved fermented millet flour (FMF) decreasing, and ginger powder (GP) increasing, by proportions. Results showed noticeable microbiological, pasting, proximate, and sensory differences between blend samples and control. Compared to control, the blend samples obtained reduced bacterial and fungal counts, with increased peak, trough, final, set back viscosities, peak time, and pasting temperature, as well as moisture, ash, crude fat, crude fiber, and crude protein contents, but yet, with decreased sensory appearance, aroma, mouthfeel, taste, and overall acceptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is scarce data on the mycotoxin profile in retailed fruit juices in Nigeria. Thirty-five industrially-processed fruit juice samples randomly purchased from retailers in Ogun state, Nigeria, were analysed for the presence of > 650 toxic fungal and plant metabolites using a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric method. Only 18 metabolites, including 3-nitropropionic acid, alternariol methylether and emodin, but excluding citrinin, fumonisin B2, ochratoxin A and patulin, were detected in trace levels in at least one juice sample. Amygdalin, a plant cyanogen, was quantified (2.05–359 µg/L) in 40% of the samples. Although the levels of mycotoxins and toxic plant metabolites found in the juice may be relatively low, daily consumption of juices containing such low levels may contribute to dietary exposures to these natural chemical contaminants in consumers. Fruit juice processors should be encouraged to adhere strictly to good manufacturing practices in order to keep mycotoxins away from the final products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Sesame's metabolome is characterized in relation to processing & seeds' origin. • Discriminatory metabolites are identified for processing stages & origin. • Novel phospholipids & catechol lignan are reported for the first time. • Processing impact is evident in the loss of lignans during sesame dehulling. • Correlation model revealed contribution of malic acid & verbascoside to antioxidant action. Sesame is a valuable crop recognized for its rich composition and myriad of health benefits. The current study attempts to characterize sesame seeds' metabolome in relation to geographical origins i.e. , Egypt, Sudan, Nigeria, in addition to samples from paste production lines along its different steps. UPLC-PDA-ESI-qTOF-MS was employed for untargeted profiling and in correlation to antioxidant capacity using DPPH, FRAP and β-carotene-lineolate assays. 139 Peaks were identified, including novel phospholipids and catechol lignan in sesame. Furthermore, discriminatory markers belonging to coumarins, lignans, phenolic and organic acids were revealed among raw accessions, whereas roasted and unroasted seeds were distinguished by sugar, peptide/amino acid, and organic acid contents. Negative processing impact was observed in the loss of lignans during dehulling and decreased antioxidant capacity in sesame paste. However, malic acid in roasted seeds and verbascoside in Nigerian sesame could account for their improved antioxidant effects as revealed using chemometrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundnut is commonly consumed in its roasted form by many Nigerians. This study was therefore conducted to determine the levels of aflatoxin in roasted groundnut retailed in south-western Nigeria with a view to assessing the fitness of the processed nut for human consumption. The effects of roasting and de-coating as alternative methods for reducing the 'aflatoxin scare' in the nut were further assessed on aflatoxigenic fungal load and aflatoxin content of the nuts. Forty-eight samples of retailed raw and roasted groundnut were collected and assessed by mycological and thin-layer chromatographic analysis for changes in aflatoxigenic fungal population and aflatoxin concentration, respectively. Consequently, 480 isolates of the Aspergillus section Flavi group, A. flavus L strain ( n = 410), A. tamarii ( n = 56), A. parasiticus ( n = 7) and A. parvisclerotigenus ( n = 7), were recovered from all samples. Aflatoxigenic isolates of A. flavus L strain (58.8%) had a significantly (P < 0.05) higher incidence than the non-aflatoxigenic isolates (41.2%). Aflatoxins were detected in 43 (89.6%) of the samples. Approximately 25% of all samples exceeded the 20 ng/g limit for aflatoxin B1 ( AFB1) adopted by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control while 83 and 79% of all samples contained AFB1 and total aflatoxins above the European Union limits of 2 and 4 ng/g, respectively. Aflatoxin concentrations in the raw and coated samples were as much as five times higher than those in the roasted and de-coated nuts, respectively. However, no significant difference was recorded between aflatoxin levels in the coated and de-coated samples. This study has shown that roasting of groundnut and testa removal (de-coating) are effective processing interventions that can significantly lower aflatoxin quantities in the kernels, thus making it fit for human consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycotoxins frequently contaminate cereals and their fermented products, however, the carry–over profiles and concentrations of mycotoxins in the final product depend on the processing techniques employed. Therefore, the fate of mycotoxins in two popularly consumed Nigerian cereal-based beverages, kunu-zaki and pito , were studied using the raw cereals, their malted forms and the final drinks. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric analysis revealed 24 and 33 fungal metabolites in kunu-zaki and pito respectively, and their cereal inputs. Among the metabolites were 12 mycotoxins (alternariol, alternariolmethylether, beauvericin, deoxynivalenol, enniatin A and B, fumonisin B 1 (FB 1 ), FB 2 and FB 3 , fusaproliferin, moniliformin and zearalenone). Mycotoxin levels were higher in the maize-based kunu-zaki (

In rural Nigeria, food processing is mostly engaged in by women and children. Most of these processes are done using outdated technologies that make use of traditional woodstoves. This article presents the health and environmental implications of the rural female entrepreneurs involved in food processing and proffer means of bettering the lot of these women to handle these hazards. A partially structured questionnaire and focus group discussion was used to capture data from respondents. The study revealed that about 73 % of women involved in direct production of garri and palm oil processing could be at risk of early death or disability-adjusted life years from the mentioned diseases. The article concludes that the rural female entrepreneur needs to be better positioned to handle these hazards, for her health, that of her children, as well as for the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to air pollutants and heat stress from traditional cooking fires is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in low- and middle-income countries globally and have an adverse effect on the environment. According to the World Health Organization, 3.8 million people die annually prematurely from illness related to household air pollution. Families living in poverty are at the highest risk, especially women and children. In this study, exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was measured among resource-poor women cassava processors. The test locations were chosen in the peri-urban settlements of Abeokuta in the Ogun State of Nigeria, where household women entrepreneurs roast garri (granulated cassava) for sale in the local market. The measurements were taken for two types of stoves which are generally existing in the study location. First, a rectangular stove (RS) with two operators and, second, a circular stove (CS) with one operator; both stoves used wood as fuel. The emissions were compared with a modern mechanical liquefied petroleum gas burner-based garri roaster (GS). Hours spent per day in front of garri stoves ranged from 6 to 12 h for both stoves, with a frequency of 1 to 3 days of operation per week. It was found that CS operators were spending significantly more time in producing garri, which is due to the low capacity of the CS. The average PM2.5 concentrations for RS and CS were 381 and 273 μg/m3, respectively, estimated to be 21 and 41 μg/m3 on an annual mean level basis. Similarly, for PM10, the mean concentration levels were 1580 and 594 μg/m3 for RS and CS, respectively. The annual mean levels for PM10 were about 89 μg/m3 for both types of stoves. CO exposure during garri processing was up to five times higher than the recommended concentrations with a 4-h mean of 48 and 50 mg/m3 for RS and CS, respectively. NO2 levels were very low, ~ 0 ppm. This investigative research concluded that wood-fired small-scale garri producers in Nigeria are exposed to very unhealthy levels of PM, CO and thermal stress. The concentration levels of both PM and CO were exceeding the global as well as Nigerian ambient air quality standard regulations. Along with air pollution, thermal stress was a significant issue, which is known to exacerbate the negative effect of air pollution on the human body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of processing methods used to produce traditional Nigerian infant foods (ogi and processed soybean powder) on four European Union regulated Fusarium mycotoxins using naturally and artificially contaminated raw materials was studied using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Generally, there was a significant reduction of all the mycotoxins when compared to the initial concentration of the raw materials. Reduction in concentrations of the mycotoxins during ogi-processing started immediately after 36 h' steeping/fermentation for all the mycotoxins (fumonisin B 1 , zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, and T-2 toxin), and proceeded along the process chain (milling and sieving). In addition, deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside (16 ± 3.2 μg/kg) and 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (9 ± 5.5 μg/kg) initially absent in the raw maize were detected in the final ogi product. β-zearalenol, hydrolysed fumonisin B 1 , and HT-2 toxin were also detected at varying concentrations. Regarding soybean processing, a similar trend was observed with fumonisin B 1 , zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, and T-2 toxin, irrespective of the method used or the initial concentration. Other mycotoxins detected in soybean product include 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol, 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol, deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside, HT-2 toxin, neosolaniol, α-zearalenol, β-zearalenol, and zearalenone-14-glucoside. Although there was a reduction in the concentration of the free mycotoxin because of processing, other mycotoxins were detected in the products and thus, may present an additional health risk on consumers., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The stability of the Fusarium mycotoxins fumonisin B 1 , deoxynivalenol, T-2 toxin, and zearalenone during processing of Nigerian traditional spices (dawadawa, okpehe, and ogiri) and beer (burukutu) using artificially contaminated raw materials was investigated. Results revealed the reduction of these toxins in all the final products. Boiling played a significant role (p < 0.05) in Fusarium mycotoxin reduction in the traditional spices. The highest percentage reduction of deoxynivalenol (76%) and zearalenone (74%) was observed during okpehe processing (boiled for 12 h). Dehulling and fermentation further demonstrated a positive influence on the reduction of these toxins with a total reduction ranging from 85 to 98% for dawadawa, 86 to 100% for okpehe, and 57 to 81% for ogiri. This trend was also observed during the production of traditional beer (burukutu), with malting and brewing playing a major impact in observed reduction. In addition, other metabolites including deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside, 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol, α-zearalenol, and β-zearalenol which were initially not present in the raw sorghum were detected in the final beer product at the following concentrations 26 ± 11, 16 ± 7.7, 22 ± 18, and 31 ± 16 μg/kg, respectively. HT-2 toxin was also detected at a concentration of 36 ± 13 μg/kg along the processing chain (milled malted fraction) of the traditional beer. For the traditional spices, HT-2 toxin was detected (12 μg/kg) in ogiri. Although there was a reduction of mycotoxins during processing, appreciable concentrations of these toxins were still detected in the final products. Thus, the use of good quality raw materials significantly reduces mycotoxin contamination in final products.