Quality assessment of processed food products in terms of minor and trace elements utilizing nuclear analytical techniques.

Quality assessment of processed food products in terms of minor and trace elements is important as certain elements can cause serious health problems if consumed in excessive amount. A total of 20 elements including three toxic elements (Al, Br, Pb) in different varieties of ready to eat noodles, dry soup mixes, oats and cornflakes were determined by utilizing INAA, External PIGE and EDXRF methods. Estimated Average Daily Intake of minor and trace elements like Al, Ca, Co, Fe, K, Mn and Pb in the samples are found to be more than permissible oral reference dose of some particular nutrients compared to literature values of World Health Organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]