Articles

The role of gamma irradiation and storage at 28 ± 2 °C on the inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium in sun-dried Legon-18 pepper (Capsicum annuum) powder

Low moisture foods like spices are known to be contaminated with pathogens, sun-dried chili pepper powder not left out. A study was conducted to determine the effect of gamma irradiation on the decontamination...

Authors: Bernard Tawiah Odai, Kwaku Tano-Debrah, Kennedy Kwasi Addo, Firibu K. Saalia, Moses Lorenzo Akyeh, Wellington Torgby-Tetteh, Seth Willliams Nii-Odartey Mills and David Azanu

Safety levels for organophosphate pesticide residues on fruits, vegetables, and nuts

A novel approach is developed to establish safety levels for organophosphate pesticides residues present in 80 fruit, vegetable, and nut commodities. These levels, known as Pesticide Safety Levels (PSL), repre...

Authors: Elizabeth A. Jara and Carl K. Winter

Chemical assessment of mycotoxin contaminants and veterinary residues in Costa Rican animal feed

When present in animal feedstuff, mycotoxins contaminants and antibiotic residues can have negative implications for animal production and Public Health, including the transmission of carcinogenic compounds an...

Authors: Astrid Leiva, Geovanna Méndez, César Rodríguez, Andrea Molina and Fabio Granados-Chinchilla

Potential application of lactic acid starters in the reduction of aflatoxin contamination in fermented sorghum-millet beverages

Aflatoxin contamination in traditionally fermented cereal-based beverages is a serious food safety challenge considering that commercialization of these products is rising. The challenge is aggravated by the f...

Authors: Stellah Byakika, Ivan Muzira Mukisa, Alex Paul Wacoo, Remco Kort, Yusuf Byenkya Byaruhanga and Charles Muyanja

Arsenic and cadmium concentrations in legumes and cereals grown in the North Central Province, Sri Lanka and assessment of their health risk

A total of 181 samples of cereals and legumes, including mustard, maize, finger millet, sesame, cowpea/black-eyed pea, Urad dal /split bean, foxtail millet, long bean and green gram from the North Central Prov...

Authors: E. M. R. K. B. Edirisinghe and B. K. K. K. Jinadasa

Cabbage or ‘pesticide’ on the platter? Chemical analysis reveals multiple and excessive residues in African vegetable markets

Overuse of pesticides in vegetables and related fresh products raises serious public health concerns. However, the recognition and assessment of the magnitude of public health risk remains a low priority in lo...

Authors: Honest Machekano, Wellington Masamba, Brighton M. Mvumi and Casper Nyamukondiwa

The prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of bacterial isolates from meat and meat products in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Foodborne diseases associated with the consumption of meat and its products are of public health significance worldwide. The study is, therefore, aimed to estimate the prevalence and the antimicrobial resistan...

Authors: Andarge Zelalem, Mekonnen Sisay, Jessie L. Vipham, Kebede Abegaz, Ameha Kebede and Yitagele Terefe

Occurrence of metals in vegetables and fruits from areas near landfill in Southern Italy and implications for human exposure

This paper describes the activities and the results obtained from a monitoring of contamination levels of some metals: lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), total arsenic (As_tot), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), an...

Authors: Valeria Melai, Armando Giovannini, Francesco Chiumiento, Mirella Bellocci and Giacomo Migliorati

Antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica isolated from cabbage and lettuce samples in Tamale metropolis of Ghana

Contamination of vegetables by multidrug resistant pathogens is of global concern. This is the first report on the antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica from lettuce and cabbage source...

Authors: Frederick Adzitey

Perennial and seasonal contamination of maize by aflatoxins in eastern Kenya

Aflatoxin contamination of grain is a major constraint to sustained quality cereal production. The causative fungi, Aspergillus species infect crops in the field and continue to do so post-harvest where they prod...

Authors: Meshack Amos Obonyo and Elsie Nyangweso Salano

Health risk assessment and heavy metal contamination levels in vegetables from Tamale Metropolis, Ghana

One major route of heavy metal exposure/ accumulation to humans is via vegetable consumption. The study assessed the levels of heavy metals and their associated health risk in frequently consumed vegetables in...

Authors: Samuel Teye Ametepey, Samuel Jerry Cobbina, Felix Jerry Akpabey, Abudu Ballu Duwiejuah and Zita Naangmenyele Abuntori

Pesticides residue analysis in yam from selected markets across Ghana and Belgium: an evaluation of the QUECHERS method

In recent years, concerns have been raised in Ghana regarding the use of pesticides in yamproduction to the extent that it is feared that pesticides residues may be found in the yam tuber which isconsumed by m...

Authors: Abukari Wumbei, David Senaeve, Michael Houbraken and Pieter Spanoghe

Microbial quality of ready-to-eat vegetable salads vended in the central business district of Tamale, Ghana

Food safety problems still persist across the globe and remain a challenge to the general public and government. The study determined the microbiological quality of pre-cut vegetable salads sold in the Central...

Authors: Godwin Abakari, Samuel Jerry Cobbina and Enoch Yeleliere

Occurrence and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from food of animal origin in Bishoftu town, Central Ethiopia

Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) have frequently been associated with food borne illness and are considered as most serious of known food borne pathogens leading to severe illnesses and high mortality r...

Authors: Segni Bedasa, Daniel Shiferaw, Ashebr Abraha and Tesfanesh Moges

Ochratoxin A in black pepper, white pepper and clove sold in Yaoundé (Cameroon) markets: contamination levels and consumers’ practices increasing health risk

Spices are widely consumed in Cameroon, but there is no data available concerning their mycotoxin contamination. A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to June 2017 to assess the occurrence of Och...

Authors: Evelyne Nguegwouo, Lucien Etame Sone, Alex Tchuenchieu, Hippolyte Mouafo Tene, Emile Mounchigam, Nico Frederic Njayou and Gabriel Medoua Nama

Penicillin-G and oxytetracycline residues in beef sold for human consumption in Maroua, Cameroon

The contamination of food by chemical hazards is a worldwide public health concern and is a leading cause of trade problems internationally. Based on former work describing the prevalent use and misuse of anti...

Authors: Ronald Romuald B. Vougat Ngom, Rebecca B. Garabed, Wilson K. Rumbeiha, Harquin Simplice Foyet, Dwayne E. Schrunk, Dahai Shao and André Zoli Pagnah

Human health risk assessment of cyanide levels in water and tuber crops from Kenyasi, a mining community in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana

Cyanide is among the most harmful substances on Earth and it is harmful to humans and most aquatic life even at low concentrations. Free, total cyanide levels and other physicochemical parameters were determin...

Authors: Edward Ebow Kwaansa-Ansah, Leticia Peace Amenorfe, Edward Kwaku Armah and Francis Opoku

Bacillus Cereus isolation and load from raw cow milk sold in Markets of Haramaya District, eastern Ethiopia

Bacillus cereus is a spore-forming bacterium that is widely distributed in the environment and can be detected in a variety of raw milk and milk products especially in vegetative form,...

Authors: Ashebr Abraha, Teshome Bikila, Sisay Alemu and Yimer Muktar

Determination of methanol and ethanol concentrations in local and foreign alcoholic drinks and food products (Banku, Ga kenkey, Fante kenkey and Hausa koko) in Ghana

It is believed that higher methanol content may be present in some alcoholic drinks produced by traditional distilleries or some alcohol brewing companies. As a result of this, there could be a higher risk of ...

Authors: Samuel Kofi Tulashie, Amponsah Preko Appiah, George Dzidefo Torku, Albert Yaw Darko and Augustus Wiredu

Health risks due to consumption of pesticides in ready-to-eat vegetables (salads) in Kumasi, Ghana

Pesticide residue levels were determined in ready-to-eat vegetables collected from 16 sites along the food chain; which is, farms, markets, cafeterias and street food vending sites in Kumasi, Ghana. The aim of...

Authors: Samuel Akomea-Frempong, Isaac W. Ofosu, Emmanuel de-Graft Johnson Owusu-Ansah and Godfred Darko

Incidence of enteric pathogens in ugba, a traditional fermented food from African oil bean seeds (Pentaclethra macrophylla)

The lack of good production practices and probable post-fermentation contaminations contribute to bacterial pathogen load in ugba, a fermented food made from African oil been seeds (Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth...

Authors: Princewill Chimezie Okorie, Nurudeen Ayoade Olasupo, Felicia Ngozi Anike, Gloria Nwakego Elemo and Omoanghe Samuel Isikhuemhen

Assessment of pesticide residue levels among locally produced fruits and vegetables in Monze district, Zambia

The use of pesticides in fruits and vegetable production is beneficial for preventing, destroying or repelling pests that may damage these crops. The use of these chemicals however, often leads to the presence...

Authors: Mildred Mwanja, Choolwe Jacobs, Allan Rabson Mbewe and Nosiku Sipilanyambe Munyinda

Microbial profile of common spices and spice blends used in Tamale, Ghana

The main purpose of using spice to grill meat is to add aroma, colour, flavour, taste and pungency. However, the purpose is sometime befitted when spice is contaminated with pathogenic bacteria that result in ...

Authors: Noel Bakobie, Amponsah Samuel Addae, Abudu Ballu Duwiejuah, Samuel Jerry Cobbina and Solomon Miniyila

Heavy metal accumulation and health risk assessment in wastewater-irrigated urban vegetable farming sites of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Wastewater irrigation for vegetable production is a highly prevalent practice in Addis Ababa and a number of articles have been published on wastewater-irrigated soils and vegetables contaminated with heavy me...

Authors: Desta Woldetsadik, Pay Drechsel, Bernard Keraita, Fisseha Itanna and Heluf Gebrekidan

Erratum to: Assessment of awareness of mycotoxins infections in stored maize (Zea mays L.) and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in Kilosa District, Tanzania

Authors: K. S. Magembe, M. W. Mwatawala, D. P. Mamiro and E. E. Chingonikaya

A human health risk assessment of lead (Pb) ingestion among adult wine consumers

Recent concerns have been raised regarding heavy metal content in wine and its potential health implications. The goal of this study was to determine if lead (Pb) intake poses a health risk among adult consume...

Authors: Kevin M. Towle, Lindsey C. Garnick and Andrew D. Monnot

Occurrence of ingression of Salmonella spp. in Betel leaf (Piper betle L.)

Salmonella spp. is one of the most common pathogens associated with fresh produce related foodborne illness. This study aimed to determine Salmonella spp. contamination level in betel ...

Authors: Md. Fakruddin, Razia Sultana, Md. Nur Hossain, Md. Mizanur Rahaman, Md. Kamrul Islam and Monzur Morshed Ahmed

Assessment of sulphonamides and tetracyclines antibiotic residue contaminants in rural and peri urban dairy value chains in Kenya

Antibiotic residues are drug substances found in food from plants or animals initially exposed to antibiotics. In animal husbandry antibiotics have widely been used for the treatment of animal diseases. These ...

Authors: Joy Deborah Orwa, Joseph Wafula Matofari, Patrick Simiyu Muliro and Peter Lamuka

A pilot study to assess lead exposure from routine consumption of coffee and tea from ceramic mugs: comparison to California Safe Harbor Levels

Lead (Pb) is a pervasive metal that can be found in, and potentially leached from, ceramics, particularly into acidic foods and beverages. The purpose of this study was to investigate potential lead exposure ...

Authors: Grace L. Anderson, Lindsey Garnick, Mai S. Fung and Shannon H. Gaffney

Microbiological quality of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) irrigated with wastewater in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and effect of green salads washing methods

In Addis Ababa, where irrigation water for vegetable production is commonly derived from the highly polluted Akaki river, information on microbial contamination of water and irrigated vegetable is scanty. An a...

Authors: Desta Woldetsadik, Pay Drechsel, Bernard Keraita, Fisseha Itanna, Berhanu Erko and Heluf Gebrekidan

Destabilization and off-flavors generated by Pseudomonas proteases during or after UHT-processing of milk

Pseudomonads play a major role in the spoilage of UHT processed dairy products, due to their growth-related protease production in raw milk.

Authors: Sophie Marchand, Barbara Duquenne, Marc Heyndrickx, Katleen Coudijzer and Jan De Block

Bacteriological milk quality: possible hygienic factors and the role of Staphylococcus aureus in raw bovine milk in and around Gondar, Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, around 97% of the annual milk production is accounted by the traditional milk processing system using on-farm traditional milk processing materials that are generally poor in processing capacity,...

Authors: Betelihem Tegegne and Shimels Tesfaye

Common milk adulteration and their detection techniques

Food adulteration is a global concern and developing countries are at higher risk associated with it due to lack of monitoring and policies. However, this is one of the most common phenomena that has been over...

Authors: Tanzina Azad and Shoeb Ahmed

Presence of organochlorine pesticides in xoconostle (Opuntia joconostle) in the central region of Mexico

Mexico has many natural resources for use in the food industry. In recent years Xoconostle, which is considered as a traditional food, has gained importance due to key its components such as fiber, antioxidant...

Authors: José J. Pérez, Rutilio Ortiz, María L. Ramírez, Javier Olivares, Daniel Ruíz and David Montiel

Assessing the potential for Salmonella growth in rehydrated dry dog food

A substantial percentage of dog owners add water to dry dog food to increase its palatability. The recent association of Salmonella contamination of dry pet foods with salmonellosis cases in both dogs and their o...

Authors: Ruth A. Oni, Elisabetta Lambertini and Robert L. Buchanan

Assessment of antibiotic residues in commercial and farm milk collected in the region of Guelma (Algeria)

In an attempt to enhance the quality and quantity of food production (especially milk) and in order to prevent, or treat,animal diseases, the use of antibiotics in Algeria follows an increasing trend. The incr...

Authors: Samiha Layada, Djemel-Eddine Benouareth, Wim Coucke and Mirjana Andjelkovic

Hygienic assessment of spontaneously fermented raw camel milk (suusa) along the informal value chain in Kenya

Suusa is a spontaneously fermented milk product from raw camel milk used by the pastoral communities of Northern and Eastern Kenya. The product can be as a result of intentional fermen...

Authors: Linnet Wanjiru Mwangi, Joseph Wafula Matofari, Patrick Simiyu Muliro and Bockline Omedo Bebe

Microbiota of frozen Vietnamese catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus) marketed in Belgium

Vietnamese catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus) is highly appreciated in many European countries, the U.S., Canada, Japan etc. This paper presents an overview of the microbiota of frozen Vietnamese catfish products ...

Authors: Anh Ngoc Tong Thi, Simbarashe Samapundo, Frank Devlieghere and Marc Heyndrickx

Investigation of heavy metal contents in Cow milk samples from area of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Cow milk is considered as one of the responsible food sources contaminated with heavy metals. The objectives of the study were to assess the content of selected metals in cow milk and its associated human heal...

Authors: Md Iftakharul Muhib, Muhammed Alamgir Zaman Chowdhury, Nusrat Jakarin Easha, Md Mostafizur Rahman, Mashura Shammi, Zeenath Fardous, Mohammad Latiful Bari, M. Khabir Uddin, Masaaki Kurasaki and Md Khorshed Alam

Trace metal and aflatoxin concentrations in some processed cereal and root and tuber flour

Sweet potato, cocoyam, water yam, maize, millet, sorghum, and rice are major staple foods in Ghana. Flour from these roots and tubers and cereals are relatively cheaper, easy to produce and can be used in the man...

Authors: Hayford Ofori, Charles Tortoe, Paa Toah Akonor and Jonathan Ampah

Determination of pesticide residues in honey: a preliminary study from two of Africa’s largest honey producers

The presence of pollutants in honey can influence honey bee colony performance and devalue its use for human consumption. Using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), various clean-up metho...

Authors: Janet Irungu, Suresh Raina and Baldwyn Torto

Effects of per-household processes on the levels of chlorpyrifos residues in lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

The study was organized to evaluate residue levels of chlorpyrifos on Lactuca sativa that are likely to have accumulated on crop during cultivation and also examine the effect some pre-household treatment procedu...

Authors: Osei Akoto, Fredrick Addai-Mensah and Eric K. K. Abavare

Assessment of awareness of mycotoxins infections in stored maize (Zea mays L.) and groundnut (arachis hypogea L.) in Kilosa District, Tanzania

Surveys were conducted to determine awareness of mould infection in maize and groundnut in Kilosa District, Eastern Central Tanzania, between August and October 2010. Four villages of Msingisi, Rudewa-Batini, ...

Authors: K. S. Magembe, M. W. Mwatawala, D. P. Mamiro and E. E. Chingonikaya

Screening of caffeine, preservatives and antioxidants in dairy products available in Bangladesh using an RP-HPLC method

The aim of this current study was to investigate the presence and to determine the contents of caffeine, preservatives and antioxidants in dairy products available in Bangladesh, one of the alarming countries ...

Authors: Md. Shahadat Hossain, Md. Samiul Islam, Subrata Bhadra and Abu Shara Shamsur Rouf

Antimicrobial usage in the chicken farming in Yaoundé, Cameroon: a cross-sectional study

Antimicrobials are widely used in chicken production in Cameroon, but no quantitative data are available. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 98 farms holding 220,262 chickens, from February to May 2015 ...

Authors: Mélanie Gondam Kamini, Fabrice Tatfo Keutchatang, Huguette Yangoua Mafo, Germain Kansci and Gabriel Medoua Nama

Effectiveness of the sanitation regimes used by dairy actors to control microbial contamination of plastic jerry cans’ surfaces

The most common milk handling containers used by dairy actors along the informal milk value chain in developing countries are plastics jerry cans which are difficult to effectively be cleaned thus contributing...

Authors: Wanjala Nobert Wafula, Wafula Joseph Matofari, Masani John Nduko and Peter Lamuka

Dissipation pattern and risk assessment of the synthetic pyrethroid Lambda-cyhalothrin applied on tomatoes under dryland conditions, a case study

The present study was carried out to develop and validate an analytical method for the detection and quantification of lambda-cyhalothrin, a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, in tomato using gas chromatography...

Authors: Farag Malhat, Naglaa M. Loutfy and Mohamed Tawfic Ahmed

Heavy metal, nutrient and antioxidant status of selected fruit samples sold in Enugu, Nigeria

Heavy metals, which constitute a major public health concern, are known to accumulate in food and fruits during plants growth. Fruits which are readily consumed because of their characteristic sweet taste and ...

Authors: Marcellus Unaegbu, Godwill Azeh Engwa, Queen Doofan Abaa, Sandra Ogechukwu Aliozo, Eugene Lakem Ayuk, Gloria Amarachukwu Osuji and Emmanuel Ikechukwu Onwurah

Aflatoxin B₁ and Deoxynivalenol contamination of dairy feeds and presence of Aflatoxin M₁ contamination in milk from smallholder dairy systems in Nakuru, Kenya

Mycotoxins are metabolites produced by phytopathogenic and spoilage fungi in animal feed as a result of poor storage. The mycotoxins can also originate in the field and are excreted in milk when dairy animals ...

Authors: Caroline Mwende Makau, Joseph Wafula Matofari, Patrick Simiyu Muliro and Bockline Omedo Bebe

Persistent organochlorine pesticide residues in cocoa beans from Ghana, a concern for public health

Residual levels of fifteen (15) organochlorine pesticides were determined in 32 cocoa bean samples collected from sixteen (16) selected cocoa farms in the Dormaa West District of Ghana to assess the levels of ...

Authors: Elvis D. Okoffo, Benedicta Y. Fosu-Mensah and Christopher Gordon