The objective of this work was to produce biscuits from composite flour of wheat, coconut, and defatted fluted pumpkin seed and to evaluate the mineral bioavailability, amino acid profile and sensory properties of the composite biscuits. Wheat/coconut/defatted fluted pumpkin seed flours were blended in the ratio; 100/0/0, 80/10/10, 70/20/10, 60/30/10, 50/40/10, 40/50/10 and labelled as sample A, B, C, D, E and F respectively. Biscuits were baked with these composite flours using the creaming method. Lysine content ranged from 3.35-5.07g/100g, with sample F given significantly higher value followed by samples E (4.70g.100g) and D (4.33g/100g). All the essential amino acids increased significantly with increased substitution of coconut and fluted pumpkin seed flour, except phenyl-lanine and cysteine that decreased from 4.98 – 3.90 and 1.22 – 0.69g/100g respectively in sample A to E. Sample E gave higher total Ca, Fe, K and Zn of 26.89, 17.92, 86.02 and 2.82mg/100g respectively. Percentage bioavailability of Ca, Fe, Na, K and Zn were significantly higher in sample F with values of 59.67, 51.35, 58.22, 59.67 and 47.74% respectively. Sample E recorded the highest overall acceptability score of 6.38. This score was however not significantly different from scores obtained for samples A, B, C and D. Production of composite biscuits with 50/40/10% wheat/coconut/defatted fluted pumpkin seed flour is highly recommended.

Microbiological quality of selected ready-to-eat (RTE) street vended foods (SVF) were determined to evaluate the impact of wet and dry seasons on food safety in 3 locations (Makoba-station 1, Elekahia-station 2 and Rivers State University-station 3). Six food products investigated were roasted plantain (RP), roasted fish (RF), roasted yam (RY), suya (SY), meat pie (MP) and doughnuts (DN). Total Aerobic Count (TAC), Total Coliform Count (TCC), Faecal Coliform Count (FCC), Total Staphylococcus Count (TSC), Total Salmonella Count (TSC2), Total Bacillus Count (TBC), Total Mould Count (TMC) and Total Yeast Count (TYC) were examined. Results revealed that TAC had significantly (p<0.05) highest value of 8.46 log10CFU/g in RF2 with no growth in samples RP2, MP1 and DN2 during the wet season while TAC were isolated in all samples during dry season with a range of 5.18 to 7.44 log10CFU/g. TCC was highest in RF2 (8.04 log10CFU/g) and SY2 (7.33 log10CFU/g) during the wet and dry seasons, respectively. FCC ranged from 6.00 to 8.45 log10CFU/g for samples RF2 and MP1 during wet season while 5.15 to 7.10 log10CFU/g was isolated during dry season. TSC ranged from 6.00 to 8.00 log10CFU/g representing 55.55% growth rate during the wet season while no growth was observed in all the samples during dry season except RP1 (5.62 log10CFU/g) and RF2 (6.76 log10CFU/g). There was Salmonella growth in all the SVF with values ranging from 5.00 to 7.04 log10CFU/g during the dry season with NG in SY1 while TSC2 were only isolated in RF1 and SY2 during wet season with the values of 7.11 log10CFU/g and 7.57 log10CFU/g, respectively. TBC ranged from 6.00 to 8.30 log10CFU/g with NG isolated in samples RP3, RF3, RY2, MP3 and DN1 at wet season while significantly highest value of 6.63 log10CFU/g (SY2) was isolated in SY2 and 61.11% NG during dry season. TMC in all the SVF had higher values during wet season than the dry season. TYC was highest in RY2 (7.81 log10CFU/g) and SY1 (8.76 log10CFU/g) during wet and dry seasons, respectively. The study thus, revealed that seasonal variations and locations of SVF have a great impact on their microbiological quality.

The distribution patterns of PAHs in selected ready-to-eat street foods in parts of Port Harcourt metropolis was investigated during wet and dry seasons in 3 locations (Makoba-station 1, Elekahia-station 2 and Rivers State University-station 3). The study was carried out using a complete randomized design in three factorial experiments (Factors A, B and C). Factor A represented Season, B Location and C Street Vended foods samples. The selected food samples were Roasted plantain (RP1-3), Roasted Fish (RF1-3), Roasted Yam (RY1-3), Meat Pie (MP1-3), Suya (SY1-3) and Doughnut (DN1-3). The foods were sampled twice each season and the mean results recorded. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrophotometer (GC-MS) was used for the identification and evaluation of the presence of 16 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAHs). Oyet et al.; EJNFS, 12(1): 16-29, 2020; Article no.EJNFS.54483 17 Percentage distribution of PAHs in street vended foods during the wet and dry season showed naphthalene value of RY1:57.6% dry and RY1 Not Detected (ND) wet season, MP2: 10.7% dry and MP2: 3.4% wet. Higher naphthalene values distribution during dry season (DN1: 59.6%) was observed, with corresponding lower values recorded during the wet season (DN1: 43.3%). RP1: 10.4% wet and RY1: 19.4% wet while RP1: 9.6% dry and RY1: 2.6% dry showed lower percentage of Flouranthene values during the dry season compared with higher values obtained for the wet season. Chrysene values (RP1: 10.9% wet, RP1: 10.0% dry, SY2: 69.2% wet, SY2: 71.4% dry, MP2: 69.8%, MP2: 22.7% wet) were detected in street vended food as low molecular weight hydrocarbons, with higher degree of distribution during dry season than the wet season. Higher molecular weight Benzo(a)anthracene was detected for all food samples. For RY2: 86.1% dry and 81% wet, RF3:71.3% dry and RF3: 52.0% wet, RF2: 69.0% wet, RF2: 61.4 dry, (DN1-DN3: 28-71.5% wet) and (DN1-3: 21.9-76% dry) seasons for Benzo(a)anthracene. The study showed that Benzo(a)anthracene had the highest percentage distribution during dry season in roasted fish and doughnut (DN2). Benzo(k)fluoranthene (RP1: 2.5% wet, 2.6%dry), Benzo(b)fluoranthene (RY2: 9.9% wet, 1.7% dry, MP2: 8.9% dry and 2.7% wet) and Benzo(a)pyrene (RP1: 5.5% wet, 4.5% dry) were detected in all vended foods during wet and dry seasons, with higher percentage values observed during the dry season. Benzo(a)anthracene, Benzo(k)fluoranthene, Benzo(b)fluoranthene and Benzo(a)pyrene were detected in all vended foods. The study showed that the wet and dry seasons have imparted on the distribution levels of Lower Molecular Weight (LMW) and Higher Molecular Weight (HMW) of PAHs in ready-to-eat vended street foods. The patterns of distribution established the presence of these PAHs in selected ready-to-eat vended street foods. PAHs found in street vended foods is of public health concern to consumers and call for urgent attention for the review of the PAHs sources in food preparations, handling and storage in Port Harcourt metropolis. Original Research Article

This study was aimed at investigating the presence of heavy metals and volatile organic pollutants in street-vended foods sourced from three selected locations in Lagos State, Nigeria, to ascertain their safety level. The study was carried out using complete randomization design and Cluster sampling technique to source vended street foods from three locations (Marina, Yaba and Apapa). The eight Food products studied were roasted (plantain, fish, yam, corn), suya meat, meat pie, egg roll and doughnuts. Lead, Cadmium, Copper, Mercury, Iron, Zinc and organic pollutants in Foods and particulate matter in Environment were examined. Heavy metals detected in vended street foods from Marina, Yaba and Apapa Lagos were; iron, copper, lead and zinc, at level ranging from 0.14 mg/kg–2.80 mg/kg, 0.08 mg/kg – 0.27 mg/kg, 0.01 mg/kg – 0.18 mg/kg, and 0.01 mg/kg – 0.04 mg/kg, respectively. Mercury and Cadmium were below detectable limit. Significantly (P<0.05) higher iron presence of 2.80 mg/kg and 1.99mg/kg were respectively, noticed in suya from Apapa and roasted fish also from Apapa. Significantly (P<0.05) higher lead (Pb) content of 0.18 mg/kg was observed in dough nut from Yaba, however, roasted plantain, roasted fish and meat pie all sourced from Yaba gave significantly (P<0.05) lower lead content of 0.01mg/kg. The Zinc content of roasted fish, suya and egg roll sourced from Marina, Yaba and Apapa were all significantly (P<0.05) difference, with particular respect to food type. Higher iron content of 2.80 mg/kg was noticed in suya from Apapa. Volatile organic compounds (TPH, PAHs, Phenol) were observed to be below detectable limit (<0.001 mg/kg) in all the vended street food samples. Particulate matter in air; SPM, PM1, PM2.5, PM10 and VOCs ranged from 0.34 – 0.84 mg/m3, 0.32 – 0.56 mg/m3, 0.32 – 0.68 mg/m3, 0.33 – 0.79 mg/m3 and <0.001 – 0.24 mg/m3, respectively. PM1 and PM25 from the three locations were not statistically significant (P>0.05). All the vended food samples had lead (Pb) content above the CODEX permissible limit of 0.01 mg/kg. The presence of high lead content in Vended Street food is a major source of occupational health hazards.

The concentrations of selected potentially toxic metals and other soil physico-chemical variables in soil receptacles of a solid waste dumpsite at Onne, Nigeria were assessed to ascertain the levels of contamination and ecological risks. Surface soils (0 – 20 cm depth) from four sampling areas (north, south, east and west) of the dumpsite were analyzed for Cd, Pb, Ni, As and Cr, using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Single and integrated ecological risks indices were calculated using established models. Results revealed the mean values (mg/kg) of Cd (1.00 – 3.09), Pb (125.37 – 285.48), Ni (10.37 – 16.17), As (0.26 – 0.87), Cr (52.16 – 77.17). Assessment of ecological risk indices for north, south, east and west showed {PLI (2.38, 1.27, 1.17 and 1.33), EF (1.01, 16.0, 13.90 and 56.0), Cd (21.50, 11.10, 9.49 and 10.90), PERI (392.0, 132.0, 148.0  and 157.0), PIAvg (5.17, 2.55, 2.27 and 2.56), PINemerow (7.75, 3.80, 3.18 and 3.38) } respectively. These implied that the soils around the dumpsite area were polluted due to enrichment of the selected metals and therefore of low quality. Ecological risk reduction strategies were also recommended.