Food Safety
Ramadhan Abdul Hassan; Davis Naboth Chaula; Abdulsudi Issa-Zacharia
Abstract
Street-vended food is perceived as a significant public health risk. Foods wrapped in ink-printed papers have been associated with several health issues, including cancer, neurological disorders, reproductive complications, and kidney and liver damages. This study examined heavy metal contamination ...
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Street-vended food is perceived as a significant public health risk. Foods wrapped in ink-printed papers have been associated with several health issues, including cancer, neurological disorders, reproductive complications, and kidney and liver damages. This study examined heavy metal contamination and the microbiological quality of ready-to-eat foods (chapatti) wrapped in ink-printed paper in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Samples were collected and analyzed for lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), and cadmium (Cd) using microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Microbiological assessment was conducted to determine the total plate count (TPC), and the presence of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Data analysis was performed using Python-based analytical tools to calculate mean values and assess statistical significance. The results indicated that the mean concentrations of Pb, Cr, and Cd were all significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the wrapped samples than in the unwrapped controls, with mean levels varying from 0.05–0.06 mg/kg, 0.07 mg/kg, and 0.06–0.07 mg/kg, respectively. Likewise, wrapped samples had significant microbial contamination, with mean TPC and S. aureus levels of 2.64 ± 0.17 log10 CFU/g and 1.67 ± 0.16 log10 CFU/g, respectively, while these bacteria were not present in the control samples. None of the samples tested positive for E. coli. Although measured heavy metal concentrations remain below current regulatory thresholds, the marked increase in contamination originating from ink-printed papers constitutes a potential public health concern. The results clearly demonstrate that the wrapping material is the principal source of contamination. Therefore, it is advisable that regulatory bodies, including the Tanzania Bureau of Standards and local government health officials, prohibit the use of printed materials, such as newspapers, for food contact.
Food Safety
Veda Fandio Nanfa Ngongang; Wilfred A. Abia; Emmanuel Acha Asongalem; Beatrice Ambo Fonge
Abstract
Lead poisoning remains a significant public health concern in low- and middle-income countries, particularly among children, for whom no level of exposure is considered safe. This scoping review examines potential sources, occurrences, exposure pathways, and associated health risks of lead contamination ...
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Lead poisoning remains a significant public health concern in low- and middle-income countries, particularly among children, for whom no level of exposure is considered safe. This scoping review examines potential sources, occurrences, exposure pathways, and associated health risks of lead contamination in Cameroon. A systematic search of Web of Science, Google Scholar, MedLine, and PubMed, using “lead,” “lead occurrence,” “lead exposure,” and “Cameroon” as primary keywords, identified 16 relevant studies. Key sources of environmental lead included mining activities, informal recycling of lead-acid batteries, contaminated water sources, aluminum cookware, certain foodstuffs, and the ingestion of "Calaba" chalk. Reported mean lead concentrations ranged from 280 to 12270 mg/kg in soil and up to 8.87 mg/L in water. Food items such as condiments, vegetables, and fish showed levels between 0.019 and 3.61 mg/kg, while poultry feed contained up to 3229 µg/kg. Blood lead levels in children and pregnant women ranged from 8 to 31.19 μg/dL, which exceeded recommended safety thresholds. Overall, 95% of reported lead levels across all sample types exceeded permissible limits. These findings highlight widespread environmental lead contamination in Cameroon and underscore the urgent need for further research and public health interventions.
