Browsing by Author "Ofosu, Isaac W."

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    Consumer Characteristics and Consumption Analytics of Frequently Consumed Food Categories in Mining Areas
    (Academic Journal of Life Sciences, 2020) Anyimah-Ackah, Ekpor; Ofosu, Isaac W.; Lutterodt, Herman Erick Lutterodt; Darko, Godfred; 0000-0001-7157-646X
    The WHO/FAO have requested data on food consumption to better understand the increasing toxicological results of foodstuffs. The aim of this study was to determine the food consumption characteristics of the consumers living in smallscale mining areas. Commonly consumed food crops of each category: fruit, cereals, vegetables, legumes and root tubers were selected. In all, 308 consumers were sampled using a one-week dietary recall tool and a stratified sampling method of the consumers. The @Risk Microsoft add-in was used to analyze the data. The results show that the adolescents (10-17 years) consumed cowpea (233.90 g/day) and cassava (666.96g/day) at a relatively higher level compared to children (3-9 years) and adults (18-64 years). Likewise, adults consumed yam (136.65g/day), maize (1739.37g/day), rice (1272.40g/day), pineapple (184.97g/day) and watermelon (656.55g/day) at a relatively higher level compared to children and adolescents. On the contrary, whereas children generally consumed lower quantities of food, they presented higher exposure frequency to cowpea (364 days/year), root tubers (36-364 days/year) and grains (286-364 days/year) compared to adults and adolescents. Both adolescent and adult population subgroups presented higher exposure frequency to vegetables (364 days/year) relative to children (104-364 days/year). The findings further show that, in increasing order rice and maize are the most consumed crops. The adult population subgroup, in the study area may be vulnerable to contaminants in maize grains than other dishes categories due to the high mass consumed and high exposure duration. Children may be vulnerable to contaminants in maize grains because of the high exposure frequency.
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    Exposures and risks of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in cocoa beans and cocoa-based foods: a systematic review
    (Food Quality and Safety, 2019) Anyimah-Ackah, Ekpor; Ofosu, Isaac W.; Lutterodt, Herman E.; Darko, Godfred; 0000-0003-1671-5185; 0000-0001-7157-646X
    Background: The World Health Organization has expressed concern about arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury as potentially harmful to human health. As such, the world body has called for appropriate preventive and interventionary measures. In response, food regulatory bodies including European Food Safety Authority are monitoring the levels of these heavy metals in cocoaand cocoa products. Objective: Therefore, the objective of this paper is to synthesize the latest relevant available peerreviewed publications on arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury with a view to highlighting thegaps to encourage further research and informing industry. Materials and Methods: A systematic review was conducted using the European Food Safety Authority guide in PubMed database and the result was reported according to the PRISMA checklist. Results: The results show that processing may dilute or concentrate the levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury, depending on processing factors including the product type, processing method, and raw materials. In addition, some products exceed the European Union and Chinese Maximum Contaminant Level and may pose risk. Furthermore, the findings show that the risk of heavy metal toxicities was higher among children relative to adults at the same exposure in cocoa-based products and that correcting risk estimates for bioavailability reduces the level of estimated risk. Conclusion: Therefore, the review concludes that further research is required to clarify the effect of processing on the level of these contaminants in specific cocoa-based foods. Moreover, conducting risk studies based on age groups and correcting for bioavailability of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury enhance accuracy of risk estimates. Recommendations: The review, therefore, recommends that a value chain approach be adopted to assessing the levels, exposures, and risks of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in cocoabased foods and the effect of processing on these levels.