Microbial contamination in palm oil selected from markets in major cities of Ghana.

The study assessed the microbiological contamination of palm oil sold in the major cities of Ghana's oil-producing regions. Seventy samples (10 samples from each region) were randomly collected in sterile bottles and transported aseptically to the laboratory for analysis. AOAC standard methods and procedures were used to isolate and identify bacteria and fungi based on their cultural, morphological, and biochemical characteristics. The results were analysed using One-Way ANOVA with 5% significance level, using GraphPad Prism, version 5.0 for windows, and the results presented in graph and tables. The quality of oils was moderately good with total Coliform counts of 2.0×101 ± 6.03 CFU/g and 1.72×103 ± 6.66 CFU/g. Microbial counts from the selected regions were statistically different at P < 0.05. Findings established the absence of yeast and moulds in the oils in addition to extremely pathogenic Coliforms such as Salmonella and Shigella species. Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were highlighted as dominant coliforms found in the oils after the assay. The overall findings suggest that the oil from the Greater Accra region was of best quality and safest for consumption. Oil samples from the Central and Ashanti regions were of relatively poor quality recording the highest dominant coliforms. Nonetheless, the presence of the isolated potentially harmful microorganisms in the palm oil samples points to hygienic issues and poses a relative health hazard to consumers.

Delivering the Nutritional Needs by Food to Food Fortification of Staples Using Underutilized Plant Species in Africa.

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is among the poorest region in the world, and undernourishment continues to be a great challenge although this region is endowed with a lot of underutilized plant species (UUPS), which are rich in nutrients, especially micronutrients that are unavailable in staple foods. The potential for fortifying major staple foods with UUPS could be the remedy. This study seeks to provide an overview of the fortification of staple foods with UUPS in Africa and suggest the way forward for effective nutritional and health benefits. The review revealed that fortification of major staple foods has been investigated: maize with grain amaranth, soybean, and moringa; sweet potato with cowpea, sorghum, bambara groundnut, peanut, and moringa; cassava with African yam bean, breadfruit, pigeon pea, bambara groundnut, moringa, and cowpea; and sorghum with pearl millet and green peas. The others were yam with cowpea, plantain, and moringa, while rice was also fortified with baobab pulp and locust pulp. All these studies were found to be acceptable with dense nutritional properties. Specifically, micronutrients such as magnesium, phosphorous, zinc, potassium, and iron were increased while others showed rise in fibre and protein levels. The fortification of staple foods with UUPS has been shown to be promising; however, more designed feeding trials are required to verify the impact on reducing undernutrition and hidden hunger. To do this, it is recommended that rice fortified with UUPS should be targeted as rice is increasingly becoming the leading and important staple food in Africa.

Modulation of Actinidia arguta fruit ripening by three ethylene biosynthesis inhibitors.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of postharvest application of 1-methylecyclopropene (1-MCP), 1-pentylcyclopropene (1-PentCP) and 1-octylcyclopropene (1-OCP), two structural analogues of 1-MCP, on Actinidia arguta (Siebold et Zucc.) Planch. ex. Miq. Fruit post-harvest ripening and antioxidant activity. The results showed that these two structural analogues, just as 1-MCP, exerted their effect in a concentration-dependent manner. The most effective concentration of 1-MCP, 1-PentCP or 1-OCP treatment was 1.2 µl L(-1), 1.2 µl L(-1) and 0.8 µl L(-1), respectively. But, 0.8 µl L(-1) 1-OCP was found to be more potent in postponing the appearances of respiration rate peak and ethylene production peak, delaying the softening and weight loss, suppressing the activities of ACC synthase (ACS) and ACC oxidase (ACO), maintaining higher glutathione (GSH) content, activities of glutathione reductase (GR) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), though slightly inferior to 1.2 µl L(-1) 1-MCP.