By IO Olotu and OA Obadina
Abstract
A hazard analysis survey of mosa processing was carried out for ten processors in South-West Nigeria. Raw materials were observed, processing steps were documented, temperature of frying was recorded, samples (maize, cooked maize, milled maize, molded milled maize and fried mosa) were collected at different processing stages and subjected to physical, microbiological and chemical hazard analysis. The observed physical contaminants common to all samples irrespective of the processor were stones and sands. The frying temperature of the samples ranged from 155oC to 160oC. The total aerobic count of mosa decreased as the frying temperature increased and ranged from 2.52 to 4.98 log cfu/g for all the samples. Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcaureus, Aspergillus niger and A. flavus were the microorganisms isolated from the samples at different processing stages before frying. The total aflatoxin content of the samples ranged from 0 to 20 ppb (μg/kg) being a chemical hazard together with lead, cadmium and arsenic and frying was identified as the critical control point (CCP). The presence of hazards in the samples constitutes a food safety issue and control measures should be enacted which include educating processors on hazards, CCP, and good hygienic and manufacturing practices to reduce/eliminate these hazards.
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IUFoST Scientific Information Bulletin (SIB)
FOOD FRAUD PREVENTION