ABSTRACT
The study investigated the socio-economic importance,
nutritional qualities and sanitary conditions in some metropolitan cities of
Imo and Abia states of Nigeria. In Imo, Owerri and Okigwe were used while in
Abia, Aba and Umuahia were used. The sample size comprised of two hundred and
fifty six (256) vendors and three hundred and sixty eight (368) consumers. Equal
size sampling was used for selection of samples from the four cities and the
four clusters (mechanic village, secreta.riatlgovernment office, market and
environs, and motor park). For the vendors, 64 were selected from each city and
16 from each cluster. For the consumers, 92 were selected from each city and 23
from each cluster. The survey instrument consisted of wellstructured, validated
and pretested questionnaire which was prepared separately for the vendors and
the consumers. Observational study of the vending outlets was also done. Food
samples for proximate analysis, vitamin A and C; iron and calcium were
collected. Moisture content was determined by drying the sample in a
thermostatically hot air oven at 80°C, fat was by soxhiet apparatus, protein by
micro kjeldahl method, ashing by incineration in a muffle furnace (550- 570)°C,
and carbohydrate determined by difference Vitamin A was estimated by the
absorbence method and vitamin C by visual titration method. Calcium and iron
were by atomic absorption spectrophotometric determination. Food samples were
also collected for microbial analysis that is total bacterial and total
coliform counts. Results were compared with international microbiological
standards. The study revealed that most (91.02%) of the vendors were females
while most (71.20%) of the consumers were males. Most (70.71%) of the vendors
had between 50 to 100 customers daily. Majority (68.34%) of the vendors could
meet 60 — 100% of their financial commitments with income from their street
food vending business. Some (34.51%) of the consumers patronized street food
vending because it was more convenient for them and the major advantage was the
time saved for cooking. Almost half (41-50%) of the daily food intake of the
consumers came from street foods. Regular inspection of food vending outlets by
health vi officers and education of the vendors was revealed by many consumers
as what could be done to make street food safer. The result of the nutrient
composition revealed that street foods sold in Imo and Abia States could be
regarded as good sources of basic nutrients which could meet the recommended
dietary intake of the consumers if eaten in adequate proportions. The mean
total bacterial count of the food samples was within the range of 1.1 x 102 -
2.0.2 x iO4cfulg/ml and 1.0 x 101 - 6.9 x 102 cfulg/ml for total coliform count
compared with the range 101— 102 cfulg/ml of food for coliform count and less
than lO5cfulg/ml of food for total bacterial plate count which is the standard.
This revealed that some of the food samples were within the safe limit.
However, more work is required to consider the microbial load of street foods
collected at different times after preparation
NZEAGWU, C (2021). The Socio - Economic Importance, Nutritional Qualities, And Sanitary Conditions Of Street Foods In Imo And Abia States Of Nigeria. Mouau.afribary.org: Retrieved Nov 20, 2024, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/the-socio-economic-importance-nutritional-qualities-and-sanitary-conditions-of-street-foods-in-imo-and-abia-states-of-nigeria-7-2
CHINYERE, NZEAGWU. "The Socio - Economic Importance, Nutritional Qualities, And Sanitary Conditions Of Street Foods In Imo And Abia States Of Nigeria" Mouau.afribary.org. Mouau.afribary.org, 13 Oct. 2021, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/the-socio-economic-importance-nutritional-qualities-and-sanitary-conditions-of-street-foods-in-imo-and-abia-states-of-nigeria-7-2. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
CHINYERE, NZEAGWU. "The Socio - Economic Importance, Nutritional Qualities, And Sanitary Conditions Of Street Foods In Imo And Abia States Of Nigeria". Mouau.afribary.org, Mouau.afribary.org, 13 Oct. 2021. Web. 20 Nov. 2024. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/the-socio-economic-importance-nutritional-qualities-and-sanitary-conditions-of-street-foods-in-imo-and-abia-states-of-nigeria-7-2 >.
CHINYERE, NZEAGWU. "The Socio - Economic Importance, Nutritional Qualities, And Sanitary Conditions Of Street Foods In Imo And Abia States Of Nigeria" Mouau.afribary.org (2021). Accessed 20 Nov. 2024. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/the-socio-economic-importance-nutritional-qualities-and-sanitary-conditions-of-street-foods-in-imo-and-abia-states-of-nigeria-7-2