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Yams (Dioscorea spp.) are a good source of food in Ghana. This study investigated the storage of seven (7) key yam varieties in an improved farm-gate yam storage structure. Seven freshly harvested key yam varieties identified as Pona, Lariboko, Dente, Mutwumudoo, Serwah, Matches and Akaba were used in a Complete Block Design technique of 3 blocks and stored in an improved farm-gate yam storage structure for 146 days. Formation of buds, pests and diseases, wholesomeness, regeneration of sprout...

Background: Complementary foods are given to infants when breast milk alone becomes insufficient in meeting their nutritional needs. The major objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of Aflatoxins (AFs) in Weanimix complementary foods purchased from shops in Accra (Ghana), and to estimate risk of liver cancer development in infants. Methods: In total, 32 samples of Weanimix were purchased from shops in Accra, an urban centre and analyzed for AFs by Reverse-Phase High Performance ...

Sandalwood essential oil is extensively used in perfumes, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. The unique woody aroma of sandalwood essential oil is produced by (Z)-α-santalol and (Z)-β-santalol and these two compounds influence the oil quality. Variation in sesquiterpene composition and oil yield have been observed both within and across Santalum species. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) is a technique commonly used to identify and quantify sesquiterpene compounds in sandalwood essent...

The objective of the study was to explore the relationship between gender, group formation, mobility, age and innovation transfer in cowpea innovation transfer. Data collection was achieved through formal surveys, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and observations. A hundred and twenty individual interviews were conducted for the formal survey guided by questionnaire. While 275 community members made up of both male and female farmers, elders, the youth and traders were involved in five Foca...

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the most important vegetable plants in the world used in cooking foods. In Ghana, at peak seasons of harvesting tomato, high postharvest loses are incurred because of the absence of industrial tomato processing facilities for value addition into other convenient forms to extend shelf-life. Solar drying is a more efficient and low cost method of enhancing the quality and adding value to tomato. This study was carried out to design a natural mixed mode so...

Due to rapid urbanization, industrialization and intensive agriculture in Ghana, upsurge in heavy metals in soils have become a major concern. An environmental geochemical investigation was carried out in selected districts of upper east to determine the effects of contamination in the study area. Soil samples collected in the study area were analyzed for Cu, Cr, Pb, V, Zr, Cd, Zn and Sr contents using Philips PW 2440 X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. Samples were collected from top 30- to 40-...

The aim of this sensory study was to assess the product attributes that drive consumer preferences for locally-produced or imported rice and chicken meat

Currently smoked Tilapia in Ghana enjoys high consumer acceptability and marketability with immense profit margin for both wholesalers and retailers. However, considering the long and complex market channels in the distribution of smoked Tilapia, the study aimed at assessing the storability of smoked Tilapia based on pH and moisture content measurements. Two treated (fresh and aged) samples of Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus from the Volta Lake, Ghana were used. Both samples were subjecte...

This report discusses the training held by CSIR-Food Research Institute, Accra, to train selected Agriculture Colleges tutors on value addition to under the auspices of Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA). The program took place from 20th of July, 2020 to 24th of July, 2020 at the Apesewa Conference Hall, CSIR-Food Research Institute, Accra. The training covered both lectures and practical session in the areas of Basic Food processing Fruit juice processing, Food packaging, Food safety, G...

Fish is an important dietary source of micronutrients, particularly in low-and middle-income countries. In Ghana, effective management of fish and the fisheries is essential for food, economic and nutrition security and is critical towards achieving many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals especially those pertaining to hunger, poverty, gender equality and life under water. Ghana has experienced significant economic growth in the last few decades, but increasing inequality, uncertainties ...

The study examines the distribution and sale practices of coconut vendors, identifies and analyzes food safety bottlenecks associated with street vending of fresh coconuts in Accra, Ghana. A cluster random sampling technique was used in which the study area was classified into three zones. One hundred fresh coconut vendors responded to a structured questionnaire. The results showed that vendors were predominantly male, most of who were educated up to secondary school level. Many (70.8%) of th...

This study evaluated the influence of packing medium on some physicochemical, textural, and microbial properties of canned oyster mushrooms during storage. Mushrooms canned in brine or oil was stored at room temperature for six months. During this period pH, leached solids, drained weight, instrumental color, and texture were evaluated by standard methods. The results showed a 21% and 64% reduction in mushroom hardness after blanching and canning respectively. The pH of canning media ranged f...

Geophagia although pleasurable and somewhat a necessity among pregnant women, also comes along with its own attendant problems such as exposure to potentially hazardous substances like bacteria, fungi, helminthes and ova, radioactive materials, and toxic elemental minerals in the soil depending on the geographical location. This study evaluated the potential health risk involved during the exposure of pregnant women to toxic elemental minerals via the consumption of clay as pica (geophagia). ...

High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) is a reliable and rapid method useful for the detection of product quality and composition. In recent times, HPTLC instrumentation allows to obtain fingerprints suitable to determine composition and identity of plant raw materials. This study aimed at exploring the results of High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) analysis as a useful means for the authentication of Allanblackia parviflora kernel and seed oils using the fingerprin...

HPTLC is a useful and practical analytical tool to characterize plant compositions. This study was focused on exploring the results of high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis, particularly as a useful tool for the authentication of Allanblackia parviflora seed and kernel cakes. Bulked samples from sixteen different Ghanaian communities were analysed by HPTLC and their fingerprints were compared. The optimum experimental conditions were established: sample weight of 2.0 g, ...

The potential of high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) fingerprinting in identifying differences in sandalwood essential oils from 5 sandalwood species, namely, Santalum album, Santalum spicatum, Santalum austrocaledonicum, Santalum paniculatum, Santalum lanceolatum, and a natural substitute for sandalwood, Osyris lanceolata, was explored. Variation was observed in the profile of bands (RF values and color) and peak intensity profiles displayed by the essential oils across and w...