Food Safety Analysis of Milk and Beef in Southwestern Uganda
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Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Environmental and Public Health
Abstract
Inorganic pollutants in milk and beef are of major public health concern; however, information in Africa is still
limited due to low food safety monitoring practices. In this study, we established levels of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd),
copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) in milk and beef and obtained the estimated daily intake (EDI) and incremental lifetime cancer risk
(ILCR) as measures of risk to the Ugandan population. Materials and Methods. +is was a cross-sectional study in which a total of
40 samples of milk and beef were collected from Bushenyi district in southwestern Uganda. Samples were analyzed by atomic
absorbance spectrophotometer, and the EDI and ILCR were computed using the US EPA reference values. Results and Discussion.
Heavy metal concentrations were highest in the order of Zn > Fe > Pb > Cu in milk samples, while in beef samples, concentrations
were highest in the order of Zn > Pb > Fe > Cu and no Cd was detected. Furthermore, beef had significantly higher (P < 0.05) Pb
and Fe concentrations than milk. +e EDI was highest in children, and this was followed by very high ILCR levels, showing that
milk and beef are not safe for children in Uganda. Bearing in mind that a high HI was shown, beef and milk from these regions are
not recommended for consumption especially by children although more studies remain to be conducted. Conclusion. Heavy
metals in milk and beef of Uganda may predispose the indigenous community to cancer and other health-related illnesses,
showing a need for improved food safety screening to promote food safety
Description
Keywords
Food Safety, Analysis of Milk, Beef in Southwestern Uganda