LEVELS OF SOME ADDITIVES IN ARTISANAL FOODS OBTAINED FROM GBOKO METROPOLIS AND THE TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECTS IN WISTAR ALBINO RATS

Abstract

The concentration of potassium bromate, monosodium glutamate and tartrazine was determined in some commonly consumed artisanal foods sold around Gboko metropolis using chromatographic methods. Results from the analysis showed that the concentration of monosodium glutamate ranged from 256.3 - 307.5 mg/kg. The concentration of Tartrazine was observed to range from 92. 8 to 268.5 mg/kg while that of potassium bromate was 19.8 to 268.2 mg/kg. The food additives were administered to three Wistar albino rats for seven weeks to evaluate the weight (M1, M2 and M3) of the Wistar rats. The results showed a steady increase in the weight of all sample cases implying that the weight of the weight was dependent on the amount of the additives consumed by the rats for all three additives. The concentration of the additives in the liver of the rats showed a similar trend as there was a steady increase in the weight of the liver of the rats for all additives considered. The percentage weight gain followed the trend: potassium bromate > monosodium glutamate > tartrazine. The histological data obtained from the photomicrographs of the kidney showed the damaging ability of the additives. The results implied that consumption of artisanal foods spiked with additives pose a great health risk and should be discouraged.