SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS INFLUENCING HEAVY METALS CONTAMINATION OF TRADITIONAL NIGERIAN SPICES IN ILORIN

Abstract

The increasing challenges of food insecurity in Nigeria have become a major national concern, this is largely attributable to its impact on human well-being. Recently, evidence of heavy metals contaminants exceeding threshold values in foods has posed significant threats to food safety and human well-being. Therefore, this research was designed to examine the socioeconomic factors influencing heavy metals contamination of traditional Nigerian spices in Ilorin.  A multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted to select the required respondents for the study, and spice samples were purchased and tested for selected heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Primary data were collected from the producers of traditional Nigerian spices via questionnaires and interviews and analysed using descriptive statistics (means and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (regression model). The results revealed that the traditional Nigerian spices from the respondents were contaminated with heavy metals but were still within the limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). These heavy metals contamination is influenced by producer’s age (significant at 5%), household size (1%), and processing environment conditions (1%). The study therefore suggests that governmental and non-governmental organizations should provide training on proper hygiene and food products handling to traditional Nigerian spices producers. Additionally, producers should adopt sanitation practices in the processing environment to prevent food contamination.