Consumer behaviour towards food label in Alexandria city markets

People want to know what is in their food. Surveys show that very high proportions of people believe it is important to find nutrition information on food packages. So the purpose of this study aimed to identify the percentage of food label on food packages and types of information. It aimed also to study consumer's practices and behavior towards food label. In addition the most acceptable form of food label for consumers. A check list was used to identify the percentage of food label on food packages and types of information on it. The data were collected from 650 consumers chosen randomly from different supermarkets in Alexandria city by using a questionnaire; the data were analyzed by using SAS program, qui square, frequency, and percentage. The survey showed that, food labels were found on some products but without nutrition facts and absent from others. The interviewed sample showed that, 64.9% female, 56.8% were between [31-45] years old, 63.8% were married and 76% were highly educated. Newspaper, television, and food labeling were the mainly information sources for consumers, representing 72%, 65.4%, 49.4% respectively. The percentage of consumers interested in reading expire date, origin, ingredients, commercial name, and price were 92.3%, 51.5%, 40.9%, 40.3%, and 34.2% respectively. It was found that 50.8% of consumers always concern about reading information on food label, and 87.8% don't buy the products in case of absence of label or enough information. Also it was found that, there was highly significant relationship between gender, age, education, and consumer's practices and behaviors towards food label It was concluded that there must be a nutrition education program to raise awareness of consumers towards food label and food choice

Relationship between daily in take of some nutrients and the level of lead and cadmium in breast milk

The effect of nutritional status of lactating women on the levels of lead and cadmium in breast milk is a critical point. Samples were chosen randomly from two sites in Alexandria representing rural and urban areas. Total samples of 84 lactating women were collected, 48 from urban areas, and 36 from rural areas. A questionnaire was prepared, containing different information about socioeconomic data, some environmental information, food habits and practices, and 24 hour dietary recall. Samples of breast milk were collected and prepared to determine the heavy metal content. The results show that, 44% of lactating women in rural areas were at risk age [under, out of normal child bearing age], while it was 20% in urban. Daily intake of protein, iron and vitamin C were higher in urban than rural. Lactating women consumed less than RDA of the studied nutrients in both areas. Levels of Pb and Cd in breast milk were higher in urban than in rural areas [0.81, 0.019 ppm, and 0.79, 0.003 ppm] respectively. The results showed that, there was a significant reverse correlation between level of Pb in breast milk and daily intake of Ca, vit. C, protein and education level in rural areas. It is concluded that, lactating women need nutrition education programs to enhance their nutritional status and avoid nutrition problems and contamination

Effect of heat on the microbial content and electrophoretic pattern of water soluble protein in fresh water fish

Fresh bolti [Tilapia nilotica] and fresh grey mullet [Mugil cephalus] were exposed to heat treatments [grilling] over a period of 10, 20 and 30 minutes using an electric grill. Microbial content and electrophoretic pattern of water soluble protein of fresh and heated fish were determined. Results indicated that after grilling bolti fish for 30 minutes at 130C, total aerobic counts, coliform counts, E. coli counts and Staph. aureus were reduced by 50.5%, 36.6%, 46.2% and 17.1%, respectively. However, total aerobic counts and Staph. aureus counts were not affected by grilling at 130C for 30 minutes in mullet fish. Both of Salmonella spp and Clostridium spores were not detected in raw bolti and raw mullet fish. In addition, the results indicated that the ability of Staph. aureus strains which are isolated from both bolti and mullet fish to produce thermonuclease was affected by grilling for 30 minutes. Electrophoresis method was used to demonstrate the electrophoretic picture of fish proteins. The results showed that there are many differences in protein pattern of bolti and grey mullet fish after exposure to heat treatment [130C] for 30 minutes compared with the other 2 periods [10 and 20 minutes]