Determination of TPH and PAH Contaminants Levels in Selected Ready-To-Eat Foods in Southern Nigeria

Background and Objective: The quality of ready-to-eat-foods (RTEFs) sold around traffic-congested areas in our cities has been a serious public health concern in recent times. The level of some contaminants in some RTEFs (rice and stew, roasted plantain, melon soup, as well as cake and meat pie snacks) sold at selected traffic-congested areas in three major cities in South-South (Port Harcourt, Calabar and Yenagoa), Nigeria was assessed. Materials and Methods: The food samples were collected, between 12 noon and 2 pm, when patronage is assumed to be high, wrapped in aluminum foil at three randomly selected traffic-congested areas in Port Harcourt (PH), Calabar and Yenagoa. The samples were treated with standard methods and were subjected to hydrocarbon analyses using standard methods and procedures. Results: The results showed that the total hydrocarbon content in roasted plantain from Calabar and PH was significantly (p<0.05) higher than the level in Yenagoa products. Also, the total hydrocarbon level in snacks and soup from PH was significantly (p<0.05) higher than the level in the same products from Calabar and Yenagoa, while the level in rice and stew from Calabar and Yenagoa was significantly (p<0.05) higher than the level in PH product. These results suggest that the quality of most RTEFs along our traffic-congested areas in the cities is not safe; thereby leaving cause for serious public health concerns. Conclusion: It may be concluded that the quality of most RTEFs vendors in our traffic-congested areas in the cities is not safe. Thereby leaving cause for serious public health concerns in food safety.