Proximate Composition, Heavy Metals and Microbial Quality of Ground Melon Seed Sold in Some Open Markets in Abeokuta, Ogun State

Abstract

Background: Processing, handling and distribution practices of ground melon seed normally sold along the street and open markets in Nigeria may constitute a major source of health hazard.
Objective: This study assessed the variations in proximate composition, heavy metals and microbial quality of ground melon seed sold in some open markets in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Methods: Ground melon seed samples were collected from three vendors from five different major markets (Osiele, Itoku, Kuto, Omida and Lafenwa) in Ogun State, Nigeria. The samples were transported ascetically in polythene bags to the laboratory for further analysis. Unshelled melon seeds purchased from Osiele market was cleaned, shelled, washed with distilled water, sundried and milled using a laboratory blender. This served as control. The proximate composition, heavy metals (copper, lead, iron and cadmium) concentrations and microbial {total fungi count (TFC), total coliform count (TCC) and total viable count (TVC)} quality were determined by standard laboratory procedures.
Results: There were significant differences (p<0.05) in the proximate composition, heavy metal contents, TVC, TFC and TCC of all the samples. Sample from Omida market had the highest contents of all heavy metals except cadmium while the sample from Osiele market had the highest content of TVC, TCC and TFC.
Conclusion: Ground melon seed sold in all the markets were unsafe for human consumption due to its high microbial loads while the concentrations of heavy metals are comparable and within the acceptable limits of WHO/FAO CODEX food standard.