ABSTRACT

Ingesting food is one of the most important activities that every living organism engages

itself on daily basis, more especially human beings and other active locomotive animals.

Therefore, the study of the nutrient compositions as well as the microbial loads of foods

and snacks ingestible by humans is as important as the eating process especially

regarding to the unending struggle for niches and foods amongst living organisms. This

study was therefore aimed at evaluating the nutrients (jroximate, mineral and vitamin)

compositions and microbial loads of jellof abacha purchased from four vendors at

different locations in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, in Ikwuano

LGA Umuahia. The energy (kcal) composition of the samples ranged from 155.51 to

198.l7kcal with sample collected at gate 6 having a value (198.l7kca) significantly

higher (P<0.05) than the other samples. The moisture compositions ranged between

58.72% to 67.82%. Jellof abacha prepared in the labouratory had the highest crude fat

(1.43%), and ash value (1.6 1%). Crude protein was highest in sample collected from back

of administration (4.28%) while crude fibre was higher in sample collected from Colmas

college. The mean total aerobic plate counts of the samples ranged from (3.3x108to

6.3x10"), fungal count ranged from (2.5x107to 5.lx 1O) and coliform count ranged

from (2 .5x 1 o3 to 5.1 x 1 0). Macro minerals were generally low. Na, Ca, Mg and P ranged

between 14.10- 48.21mg/bOg, 16.26 - 47.11mg/lOOg, and 7.27-21.66mg/bOg

respectively. Sample collected from Gate6 had the highest Zn (6.16mg/bOg), Fe

(10.30mg), Mn (3.8 1mg) and Cu (1.07mg) respectively. The food samples are generally

good source of vitamin A (1420- 4820mcg/lOOg,), vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, C, and E

ranged between 0.11- 0,28mg, 0.39- 1.49mg. 0.49mg, 0.42- 2.63mg, 1.27- 6.12mg and

0.11- 1.25mg respectively with sample prepared in the labouratory having the highest Bi,

B2, B3, B6, vitamin C and E values.