ISSN 2375-0723
African Journal of Food Science Research ISSN: ISSN 2375-0723 Vol. 4 (5), pp. 033-037, December, 2016. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Vitamin A losses in a supply chain of fortified food vehicles which comprised two brands of vegetable cooking oil and maize flour
Tomika Orton Mponda*, Patrick Fisher Khumbo and Peter Robert Mabedi
Department of Physics and Biochemical Sciences, The Polytechnic, University of Malawi, Private Bag 303, Blantyre 3, Malawi.
E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 10 November, 2016
Abstract
Vitamin A levels were analyzed in fortified vegetable cooking oil and maize flour through a commercial food supply chain, from the production line to selected retail outlets using standard procedures over different times of exposure to sunlight. Samples from the production line acted as controls. In all the cases, vitamin A levels decreased at various stages of the supply chain with the least retention in products sold by street vendors. Statistical analysis showed significant losses (p<0.05) in vitamin A after the samples were exposed to sunlight. These results indicate that although food fortification is crucial in making micronutrients available to poor households, especially in developing countries like Malawi, there is need to sensitize retailers on proper handling and storage of these products to minimize losses in the supply chain.
Key words: Fortification, vitamin A, supply chain, sunlight, vegetable cooking oil, maize flour.