Journal of Food Security

The isolation and identification of food pathogens from freshly milled palm oil as well as the effect of steam sterilization on some quality parameters of palm oil was evaluated. Microbial isolations and quality parameters were carried out at day 0, day 14 and day 28. Biochemical parameters such as Peroxide value, Anisidine value, Free fatty acid, Deterioration of bleachibility index (DOBI) and Carotene value was analyzed in the same samples using the digital Palmoiltester. The most frequently isolated bacteria from the unsterilized samples were Pseudomonas aerugenosa, Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus aerogenes, Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Micrococcus varians while the most frequently isolated fungal species were Aspergillus niger aggregate (IMI number 503810), Cochliobolus sp. (anamorphic state: Curvularia) (IMI number 503811), Penicillium citrinum (IMI number 503812) and a yeast, Meyerozyma guilliermondii (IMI number 503813). The fungal count in the unsterilized samples from day 0 to day 28 was in the range of 2.17 x 10³ to 5.0x10⁶ while the bacteria count ranged from 4.08 x 10²to 9.0x 10⁸. The sterilized sample showed no microbial contamination throughout the 28 day storage. However, sterilization caused significant changes when compared with unsterilized sample as thus; significant (p<0.05) increases in peroxide value of up to 5.14% and 15.99% after the 14^th and 28^th day respectively, significant (p<0.05) increases in anisidine value of up to 170% and 200% for day 14 and day 28 respectively, significant (p<0.05) decreases in carotene content of up to 11.84% and 15.79% for day 14 and day 28 respectively, significant (p<0.05) decreases in DOBI value of up to 37.46% and 37.73% for day 14 and day 28 respectively and no significant (p>0.05) changes in free fatty acids.

Journal of Food Security. 2014, 2(2), 65-71. DOI: 10.12691/jfs-2-2-4
Pub. Date: July 23, 2014

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Impact of Traditional Process on Hygienic Quality of Soumbala a Fermented Cooked Condiment in Burkina Faso

by Marius K. Somda, Aly Savadogo, François Tapsoba, Nicolas Ouédraogo, Cheikna Zongo and AlfredS. Traoré

Original Research

Soumbala is an African fermented locust beans used as a food condiment in Burkina that it quality could be affected due to hygienic practices. The present study aimed to show the implication of traditional process on hygienic quality of soumbala. Soumbala a fermented condiment was collected in six ethnical groups of Burkina Faso. A total of 120 samples were analysed using standards methods of microbiology. The microbial analysis showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) among microorganism groups following to the synthetized diagrams (A and B). Significant difference (p < 0.05) was established among microorganisms targeted in diagram A versus diagram B comparing separately the amount of Bacillus sp. (18.77 ± 0.29% VS 37.22 ± 0.076%), Micrococcus sp. (17.52 ± 0.65% VS 10.68 ± 0.38%) and Staphylococcus sp. (19.63 ± 0.35% VS 14.49 ± 0.2%), Yeasts and Molds (34.74 ± 0.098% VS 37.6 ± 0.26%), Total coliform (9.1 ± 0.16% VS 0). The results indicated that samples of soumbala contain various microorganisms due the impact of processing.

Journal of Food Security. 2014, 2(2), 59-64. DOI: 10.12691/jfs-2-2-3
Pub. Date: July 11, 2014

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Women’s Empowerment: A Key Mediating Factor between Cotton Cropping and Food Insecurity in Western Burkina Faso

by Catherine Maisonneuve, Dia Sanou, Korodjouma Ouattara, Constance Nana, Sanni Yaya, Rosanne Blanchet and Thérèse Desrosiers

Original Research

We examined associations between cotton cropping, women’s empowerment, and household food insecurity in Burkina Faso. A cross-sectional study was conducted during the 2012 pre-harvest period. Socioeconomic characteristics and agricultural production data were collected using a questionnaire. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) questionnaire was used to assess household food insecurity. Four villages of western Burkina Faso were selected for the study. In total, 275 farmer’s households, who had at least one child between the age of 6 and 59 months, participated in the survey. Food insecurity affected 67% of households. HFIAS score was negatively correlated with the Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) (r = - 0.40, P = 0.000006). Cotton cropping was not directly associated with the HFIAS score, while women’s workload (positively) and income-generating activities (negatively) were. Interestingly, the only village where women could own cotton fields was negatively associated with the HFIAS score. An intensive cotton production was positively associated with the amount of time women spent fetching water and was tendentiously associated with women’s working time in cotton fields. Finally, the size of cotton farms was positively associated with the practice of petty trading. The relationships between cash cropping, women’s daily activities, and food insecurity are dynamic, behaviour related, and should be targeted for appropriate behaviour change intervention in order to alleviate food insecurity.

Journal of Food Security. 2014, 2(2), 51-58. DOI: 10.12691/jfs-2-2-2
Pub. Date: July 07, 2014

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Trade Liberalization and Food Security: For a New Green Revolution in Africa

by Ismaelline Eba Nguema and Giscard Assoumou Ella

Opinion Paper

The purpose of this study is to provide a framework in order to analyze the relation between trade liberalization and food security in Africa. From the 80s, the Bretton Woods institutions consider trade liberalization as a solution to achieve food security in Africa. In this study, the analysis of food security indicators is based on: availability, accessibility and stability / volatility. The situation is that several years after the application of this trade policy, the goal is still not achieved. Thus, reforming agricultural policies in Africa, a fair multilateral trade, the necessary facilities for the African countries to access international markets, and maintaining complementarity between Multilateralism and Regionalism are necessary conditions to promote food security in Africa.

Journal of Food Security. 2014, 2(2), 42-50. DOI: 10.12691/jfs-2-2-1
Pub. Date: April 30, 2014

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