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The levels of acrylamide intake because of potato crisps consumption remains unknown in Kenyan context. This study assessed the exposure to acrylamide because of consumption of potato crisps in Nairobi, Kenya. A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 315 crisps consumers in Nairobi, and consumption patterns were collected using a pre-tested structured 7-day recall questionnaire. A total of 43 branded and 15 unbranded potato crisps samples were purchased in triplicates of 100 g and acrylamide was quantified using a gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector. Consumption data were combined with the data on acrylamide contents from which dietary acrylamide intake was calculated using a probabilistic approach based on @Risk TopRank 6 risk analysis software for excel. The mean estimated acrylamide intake was 1.57 µg/kg body weight (BW) per day while the 95th (P95) percentile was 5.1 µg/kg BW per day, with margins of exposures (MOE) being 197 and 61, respectively. The intake of acrylamide was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in unbranded crisps with a mean value of 2.26 and 95th percentile of 6.54 µg/kg BW per day, MOE being 137 and 47, respectively. There were extremely lower MOE indicating higher exposure to acrylamide by the consumers mainly because of the higher acrylamide contents in potato crisps, and hence the need for mitigation measures.

Although, the impact of mulberry leaves on mortality of Bombyx mori [silkworm] and cocooning rates has been investigated, limited research has exploited the influence on the quality of B. mori pupae. This study evaluated the effects of four mulberry cultivars (Ichinose, Noi-EX-Thailand, Ex-Thika and Victory1) on the nutritional quality of B. mori pupae. The proximate composition, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals of different mulberry cultivars and silkworm pupae were analyzed using standard methods. Silkworms fed on Noi-EX-Thailand and Ex-Thika cultivars exhibited the highest crude protein (57.9%) and fat content (44.3%), respectively. Eight essential amino acids were identified in silkworm pupae, with histidine (6.02–7.12 μg/100mg) being the most abundant, followed by significant amounts of lysine (1.40–5.03 μg/100 mg), leucine (1.96–2.47μg/100 mg), and valine (0.89–2.03 μg/100 mg). Pupae raised on Noi-Ex-Thailand leaves had the highest total amino acid content (23.01 μg/100 mg). Potassium was the major mineral in pupae (505.62–665.30 mg/100 mg), with the highest levels observed in those fed on Noi-EX-Thailand. Vitamin C levels ranged from 28.84 to 61.88 mg/100 g, with pupae fed on Victory1 showing the highest concentration. There was a strong positive correlation between magnesium, crude protein and nitrogen-free extracts of mulberry leaves that mirrored the corresponding levels in silkworm pupae. These results underscore the importance of mulberry leaf composition in determining silkworm pupae quality, especially when considering their use as sustainable ingredient for the food, feed and pharmaceutical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation and handling practices, as well as raw materials for street food vending businesses, could be sources of toxic heavy metals in street vended foods (SVFs). The objective of this study was to assess the levels of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) contamination in ready‐to‐eat SVFs sold in selected locations within Thika town, Kenya. A total of 199 samples consisting of cereal‐based foods, sliced fruits, salads, groundnuts, tubers, fresh fruit juices, eggs, smokies, and sausages were randomly collected for analysis. The concentration of Pb and Cd in street vended foods (SVFs) was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results indicated that at least one of the food sample types was contaminated with Pb. The level of Pb contamination in SVFs ranged between 0.271 ± 0.070 and 1.891 ± 0.130 mg/kg with groundnuts recording significantly (p <.0001) higher levels (1.891 mg/kg) than all other food samples. Cadmium contamination levels in the SVF samples ranged between 0.001 ± 0.001 and 0.010 ± 0.003 mg/kg. Significantly (p <.0001) high levels of Cd were observed in cereal‐based foods (0.010 mg/kg) and fresh fruit juices (0.008 mg/kg). The Pb concentrations reported in this study are a food safety concern since they exceed the maximum recommended limits set by the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/World Health Organization (WHO) food standards program. There is therefore a need for the establishment and enforcement of policies to govern the street food vending businesses to reduce heavy metal contamination in the SVFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous mushroom bioactive metabolites, including polysaccharides, eritadenine, lignin, chitosan, mevinolin, and astrakurkurone have been studied in life‐threatening conditions and diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular, hypertension, cancer, DNA damage, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity attempting to identify natural therapies. These bioactive metabolites have shown potential as antiviral and immune system strengthener natural agents through diverse cellular and physiological pathways modulation with no toxicity evidence, widely available, and inexpensive. In light of the emerging literature, this paper compiles the most recent information describing the molecular mechanisms that underlie the nutraceutical potentials of these mushroom metabolites suggesting their effectiveness if combined with existing drug therapies while discussing the food functionality of mushrooms. The findings raise hope that these mushroom bioactive metabolites may be utilized as natural therapies considering their therapeutic potential while anticipating further research designing clinical trials and developing new drug therapies while encouraging their consumption as a natural adjuvant in preventing and controlling life‐threatening conditions and diseases. Practical applications: Diabetes, cardiovascular, hypertension, cancer, DNA damage, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity are among the world's largest life‐threatening conditions and diseases. Several mushroom bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides, eritadenine, lignin, chitosan, mevinolin, and astrakurkurone have been found potential in tackling these diseases through diverse cellular and physiological pathways modulation with no toxicity evidence, suggesting their use as nutraceutical foods in preventing and controlling these life‐threatening conditions and diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The volatile components of peel essential oils of Salustiana ( Citrus sinensis Osbeck forma Salustiana), Valencia ( C. sinensis Osbeck forma Valencia) and Washington navel ( C. sinensis Osbeck forma Washington navel) sweet oranges grown in Kenya were isolated by cold-pressing and determined by GC and GC-MS. A total of 56 components were identified in Salustiana, 73 in Valencia and 72 in Washington navel peel oils. The identified components amounted to 98.7, 97.8 and 97.4% of the total volatiles of each oil, respectively. Monoterpene hydrocarbons largely dominated in the volatile fraction of the Salustiana (96.9%), Valencia (94.5%) and Washington navel (92.7%) oils. In each oil, limonene, α-pinene, sabinene and α-terpinene were the major compounds. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons amounted to 0.1% of the total volatiles of Valencia and Washington navel oils, where ( E,E)- α-farnesene was the main compound. The total oxygenated compounds amounted to 1.7, 3.4 and 4.5% of the Salustiana, Valencia and Washington navel volatiles. Linalool, decanal, ( Z)-carvone, ( Z)-carveol, ( E)-carveol, nootkatone and sabina ketone were the main components. The three sweet orange varieties could be differentiated by the unique presence of α-phellandrene and γ-terpinene in Salustiana, β-phellandrene, ( Z)-nerolidol, aromadendrene in Valencia and p-cymene, β-sinensal and dodecanoic acid in Washington navel oils. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]