NITRATE, NITRITE AND ASCORBIC ACID CONTENT OF COMMERCIAL AND HOME - PREPARED COMPLEMENTARY, INFANT FOODS

The contents of nitrate, nitrite and ascorbic acid were determined in four samples of commercial and fifteen samples of home - prepared complementary infant foods common in Nigeria. The nitrate and nitrite values of the commercial food samples ranged from 3.1– 3.9mgNO3- N/100g and 5.0 - 16.0ug N02 - N/100g respectively while the ascorbic acid content ranged from 6.0 – 13/lmg 1100g. The nitrate and nitrite content of the home prepared complementary infant foods varied considerably according to recipes with maximum values found in foods containing vegetables and legumes. The highest levels of nitrate were found in yam and vegetable pottage (25.1mg N03 - N/100g), followed by soybean moin-moin (16.3mgNO3 -N/100g) and that of nitrite in pureed spinach vegetable (72.0mgNO2 -N/100g). The ascorbic acid content of the home - prepared complementary foods were very low. Therefore these foods should be-supplemented with vitamin C. However, the nitrate and nitrite levels of these complementary infant food as well as the estimated possible intake from meal per day were well below tolerance levels and these foods do not pose any health problem for infants.