Biological Evidence 2018, Vol.8, No.2, 6-20
8
Samples were left to cool in a dessicator for about 30 minutes (Aigberua and Tarawou, 2017). A solution of the
ash was prepared by acid digestion using 10 ml of 1 N HNO
3
and 10 ml of 1 N HCl. The crucibles were covered
with its covers made of silica, and it was heated at 120ºC for 60 minutes using hot plate until ash residue was
completely dissolved. The digest was cooled to room temperature; the cover of the silica crucible was rinsed with
10 ml of 1 N HNO
3
into the prepared ash solution. Then after, the digest was filtered using Whatman No. 1 filter
paper. The resultant filtrate was quantitatively transferred into a volumetric flask and made up to 25 mL with 10
ml of 1 N HNO
3
. A reagent blank containing acid mixtures used was prepared devoid of sample and all acid
solutions were made up to 25 ml using distilled water (Aigberua and Tarawou, 2017). All samples and reagent
blanks were aspirated into the GBC Avanta PM A6600 Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (FAAS) and
the corresponding analyte concentrations were reported in mg/kg units.
Table 1 Seasonings ingredients, country of manufacture and packaging
Seasoning and culinary
condiment code
Ingredients
Country of
production
Country of
packaging
ACF.
Iodised salt, monosodium glutamate, disodium inosinate, disodium
guanylate, starch, sugar, vegetable fat, coconut meat, pepper, carrot,
nutmeg, onions.
China
Not stated
GVP.
Turmeric, ginger, fennel, coriander, salt, cumin, fenugreek, nutmeg and
garlic.
India
Nigeria
FYJFS.
Salt, monosodium glutamate, starch, sugar, vegetable fat, natural colors,
spices, vegetable extracts.
China
Not stated
KGBSP.
Salt, monosodium glutamate, sugar, corn powder, beef seasoning powder,
dextrin, vegetable protein powder, soy sauce powder, corn starch, black
pepper powder, onions powder and garlic powder.
Korea
Not stated
KGCF.
Salt, sugar, monosodium glutamate, corn powder, corn starch, soy sauce
powder, dextrin, chicken seasoning powder, shrimp powder, onion powder,
garlic powder, black pepper powder.
Korea
Not stated
KGMS.
Salt, sugar, monosodium glutamate, corn starch, corn powder, soy sauce
powder, dextrin, chicken seasoning powder, caramel color, curry powder,
nutmeg, turmeric, black pepper powder, onion powder, garlic powder,
cinnamon, coriander, clove.
Korea
Not stated
MCS.
Salt, corn starch, wheat flour, palm stearin, sugar, monosodium glutamate,
disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate, carrots, garlic, onion, celery,
parsley, leek, chiye, oil, chicken meat powder, chicken fat, turmeric,
flavouring chicken, acidity regulator, citric acid, ginger, may contain eggs,
milk, soya, mustard and sesame seeds.
Ukraine
Not stated
NVGMF.
Salt, sugar, monosodium glutamate, starch, malt dextrin, vegetable fat,
mutton cream essence, caramel, red pigment, curcumin, meaty peptide,
mutton flavor, spices.
China
Not stated
SFRSP.
Salt, sugar, monosodium glutamate, starch, malt dextrin, vegetable fat,
meaty peptide, spices, edible pigment: tartrazine.
China
Not stated
SSJSP.
Salt, monosodium glutamate, starch, sugar, vegetable fat, vegetable
extracts, natural colors and spices.
China
Not stated
TCP.
Turmeric, nutmeg, coriander, fennel, cumin, clove, mustard, cardamom,
dill and fenugreek.
India
Not stated
TGP.
Ginger powder
India
Nigeria
TTL.
Thyme leaves
Nigeria
Nigeria
1.4 Chemical analysis
The concentrations of Mn, Zn, Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, Co and Cr in the ash solutions were analyzed using FAAS (GBC
Avanta PM, A6600, Australia). The working conditions of the FAAS used to analyze the seasonings is provided in
Table 2.
