PROXIMATE COMPOSITION AND HEAVY METAL LEVEL OF IMPORTED CHOCOLATES, CANDIES AND CANNED TOMATO PASTE CONSUMED IN NIGERIA

The present study was curried out to assess the levels of different heavy metals and proximate composition of imported milk candy, milk chocolate and canned tomato paste consumed in Nigeria using Standard analytical techniques. The heavy metals: Pb, Cu, Co. Cd. h'e and Zn and the proximate analysis parameters: crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, total carbohydrate, total ash and moisture content were all investigated. The result obtained for the heavy metal screening of milk candy was (l. 88 mg/kg) and (0.26mg/kg)for Co and Cd respectively while for milk chocolate: (6.68 mg/kg), (5.32mg/kg) and (l 9.8 2 mg/kg) for Co. h'e and Zn were detected. Canned tomato paste showed the presence of Co and h'e (4.94mg/kg) and (50.71 mg/kg) respectively. The metals: Pb and Cu were not detected. The proximate values for the samples had range of 2.8 - 72.0 % moisture content, 4.20 - 25.0 % crude protein, 11.6 - 31.25% crude fat, 6.16-7.1 % crude fiber, 13.70 - 46.54 % total carbohydrate and 2.15-4.8 % total ash. Of all the samples canned tomato paste has the highest moisture content at 72%> while milk candy has the lowest (2.8%>). It was observed that milk candy has the highest crude protein (25.0%) while canned tomato paste has the lowest (4.20%)) respectively. It was also observed that the crude fat content in milk chocolate was much higher (31.25%) and canned tomato paste has the lowest. The value indicates that the levels of investigated metals and proximate values in the analyzed samples were within the permissible levels of metal and proximate recommended as dietary intake in milk candy, milk chocolate and canned tomato paste by W.H.O.