Prevalence of food imitation and its negative health implications amongst adult consumers in Port Harcourt metropolis

Abstract

This study aims to explore the prevalence of food imitation and its associated negative health impacts among adult consumers in the Port Harcourt metropolis. The research is framed by four primary research questions and corresponding null hypotheses. Employing a survey design, the study involved a sample of 557 adult food consumers selected through random sampling techniques. Data collection utilized a validated 35-item questionnaire with a reliability index of 0.87, established using the Cronbach Alpha formula. Research questions were addressed using mean and standard deviation analyses, while the hypotheses were tested using the independent sample t-test at a significance level of .05. The findings revealed that substitution emerged as the most prevalent form of food imitation in Port Harcourt metropolis, with transshipping being the least common. Alcoholic beverages were identified as the most counterfeited food items, whereas eggs were the least affected by imitation. The study highlighted that food assessment is crucial for mitigating the prevalence of food imitation, emphasizing its potential health risks such as peptic or colon ulcer and bone marrow abnormalities. Significant differences were observed among subjects regarding their perceptions of prevalent food imitations, types of imitated foods, strategies to minimize imitations for optimal health, and the impact of food imitations on adult consumers' health quality in the Port Harcourt metropolis. Recommendations included urging adult consumers to promptly report any instances of Economically Motivated Adulteration (EMA) of food to law enforcement agencies to ensure timely intervention and safeguard public health.