Assessment of Quality Parameters and Heavy Metal Contamination of Common Instant Noodles Sold in Bangladesh

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the quality parameters and heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, and Pb) concentration of six different brands of instant noodles available in Bangladesh. A total of thirty samples from six branded instant noodles were examined to evaluate five quality parameters such as moisture content, fat content, ash content, crude protein content, carbohydrate, and crude fiber content. The level of heavy metal was investigated by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The quality analysis of instant noodles showed the value of moisture content (2.10-4.51%), fat content (15.26-17.24%), ash content (0.97-2.27%), crude protein content (8.65-17.3%), crude fiber (6.19-11.99%), and carbohydrate (54.67-62.99%). The analysis showed that there was a significant difference (p<0.05) in all the quality parameters examined among all the samples. The mean levels of the metals significantly (p<0.05) varied between 0.004 to 0.073 mg/kg for Cd, 0.0678 to 0.1204 mg/kg for Cr, 0.096 to 0.1702mg/kg for Mn, 0.0132 to 0.074mg/kg for Ni, and 0.0205 to 0.1144 mg/kg for Pb. The levels of these metals exceeded minimum safe limits given by WHO except for Ni and Mn. So awareness should be taken to prevent the consecutive consumption of these heavy metal-contaminated instant noodles as well as diseases associated with the accumulation of these heavy metals.