Title: Food quality assessment of processed Telfairia occidentalis (Ikong Ubong) leaves

Abstract:

The ready-to-eat (RTE) fruit and vegetable industry is a worldwide expanding sector. From 2000 to 2017, vegetables’ global production has increased by approximately 60%. Consumption of RTE vegetable salads has also increased within developing countries owing to a change in lifestyle patterns and growth of awareness regarding the positive relationship between human health and intake of RTE vegetables. Telfairia occidentalis otherwise called fluted pumpkin, fluted gourd or Ikong Ubong is a versatile tropical leafy vegetable in West Africa that belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family. Although edible plants such as T. occidentialis have many beneficial uses they have been associated with high levels of hygiene indicators such as Aerobic bacteria (aerobic colony count: ACC) and certain microbial pathogens due to poor post-harvest handling.

Biography:

Roseline is a passionate, experienced, and self-motivated Food scientist and Educationist with a successful track record in training, teaching, researching, developing and improving quality products for health-conscious companies. She has been successful in training and managing various projects and expertly delivering innovative and profitable solutions within the time frame and budget. Experienced in supervision, trainings, teaching, production processes, HACCP, quality control, sensory evaluation and research. A team player and an effective communicator verbally and in written form