George Abong

• PhD, Food Science and Technology
• Associate Professor at University of Nairobi

Exploration of nutritious, cheap, and easy-to-prepare locally available complementary foods using different processing techniques is gaining traction globally. This study evaluated the impact of three processing techniques (roasting, germination, and fermentation) on finger millet and amaranth quality. The implications of blending processed product...

In Kenya, aflatoxin contamination in maize remains a persistent issue, with potential negative impacts on both public health and economic growth. Aflatoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by certain mold species, primarily Aspergillus flavus. The extent of Aspergillus fungal invasion in maize grains and the resulting increase in aflatoxin...

Turkana County, being an arid and semi-arid county is one of the major beneficiaries of the homegrown school feeding program from the government of Kenya. Most of the maize consumed in Turkana county is sourced from other counties as well as neighbouring countries such as Uganda and Ethiopia. Due to the vast distance, high temperatures as well as s...

Aflatoxin exposure in breastfeeding children has yet to be extensively explored in the southeastern region of Kenya, which is prone to aflatoxin outbreaks, and the assessment of potential risks may be underestimated. We determined the aflatoxin exposure of children 0-6 months and the outcome of weight-for-age z-scores as part of a larger cross-sect...

Proper nutrition is vital for maintaining good health for all people across their lifespan, especially children and mothers, who are especially vulnerable due to their specific nutrient needs. Despite the necessity of improved nutrition for these groups, some members do not fully meet their recommended daily micronutrient needs, a challenge exacerb...

In arid Turkana County, over 90% of the population is food insecure, and wild edible plants (WEPs) provide 12–30% of dietary intake. However, climate change and overexploitation threaten these crucial resources. This study employed sequential qualitative methods to investigate community perceptions, conservation priorities for WEPs, barriers, and n...

The 22nd World Congress of Food Science and Technology was held at Palacongressi in the city of Rimini Italy from 8 to 12 of September 2024. The Congress lined up an exciting programme that included industry-based workshops, distinguished plenary and keynote speakers, industry led concurrent sessions, applied research presentations and a number of...

Aflatoxin contamination in food poses a significant health risk, especially in low- and middle-income nations. While there is a need to increase food safety, there is a lack of aflatoxin-related sociodemographic factors, knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) among aflatoxin-risk populations. The study is aimed at collecting information from th...

This study explored wild edible plants’ (WEPs) contribution to dietary diversity and micronutrient intakes of women in Turkana County using a multi-method quantitative research design. In addition to the nutrient composition analysis of four vegetable plants and one edible fruit collected from the wild, two survey rounds were conducted – in 2020 du...

Exposure of school children to aflatoxin and fumonisin is mainly through diet. In Kenyan public schools, children are given porridge made from maize flour for breakfast, a mixture of maize and beans, also known as githeri for lunch and ugali for dinner. Nixtamalization has proved to reduce mycotoxins in most cereals and not a mixture of maize and b...

Cactus pear fruits are rich in phytochemical compounds. They are dominant in the Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid [ASAL] areas due to their adaptation to prolonged drought. However, processing technologies to utilize these fruits in making consumer acceptable, therapeutic and quality products are almost non-existent in Kenya. This study sought to process...

Background Inadequate food intake is the most common cause of malnutrition worldwide. There is paucity of knowledge on the influence of farming systems, a proxy for contextualizing community-based food networks, and sociocultural perspectives necessary for creating impactful nutritional programs and policies for young children from infancy to early...

Across the globe, millions of school children struggle with hunger, a significant detriment to their attendance and academic performance. Recognizing this, many countries including Kenya have implemented school meal programs to mitigate hunger, improve attendance and academic outcomes and enhance children’s growth through better nutrition. Despite...

There is paucity of knowledge on the influence of farming systems, a proxy for contextualizing communitybased food networks, and sociocultural perspectives necessary for creating impactful nutritional programs and policies for young children from infancy to early childhood in Kenya and their mothers, especially in Kenya. This study sought to evalua...

Sweet potatoe is a crucial crop for food security. promoted in Kenya due to its reported health benefits and resilience to drought. The benefits and application of the sweet potato with orange flesh (OFSP) in Elgeyo Marakwet County have, however, not been established. The current research sought to establish knowledge, method of utilization, and ac...

Milk has an outstanding nutritional quality but it is also an excellent medium for bacterial growth and an important source of bacterial infection when consumed without pasteurization. This study aimed at establishing the prevalence of Total Viable Count (TVC), Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes contamination on proc...

Good manufacturing practice involves a series of measures to be adopted by the food industries in order to guarantee the safety and conformity of food products to specific regulations. Even though good manufacturing practices are vital systems in food safety and is associated with minimum sanitary and processing requirements for the food industry,...

Adequate Energy intake has been linked to enhanced athletic performance. Apart from energy, protein is a vital nutrient in athletics for its role in repairing worn out tissues and maintenance of positive Nitrogen balance which is essential for good health of the athletes. On the other hand, optimal muscular function requires adequate supply of calc...

Regular monitoring of pesticide residues in potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) is important to ensure a low risk of pesticide toxicity to consumers. An efficient, modified quick easy cheap effective rugged safe‐dispersive‐solid‐phase extraction (QuEChERS‐ d‐SPE) was optimized and validated for quantification of pesticide residues (metalaxyl, chlorpyri...

Cowpea leaves are highly perishable thus to improve their utilization, there’s need for proper postharvest management. This study sought to determine the physicochemical changes of cowpea leaves during storage. The cowpea leaves were sorted and packaged using three main packaging materials; sacks, modified atmosphere packaging (cling film) and perf...

Mango fruit (Mangifera indica L.) is one of the tropical fruits which are produced in large volumes in Kenya. Transformation of the perishable fruit into shelf-stable nutritious products is one of the interventions that can be used to reduce losses while accruing better returns for farmers. The objective of this study was to determine the optimum p...

Mango and Moringa are nutrient-dense foods. This study examined two mango varieties (apple and Tommy Atkin) for nectar production fortifying with Moringa leaf extract to reduce postharvest losses, food insecurity, and malnutrition. Post-harvest mango losses are high in Kenya (40-50%) and affects farmers' income and the environment and if processed...

In recent times a number of athletes have used prohibited substances such as anabolic steroids to enhance their performance and have ended up being suspended from international competitions. This shows a growing need for foods for sports’ enhancement that work and that are affordable. The objective of the study was to develop a food supplement from...

Avocado is an exotic fleshy fruit dicotyledonous plant grown for its fruit though leaves of the plant have also been used for avocado flavored tea production while the seed is known to contain antioxidants. The consumption of avocados is on the increase in Kenya; however, the value chain experiences losses estimated to be around 40% due to inabilit...

Studies in Kenya have shown that French fries are relied on as a convenient meal by many people across the ages, and recent reports indicate that fried potato products including French fries contain high levels of acrylamide (AA), a probable human carcinogen and neurotoxic substance. The current study was carried out to determine the quality charac...

Malnutrition in children remains a major public health challenge in developing countries. The local un-availability of the necessary ingredients and lack of knowledge on how to prepare food for malnourished children are among the primary causes of child malnutrition. The study sought to determine the use of locally available food material (maize, m...

Yellow maize is popular in Western Kenya especially in Homa-Bay County. However, it’s faced with myriad of challenges that has greatly limited its production and utilization. This study investigated yellow maize production, post-harvest handling and utilization practices and constraints while exploring opportunities. The study was conducted from Se...

Fruits and vegetables are culturally accepted foods consumed by a majority of people worldwide. Knowledge, attitude and practices of consumers have been found to influence the choice and consumption of foods in many populations. However, little is known on their impact on consumption of foods that are produced using novel farming methods such as hy...

Acrylamide, a chemical found in several carbohydrates rich foods processed at high temperatures, has been classified as a potential human carcinogen; the need to minimize its presence in the human diet cannot be overemphasized. This study was designed to determine how acrylamide formation is influenced by potato varieties, processing temperatures a...

Insects are being considered a sustainable protein food source for the future to forestall the impending world protein shortage, exacerbated by population growth and climate change. The edible grasshopper Ruspolia differens, a high protein insect traditionally consumed in East Africa- particularly in Central Uganda presents an opportunity for local...

Introduction Indigenous Wild edible plants (IWEPs) are consumed daily in some form by at least one in seven people worldwide. Many of them are rich in essential nutrients with the potential for dietary and nutrition improvement particularly for poor households. They are, however, often overlooked. This study investigated diversity, consumption freq...

Processing mango fruit into shelf-stable products such as chips, pulp, nectar, and juices can reduce post-harvest losses and provide farmers with income while also eliminating inequalities in food security and nutrition. Mango pulp is rich in macronutrients and microminerals but needs to be verified before being used to make nectar. This study aime...

Background Konzo is attributed to inadequate cassava processing and consumption of cassava meals with little protein, which is characterized by a neurological disorder that causes paralysis of the lower limbs. However, the exposure to cyanide in the Mwana health zone is still unknown while the prevalence of konzo is assumed to be high compared with...

Food risk analysis remains a major cornerstone that provides a framework for the risk-based food safety system. This paper aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the food safety system, and the foundational role and opportunities of the risk analysis concept in the East Africa Community (EAC). The study was done through the explorative review of...

The southeastern region of Kenya is prone to aflatoxin outbreaks, yet maternal and infant aflatoxin intake levels remain unclear. We determined dietary aflatoxin exposure of 170 lactating mothers breastfeeding children aged 6 months and below in a descriptive cross-sectional study involving aflatoxin analysis of maize-based cooked food samples (n =...

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) crisps are among the most appealing potato products to middle and high income households including women, youth and children and are produced from potatoes mainly grown in Bomet County. A cross-sectional survey was done in 305 potato growing households in Bomet County to establish categories of pesticides used in potat...

Seasonality in the availability of cowpea leaves has often limited their utilization and thus the promotion of preservation techniques that convert the vegetables into storable and stable forms. (e recommendations for the use of highly mechanized techniques in preservation are brought into question due to limited a/ordability among resource-constra...

Seasonality in the availability of cowpea leaves has often limited their utilization and thus the promotion of preservation techniques that convert the vegetables into storable and stable forms. The recommendations for the use of highly mechanized techniques in preservation are brought into question due to limited affordability among resource-const...

Achieving dietary diversity in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands is a big challenge due to the weather patterns in this climatic zone. Low rainfall and high-temperature levels negatively affect food production and livestock in these areas. Kitchen gardens are known to directly improve food security at household levels by ensuring access to nutritious and di...

Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages across the world with increasing demand in non- traditional markets due to its unique sensory and physiological characteristics. However, coffee has been found to have accumulated acrylamides which are carcinogenic and may end up intoxicating consumers. The degree of roasting determines the quality chara...

Cost-effective techniques are usually recommended in the dissemination and adoption of postharvest processing technologies of food products. Due to limited value addition practices for cowpea leaf, the Fruits and Vegetables for All Seasons Project undertook a study to bridge the gap in the seasonal availability of the vegetable in the arid and semi...

Smallholder farmers dominate the Kenyan dairy sector producing 95% of the total milk. However, several concerns have been raised on the quality and safety of the milk they produce. This study assessed the hygienic practices and microbial safety of milk supplied by smallholder farmers to processors in Bomet, Nyeri, and Nakuru counties in Kenya. Inte...

Field production of potato involves intensive pesticide use but farmers and consumers are uninformed about pesticides used or the risks involved in misappropriate application. Potato is processed into snacks such as crisps which are a loved and consumed by all ages. Potato variety that is used mainly for processing into crisps is Dutch Robyjn, grow...

Horticultural processing involves intensive consumption of water and energy. It’s unknown whether the current energy and water use practices by micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are sustainable. This study was conducted to investigate knowledge, attitude, and practices on energy and water use by horticultural processing MSMEs in Kenya. A...

Vitamin A deficiency is common in Kenya; it has been reported among populations that depend on cassava as their main staple. Clonal evaluation of 324 locally developed yellow-fleshed cassava clones was carried out in two sites, Thika and Kiboko located in central and eastern Kenya respectively. Data was collected on agronomic performance, yield qua...

Replacing some of the wheat flour in breads and pastries with OFSP (orange-fleshed sweetpotato) puree can increase the market demand for these nutritious varieties and would offer economic opportunities for smallholders, including women and youths. The technology to make sweetpotato puree has been well developed in industrialized countries since th...

Currently, no data exist on the utilization of the newly described cricket species (Scapsipedus icipe) meal as additive in food products, though they have high protein (57%) with 88% total digestibility as well as a variety of essential amino acids. This article presents the first report on the effects of processing techniques and the inclusion of...

Despite Kenya’s favorable climate for both exotic and indigenous commercial guava production, neglect has limited research on the fruits’ physicochemical and processing qualities. The white-fleshed, red/pink-fleshed guava, and, to a lesser extent, strawberry guavas that grow in different agroecological zones are the most common Kenyan varieties. Th...

Background Although fruit pulping is a highly effective global practice for ensuring a steady supply of fruit for processing during the off‐season, industrial pulping of Kenyan guava cultivars is lacking, contributing to their annual losses. The present study compared the yield characteristics, physicochemical profile, and nutrient retention of pul...

Packaging of processed fruits and vegetables contributes to reducing food waste and maintaining nutritional quality yet, at the same time, excessive use of packaging material creates environmental challenges. The purpose of this paper is to explore the views of different stakeholders including food processors and consumers on sustainability of diff...

Background As much as local communities have employed traditional techniques of preservation to enhance availability and utilization of cowpea leaves, the efficiency of these techniques in achieving food security need to be established. The current study sought to document trends and constraints of utilization of preserved cowpea leaves in the arid...

The microbial quality of milk is an important parameter in determining its safety. Processes such as pasteurization are meant to ensure milk is safe for consumption; however, postpasteurization activities could lead to milk contamination, hence threatening the health of consumers. This study sought to determine the microbial safety of milk obtained...

Background: Poor milk handling practices due to lack of knowledge or deliberate adulteration compromises the safety of milk and that of the consumer. With the increase of milk vending machines in informal settlements, the knowledge and practices of vendors concerning milk hygiene are critical in determining milk safety. The operation of milk vendin...

Despite the critical role of cowpea leaves in the ASAL as a food security crop, drought, diseases and pests remain major challenges to be addressed. Prioritizing alternative water sources and extension services is recommended. The gender of a household head influences the use of cowpeas leaves in the ASAL. There is need for food security initiativ...

Background Animal and human brucelloses have been reported in Rwanda, human brucellosis being linked to drinking inadequately heat‐treated milk. However, information on Brucella detection and prevalence in milk produced in Rwanda is limited. Objectives To determine the sero‐prevalence and risk factors of Brucella in farm bulk milk from zero and op...

Efforts of improving food and nutrition security which is one of the Big Four Agenda of the Kenyan Government are constrained by the massive postharvest losses evidenced in various value chains. Whereas the set target of reducing postharvest losses (PHL) from 20% to 15% in the dominant value chains of cereals by 2022 still remains on course, Gogo e...

An exhaustive sampling was carried out and 748 processors were interviewed in Nairobi County. The results indicate that even though there were more female processors than men, this difference was not significant (p>0.05). Majority of processors and consumers were youths and there was low adoption of OFSP as an ingredient (4%). However, about 78% of...

Smallholder farmers dominate the Kenyan dairy sector producing 95% of the total milk. However, several concerns have been raised on the quality and safety of the milk they produce. This study assessed the hygienic practices and microbial safety of milk supplied by smallholder farmers to processors in Bomet, Nyeri, and Nakuru counties in Kenya. Inte...

Cassava roots, millet and cowpea leaves have short storage life thus the need for simple post-harvest handling and storage protocol to ensure prolonged availability to fully contribute toward food and nutrition security, a major challenge within Sub-Saharan Africa. The current study sought to investigate the effect of pre-treatment and processing o...

Sustainable consumption and production are related to maximizing natural resource use while minimizing waste generation to reduce the environment's negative impacts. There has been limited research on consumer approaches to Kenya's environmental concerns, and their consumption behaviours remain unknown. This study sought to assess the Kenyan consum...

Postharvest losses in sweet potato can occur due to poor handling practices and inadequate knowledge on maintaining the quality and safety of the roots by handlers across the value chain. This study involved an assessment of postharvest handling practices of sweet potato in Bungoma and Homabay Counties, Kenya. A survey was carried out between Novem...

The horticultural industry in Kenya is a key income earner with intensive utilization of natural resources in water, energy, and production of enormous quantities of agricultural wastes that negatively affect the environment. Despite the increased horticultural production and processing, the current practices in sustainable horticultural processing...

Sustainable consumption and production are related to maximizing natural resource use while minimizing waste generation to reduce the environment's negative impacts. There has been limited research on consumer approaches to Kenya's environmental concerns, and their consumption behaviours remain unknown. This study sought to assess the Kenyan consum...

Sweet potato varies in physicochemical properties as a result of inherent varietal makeup and agroecological zones where they are grown. Although pasting profiles of sweet potato flour can be used to determine their end-use in food processing, information on systematic evaluation of popular varieties in Kenya and Uganda is limited. Four orange-fles...

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) and soybean (Glycine max) utilization is reduced by presence of natural chemical hazards which require processing to lower them to safe levels. In addition, cassava is nutritionally deficient of quality protein and minerals. This study sought to evaluate how formulation of safe Cassava-Soybean flakes could be achieved wh...

Postharvest losses in sweet potato can occur due to poor handling practices and inadequate knowledge on maintaining the quality and safety of the roots by handlers across the value chain. This study involved an assessment of postharvest handling practices of sweet potato in Bungoma and Homabay Counties, Kenya. A survey was carried out between Novem...

Maize is a strategic staple crop serving both as human food and feed in the livestock sector. It therefore has a critical socioeconomic value safeguarding against food and nutrition insecurity. Maize yields are however low especially among smallholder farmers who rely on this crop for their livelihood and sustenance. This has rendered most Sub-Saha...

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) account for over 99% of companies and about 60% of employment opportunities can be attributed to them in most countries globally. MSMEs uses energy and water intensively, is a major driver in the economy with respect to innovations, Gross Domestic Product, investments as well as exports. Despite MSMEs ke...

The horticultural industry in Kenya is a key income earner with intensive utilization of natural resources in water, energy, and production of enormous quantities of agricultural wastes that negatively affect the environment. Despite the increased horticultural production and processing, the current practices in sustainable horticultural processing...

Among the safety concerns in fried potato products are the levels of acrylamide. High intake of acrylamide has been linked to carcinogenicity in animals and it remains a suspect human carcinogen. The current study was intended to assess exposure to acrylamide through consumption of French fries in Nairobi, Kenya. Data on levels of acrylamide was ob...

Sweet potato storage hardly happens in Kenya since most farmers harvest the roots piecemeal on demand. Moreover, many traders have little knowledge on the appropriate conditions for storage. There exists very little information on stability of nutrients of these roots during storage. Kabode (orange fleshed) and Kenspot 2 (white fleshed) varieties o...

Consumption of free range chicken is on the increase in Kenya and more so in urban set up with sources being Peri-urban or rural areas. Limited information exists on consumption pattern of free range chicken among peri-urban inhabitants in major Kenyan cities, Nairobi included. The current study aimed at determining the consumption pattern among in...

Cassava is an important food crop grown for its roots to supply daily needed calories to households in the cassava growing communities including coastal Kenya. The region contributes up to 30 % of the national cassava production though it remains food insecure with a high prevalence of malnutrition. Cassava roots are deficient in most nutrients exc...

Street sold foods are a source of inexpensive, nutritious food for many people living both in the urban and rural areas. It is also a major source of income for many people, particularly women by providing self-employment and the opportunity to develop business skills with low capital investment. However, ready-to-eat foods are a source of contamin...

Processing and value addition is necessary for fresh agricultural commodities in order to reduce perishability and prolong shelf-life. Shelf life is enhanced with proper packaging because packaging materials influence storage period, preserve nutrients and sensory qualities. This paper objectively determined the effects of packaging materials on nu...

Waste management includes those activities and actions required to manage wastes from inception to its final disposal. These include collection, transport, treatment and disposal of waste together with monitoring and regulation of waste management process. Inadequate and inappropriate knowledge of handling of horticultural wastes may have serious h...

Horticultural processing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Kenya utilize raw agricultural produce and generate large quantities of solid and liquid wastes. However, there is limited information on knowledge, attitude, and current waste management practices among horticultural processing MSMEs in Kenya. This study sought to establish th...

The guava (Psidium guajava) grows on farms or in the bush in many parts of Kenya, including Kitui and Taita Taveta, and remains virtually unattended. Guava fruit value chain is commercially disorganized and standard postharvest handling and storage procedures are not practiced as there is no bulk handling. This study evaluated the harvesting and po...

The promotion of cassava as a staple and food security crop is widespread in Africa,Kenya included. Overreliance on cassava as a sole energy provider could lead to malnutrition. Consumption of high hydro-cyanide levels from cassava products could lead to health complications for consumers.This study sought to establish the contribution of cassava c...

In as much as spontaneous fermentation of cowpea leaves enhances product diversification, the process is rather slow with poor product quality. Limited work has been undertaken to provide input toward standardization of the process and enhancing of product quality. The current study sought to evaluate the in‐process fermentative bacteria profile ch...

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease which is endemic to certain regions of the world including Sub‐Saharan Africa. The aim of this article is to provide a recent and rapid review on brucellosis prevalence in East African Community (EAC) countries. Literature was obtained using Google Scholar search engine and screened for relevancy and fulfilment of...