Nitrate and nitrite contents in ogi and the changes occurring during storage

Nitrate and nitrite, which are known to be toxic, were determined in market samples of ogi, a fermented maize product in Nigeria. The nitrate and nitrite contents varied from 4.2 to 100.3 ppm (mean = 39.9 ±23.2 ppm) and from 0.027 to 0.062 ppm (mean = 0.03 ± 0.008 ppm), respectively. On storage under water at room temperature over a period of 8 days, nitrate decreased by about 80% while the nitrite accumulated by about 200% of their initial levels. Nitrate and nitrite levels in ogi were below the current acceptable daily intake (ADI), but their toxicity implications are briefly discussed.