Evaluation of Consumer Awareness of Risk Associated with Moringa Consumption in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2014-01-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of ilorin
Abstract
STRACT
This study evaluated consumer awareness of risk associated with moringa consumption in Ilorin metropolis with a view to examining consumer level of awareness of the said risk as well as determining factors that influence their decision to consume Moringa product. Primary data were collected with the aid of a well structured questionnaire while (116) One hundred and sixteen respondents were randomly selected in the study area. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Kendall coefficient of concordance and Poisson regression model. The result shows that majority of Moringa consumers in the study area are female and it was also noted that most of the respondents are not aware of risk associated with Moringa consumption. The consumer perceived risks of Moringa consumption include loss of nutritional value from processing, contamination with microbes during processing, hypotension (low blood pressure), bleeding, dry mouth, loss of appetite, drowsiness, dizziness, depression, itching, anxiety, constipation, allergic reaction, stomach ache, change in weight, vomiting and miscarriage. A larger percentage of the respondents agree that there is nutritional loss and contamination with microbes during processing of Moringa. Majority of the respondents consumed Moringa products for its high nutritional value and medicinal values. However majority perceived its leaf products to present highest risk. Awareness of risk was found to have significant effect on consumer attitude towards the perceived risk at (p = 0.05). Most of the respondents perceived nutritional loss through processing and contamination during processing as a risky variable affecting moringa consumption. It is therefore recommended that more efforts should be made by moringa processors to improve on hygiene during the processing of moringa leaf into powder in order to enhance the consumer food security.
Description
Keywords
Pisk, moringa