Consumer knowledge and utilization of food labels on prepackaged food products in Lagos State

Objectives: Consumption of pre-packaged food products which are a risk factor for non-communicable diseases, is on the increase in many developing countries. This study sought to determine the knowledge and utilization of food labels among consumers of pre-packaged food products in Lagos State.Method: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study among adults in Lagos, Nigeria. Multi-stage random sampling method was used to select 420 respondents. Only adults who consume pre-packaged foods were included in the study. Data was collected using structured interviewer administered questionnaires and analysis was done using Epi Info 7 statistical software. Level of significance was set at p<0.05.Results: Only 21 (5.0%) respondents had good level of knowledge of food label information. There was a significant association between level of knowledge of food label information and age in this study, level of knowledge increased with increasing age (p<0.05). Less than one third of the respondents, 123 (29.2%)made good use of food label information. There was a positive significant association between income and use of food labels. (p<0.05).Conclusion: Levels of knowledge and use of food label information were poor among consumers of prepackaged food products in Lagos State. There is a need for increased nutrition education of the study population to improve their nutritional knowledge and use of food label information.Keywords: Food labels, food labelling, consumer knowledge, knowledge of food labels, utilization of food labels, prepackaged food product

Water Level and the Potentials for Wetland Formation and Sustainability in Lower Ogun River Floodplain, Nigeria

Identification, delineation and monitoring of wetlands which requires the understanding and application of their ecological characteristics are critical factors in wetland management and conservation. This study assessed the potentials of wetland formation and sustainability in the lower Ogun river basin by determining the levels of surface and ground water. The study area was divided into 1 km2 grids of 67 units using 0.052 %  sampling intensity for the assessments in dry and wet seasons. Monthly water table levels were assessed in 50 cm soil pit while inundation levels were measured during the flooding event using staff gauge. Assessment was carried out for one year during which frequency and periodicity of water table and inundation events were recorded. Results revealed that low water table level ranged from 5 to 45cm of soil depth and occurred between August and September within 6 grids. Water table and surface water was recorded within a period of 2 – 10 weeks during the rainy season. The peak of water levels coincided with the peak of precipitation (> 200 mm) ranging from 30 to 280 cm between September and October while covering 28.75 km2. Conclusively, surface and groundwater levels were recorded during the rainy season having direct variation with the volume of  precipitation for a duration that is long enough to support the formation of wetland hydrophytes and hydric soil. Keywords: Wetlands; Hydrology; Ground water; Surface water; Inundation; Precipitatio