Levels of major, minor and trace elements in commercially available enset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.), Cheesman) food products (Kocho and Bulla) in Ethiopia

Kocho and Bulla are starchy foods obtained from fermenting edible part of the leaf sheath and corm of enset plant (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.), Cheesman). In the present study, the levels of selected metals (K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Ni, Cr, Co, Cd, and Pb) in Kocho and Bulla sampled from different markets of Woliso (Oromiya region) and Welkite (SNNPRG) of Ethiopia were analyzed. Known weight of oven-dried Kocho and Bulla samples were wet-digested using 2 mL of (69–72%) HNO3 and 2 mL of (70%) HClO4 for 2 h at variable temperature (120–270 °C). The contents of the minerals in the digests were analyzed using flame atomic absorption spectrometer. The following concentrations (mean±95% confidence limit) (μg/g) were recorded in Kocho and Bulla, respectively: K (3567±16) and (792±4); Na (575±3) and (422±4); Ca (541±7) and (416±4); Mg (235±10) and (74±1); Fe (114±5) and (48.2±1.3); Zn (29±0.6) and (19.2±0.7); Cu (3.85±0.25) and (2.77±0.17); Mn (9.34±0.28) and (2.99±0.14); Ni (⩽5.61±0.29) and (⩽4.0±0.2); Cr (5.73±0.15) and (⩽5.38±0.22); Co (5.8±0.14) and (5.45±0.27). The toxic metals Cd and Pb were not detected in both types of foodstuffs. The concentration of K was highest followed by Na, Ca, and Mg in both foodstuffs. From trace elements analyzed, Zn was found to be highest next to Fe. Generally, Kocho contained higher concentration compared to Bulla for the majority of the mineral nutrients determined. In general, Kocho and Bulla are rich in Ca and Zn compared to other similar foodstuffs and contains comparable concentration of Cu, Fe, and Mn. Besides Kocho and Bulla are free of heavy metal (Cd and Pb) contaminations compared to others.