Meat Purchase, Handling And Storage Practices Among Homemakers In Benin Metropolis Of Nigeria

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the meat purchase and meat handling practices among homemakers in Benin metropolis. The meat purchase activities studied include: bulk versus small scale purchase, regularity of eating, time of the day when meat is purchased and percentage of income spent on meat purchase, while the meat handling practices evaluated include: touching of meat before storage, washing before storage, freezing meat immediately after purchase or not or leaving in the office until closing time. Four hundred homemakers drawn from eight markets in Benin City constituted the sample population. The instrument used for the study was a questionnaire and the data collected was analyzed using simple percentages, Results from the study showed that very few Nigerians eat meat three times a day (25%). Also, 21% were found to buy meat in bulk while 30% of the respondents were found to have the habit of buying meat in the morning. Eighty percent (80%) of the respondents confirmed that they were made to touch meat by the meat vendors before purchase, 78% wash their meat before storing, 58% reportedly boil before storing, while 25% leave their meat in the office and store after closing hour. The epileptic power supply also compounded meat storage problems. It is evident that the result of this study is not consistent with accepted practices. Meat should be eaten regularly, bought in the morning when quality is highest, handled hygienically and stored in the freezer immediately to arrest deteriorative changes, These are problems associated with low purchasing power and lack of effective government policy on meat. The government is therefore invited to put in place sustainable meat hygiene practices and regular supply of electricity.

Keywords: Meat purchase, handling, storage practices

Journal of Agriculture and Social Research Vol. 7 (1) 2007: pp. 90-100