Safety of Tiger Nuts (Cyperus Esculentus L.) and Derived Products Sold in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus) is a tuber crop that is consumed as snack in sub Saharan African. It is known for its sweetness and numerous benefits. Despite the nutritional quality and health benefit of tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus) tuber crop, increased consumption integrated with the associated risk of disease to consumers is a matter of great concern because of the health practice of the harvester, consumers and vendors. Thus, if tiger nut is exposed to microbial contamination, it can impose public health treat. Contamination of tiger nut tubers could either be physical, chemical, microbial or a combination of any of them, through post-harvest processes, handling, packaging, storage and retailing. Consumption of contaminated tiger nut tubers and utilisation of the tubers to produce edible products will invariably result in contaminated tiger nut-derived products if no further treatment to reduce or completely eliminate the contaminants is applied. In order to boost the prospect of tiger nut tubers and assure safe tiger nut derived products in sub Saharan African countries, it is important to prevent tiger nut tubers and tiger nut-derived products from any form of contamination. Therefore, it is paramount to review recent research findings on contamination of tiger nut tubers and tiger nut-derived products in order to effectively implement prevention strategies. This will help to promote food safety and food security in sub Saharan African countries.