Assessment of some mineral elements in different brands of powdered milk sold in Samaru Zaria, Nigeria

Powdered milk products contain important nutrient elements and are mostly consumed in developing countries. Good quality control is very essential in the production and processing of powdered milk products, also transportation and storage conditions might have effects on the composition of these products. The deficiency or excess of any of the mineral elements in powdered milk may create significant health problems for the consumer. In this study, the concentration levels of some mineral elements in different brands of powdered milk sold in Samaru market Zaria Nigeria were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (A.A.S). The average concentrations of Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn in the five brands of powdered milk studied were 12183.16, 986.70, 108.88, 5.92, 42.97, and 8.44 mg/kg respectively. These concentrations of Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn contribute about 38, 9, 20, 13, 9 and 10% respectively to the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) per serving (25 g of powdered milk