Perspective of Undergraduate Students of University in Edo State on the Side Effect of Food Additive on Human Health

Abstract

This study examined the perspectives of undergraduate students on the side effects of food Additives to human health. Two research questions were raised to guide the study. The population of this study comprised of all undergraduates students in Edo State. The study adopted the descriptive design. The sample size for this study comprised one hundred undergraduate  students in Ambrose Alli University  Ekpoma, Edo state, Nigeria.  using random sampling techniques.  Questionnaire was used to collect data for this study, the questionnaire was made up of two parts, section A and B, section A contains demographic information of the respondents, section B contains research area of investigation, the instrument was validated by experts in Home Economics Education, department of vocational and technical education, AAU. Split half method was used to obtain reliability coefficient of  0.76 . The researcher personally administered the copies of the questionnaires to the respondents. It contains twenty items. The questionnaires were collected immediately to avoid loss of data’s. The findings of this study revealed that most undergraduate students are not aware of side effect of food additives  to human health, it was also revealed that the respondents consumed some harmful additives in large quantity, which is dangerous to  human health,  it was recommended among others that Government should create awareness  on the side effect of food additive to human health. The public should avoid harmful food additives and reduce consumption of processed food.

Keywords:Food Additives, Types of Food Additives, Effects  of Food Additives, Undergraduate Students.

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/14-15-06

Publication date:May 31^st 2023