Food Security, Dietary Intake, Foodways, and Aflatoxins-Food Safety Levels amongst the Elderly Population (50 Years and Above) of Obam Ongola Community in Yaoundé, Cameroon

This cross-sectional study assessed the levels of food security, dietary intake, foodways, and dietary aflatoxin (FSDIFWDA) exposures amongst the elderly population in Obam ongola in Yaoundé Cameroon. A FSDIFWDA awareness survey was carried out using a semi-structured questionnaire. Food security categories were determined using Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Dietary intake was determied by converting food intake to energy and nutrients using macronutrient values of local meals of some Cameroonian traditional communities. Sociodemographic parameters were exploited to determine foodways. Nnam owondo (NO) samples were analyzed for aflatoxin using ELISA kit. Results showed that 62.5% (45/72) were food-secure sub-populations. Foodways varied partly due to average monthly household income vis-à-vis the number of people in a household and marital status. All NO samples were tainted with aflatoxins (mean: 16.7, range: 0.13-32.3 µg/Kg), with an estimated margin of exposure value of 0.013. Thus, NO consumers are exposed to aflatoxins, needing public health attention.