Determination of Some Elements in Local Food Products in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Vegetable and fruit samples were collected from their major area of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), together with locally bred fish and meat and locally manufactured products as cheese and macaroni. These samples were analysed for Na, K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn using Flame Photometer and Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. The results showed that the level of Na & K in local foodstuff do not vary greatly from the reported values. But Mg shows much higher concentration than the reported value. On the contrary, levels of Ca, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn are lower than the reported values. The daily intake of essential elements was calculated taking into account the concentration of these elements in the edible part and the daily consumption data which were derived from two sources: (a) the food balance sheet of KSA given by Food and Agriculture Organization FAO and (b) from questionnaire distributed to 200 families in Jeddah. The results show that the daily intake of these essential elements according to FAO satisfy the daily requirements except Ca & Zn. But according to the questionnaire the daily intake of these elements are less than the required daily intake except for Mg.