The objective of this initiative is to determine the chemical composition of street foods consumed by workers and school children in Cotonou, Benin. The global composition (moisture, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and ash), the sugar, sodium, fibre and fatty acid contents will be assessed.
The database that will be compiled will constitute the first attempt to give nutrient composition data on street foods in Benin. This database could be used in future studies on street foods in Cotonou and Benin in general; the lack of such a database makes it difficult to appreciate the nutritional quality of street foods which are eaten by many people in Cotonou on a daily basis. It will be a starting point to assessing the health risks of street foods in Cotonou and Benin in general, in the context of the food and nutrution transition with its related health problems like overweight and obesity, hypertension and type 2 diabetes.