Assessment of the Quality of Locally Produced Aluminium Cooking Pots in Onitsha Foundries, Anambra State

This study assesses the material quality and food safety compliance of locally produced aluminium cooking pots manufactured by foundries in Onitsha, Anambra State, South East Nigeria. Onitsha is a major centre of secondary aluminium casting in Nigeria, producing cooking utensils from recycled scrap aluminium, yet the quality and chemical composition of these products relative to national and international food contact material standards have not been systematically evaluated in recent literature. Pot samples are obtained from ten Onitsha foundries and subjected to chemical composition analysis by optical emission spectroscopy, hardness testing, tensile testing, microstructural examination by optical microscopy, and surface roughness measurement. Leachate testing is conducted by immersing specimens in acetic acid solution and measuring dissolved aluminium concentration by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Findings reveal high variability in alloy composition across foundry samples, with several specimens containing elevated lead and copper concentrations traceable to contaminated scrap inputs. Leachate aluminium concentrations in acidic simulants exceed WHO guideline thresholds for two of ten tested foundries. Mechanical properties are generally adequate for domestic service loads. The study identifies uncontrolled scrap selection as the primary driver of quality variation and recommends mandatory scrap sorting and chemical certification protocols for Onitsha secondary aluminium foundries. Keywords: aluminium cookware, secondary casting, foundry, food contact material, Anambra State.