Evaluating the Impact of Cereal Milling Practices on Nutritional Quality and Food Safety in Nigeria: A Review

Abstract

Cereal milling is a critical post-harvest operation that substantially influences nutritional quality, food safety, and public health outcomes, particularly in developing countries where informal processing systems dominate. This critical narrative review synthesizes evidence on cereal milling practices in Nigeria and their implications for nutrient retention, anti-nutritional factors, and food safety risks. Literature was sourced from Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, and African Journals Online (AJOL), covering publications from 2000 to 2025. Inclusion criteria focused on peer-reviewed empirical and review studies addressing cereal milling technologies, nutrient composition, and contamination risks, with specific emphasis on Nigeria and comparable Sub-Saharan African contexts. Over 50 peer-reviewed studies were reviewed. Evidence indicates that traditional and informal milling systems are associated with significant losses of dietary fibre, minerals, and bioactive compounds, alongside elevated risks of heavy metal contamination and microbial hazards, while modern milling improves hygiene but often exacerbates micronutrient losses due to excessive refinement. The review highlights substantial research and regulatory gaps, particularly regarding informal mills, and underscores the need for context-specific policy interventions, technological upgrading, and whole-grain promotion strategies to enhance nutrition security and food safety in Nigeria.