COMPARISON AND RISK ASSESSMENT OF TRACE METAL CONTENT IN FACTORY-FARMED BROILER AND FREE-RANGE CHICKEN MEAT SOLD IN LAGUNA, PHILIPPINES

Chicken meat consumption remains high in the Philippines, and consequently, annual chicken production has risen steadily over years. Although most of available market are sourced from factory farms, there been growing popularity free-range production, largely driven by its perceived health benefits sanitation concerns among others. In this work, we aimed at comparing trace metal (copper, iron, lead, manganese, zinc) content factory-farmed broiler that being sold Laguna, Philippines. The samples were subjected to acid digestion analysis was done using atomic absorption spectrometry. Results showed an average concentration between 0.17 – 0.24 mg/kg, 2.22 2.34 0.12 0.15 0.95 1.32 1.81 1.96 mg/kg for copper, zinc, respectively. Statistical one-way ANOVA Tukey multiple comparison test (p < 0.05) no significant differences meats, suggesting terms levels these metals, not much differentiates two varieties. Analysis hazards, reported as target hazard quotient (THQ) hazardous index (HI), associated with said breast indicated potential risks.