Production of maize-bambara groundnut complementary foods fortified pre-fermentation with processed foods rich in calcium, iron, zinc and provitamin A.
BACKGROUND
Maize-bambara groundnut complementary foods are deficient in calcium, iron, zinc and vitamin A. Food-to-food fortification could be cheaper, safer and more easily adopted by local communities compared to the use of chemically pure compounds and vitamins to enrich such foods.


RESULTS
Maize-bambara groundnut complementary foods fortified for iron, zinc, calcium and vitamin A by blending with a multi-mix (1.41:1:2.25, w/w) of processed roselle calyces, cattle bones, and red palm oil in a 1:2.1 (w/w) ratio showed significant increases in calcium, iron, zinc and vitamin A contents of 3.26-4.225, 0.083-0.134 and 0.015-0.017 g kg(-1) and 4855.3-7493.7 microgRE kg(-1), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The maize-bambara groundnut foods had calcium, iron, zinc and vitamin A contents that satisfy the proposed nutrient requirements for infants. Only the maize-bambara groundnut and maize-bambara groundnut malt fermented by backslopping [(MB)(b) and (MB(m))(b)] containing red palm oil emulsified with Brachystegia eurycoma had calcium contents significantly (P < 0.05) higher than Nutrend, a complementary food produced by Nestle (Nigeria) PLC. These products are from raw materials produced in commercial quantities by rural farmers using household level technologies which the rural and urban poor can more easily access in order to reduce micronutrient malnutrition.
Uvere
Peter O
PO
Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. peter.uvere@unn.edu.ng
Onyekwere
Eucharia U
EU
Ngoddy
Patrick O
PO
D000818:Animals; D010367:Arachis; D001842:Bone and Bones; D002417:Cattle; D018556:Crops, Agricultural; D004655:Emulsions; D007887:Fabaceae; D005285:Fermentation; D005511:Food Handling; D005527:Food, Fortified; D031584:Hibiscus; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000032:analysis*; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D018514:Plant Structures; D003313:Zea mays
D004655:Emulsions; D018977:Micronutrients; D010938:Plant Oils; D000073878:Palm Oil