Production And Quality Evaluation of Weaning Food from Soybean (GlycineMax), Maize (ZeaMays) And Sweet Potato(IpomoeaBatatas) Blends

Abstract

It is becoming increasingly mandatory to ensure the availability of Vit A in foods especially those provided for infants. Furthermore, availability must meet demands at an affordable price importantly in developing countries of the world like Nigeria.Weaning food was produced from sprouted soybean, extruded maize and fortified with pro‐vitamin A from the orange sweet potatoto to meet these demands of infants. The four samples,coded ABC, DEF, GHI and SMC were formulated at different ratios of extruded maize: sprouted soybean: pregelatinized sweet potato respectively with sample ABC ( 60% : 20% : 20%). Sample DEF( 55% : 20% : 25%)and Sample GHI ( 50%: 20% : 30%) while sample SMC is the control (Soybean and maize). The four coded samples were subjected to proximate analysis, functional analysis, pasting characteristics and vitamin A analysis. The result of proximate analysis in the produced weaning food showed a significant increase at (p>0.05) in the protein content,crude fiber,moisture content and fat content for all experimental samples when compared to the control. The protein content ranged from (15.07% ‐ 15.67% ),crude fiber ranged from (2.39% ‐ 5.87%),moisture content ranged from (8.66% ‐ 9.49%),fat content ranged from (4.08% ‐ 5.49%) for the experimental samples. However carbohydrates content and ash content showed a significant decreases at (p >0.05) when compared to the control sample. Sensory evaluation result indicated that of all the experimental samples, sample GHI (50%:20%:30%) had the highest score in terms of overall acceptability.