Darkening in open-air sun dried orange-fleshed sweet potato products being promoted for their high pro-vitamin A carotenoid content
Abstract
Pro-vitamin A carotenoid retention studies are vital in the process of promoting orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) as a staple in communities affected by vitamin A deficiency. Drying is the affordable processing technology in sub Saharan African rural settings. This paper presents issues pertaining to darkening in open-air sun dried products in relation to carotenoid content and retention levels. OFSP varieties (Ejumula, SPK004, SPK004/6 and SPK004/6/6) were open-air sun dried to two types of products (amukeke and inginyo). All trans-β- carotene content in raw OFSP was highest for Ejumula (261.4±29.9 μg/g dwt) and lowest for SPK004 (93.4±9.4). Overall inginyo scrapped exhibited the highest carotenoid retention (72.9±10.5%) compared to amukeke (22.7±6.3%). Among the inginyo products, Ejumula contained the highest carotenoid content (193.0±2.2 μg/g dwt) while among amukeke products SPK004/6 had the highest content (106.2±2.4 μg/g dwt). As expected all open-air sun dried sweetpotato products darkened due to phenolic and enzymatic activities found in sweetpotato. Inginyo scrapped, A(450)=0.31-0.64, and un-scrapped products, A(450) = 0.49-0.76, exhibited highly darkened appearances (p
Citation
Namutebi, A.; Tadria, S.; Mulokozi, G.I.; Kaaya, A.N.; Hotz, C. Darkening in open-air sun dried orange-fleshed sweet potato products being promoted for their high pro-vitamin A carotenoid content. Presented at 15th International Symposium of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops (ISTRC). Roots and tubers for sustainable development and food security: Issues and strategies. November 2-6 2009. Lima, Peru. (2009) 53-60
Links