Diversifying the Utilization of Maize at Household Level in Zambia: Quality and Consumer Preferences of Maize-Based Snacks.

Emmanuel Oladeji Alamu,Bukola Olaniyan,Busie Maziya-Dixon

doi:10.3390/foods10040750

Emmanuel Oladeji Alamu, Bukola Olaniyan + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10040750

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Abstract

This study evaluated the nutritional, antinutritional properties, and consumer preferences of five maize-based snacks at the household level. The physical, nutritional, and antinutritional properties were analyzed with standard laboratory methods, while a structured questionnaire was used for the data collection on consumer preferences of the maize products. There were significant (p < 0.05) differences in the proximate parameters of the maize snack samples. Antinutritional properties among maize snacks all fell within the permissible range. Respondents from all districts showed no significant (p > 0.05) differences in maize chin-chin variants’ and maize finger variants’ except for Serenje and Mkushi districts where maize chin-chin and maize finger showed significant (p < 0.05) differences in their sensory ratings. However, across districts, the most rated maize finger variant was the spiced 100% maize finger. In conclusion, maize-based snacks enriched with soybean flour have proven nutritious with a reasonable acceptability level.

Highlights

Maize serves as the nutritional backbone in central, southern, and eastern Zambia [1].It is the main staple, providing 52% of the local population’s daily calorie intake [2]
The addition of soy flour and eggs caused an increase of about 50% ash content in the products
Maize snacks have proven to contain high nutritional content whose quality can be further improved by fortification with soybean flour with a reasonable level of acceptability

Summary

Introduction

Maize serves as the nutritional backbone in central, southern, and eastern Zambia [1]. It is the main staple, providing 52% of the local population’s daily calorie intake [2]. There has been substantial financial input from the Government of Zambia in maize production. In 2006, Zambia ranked 13th among 51 countries prominent for maize production in Africa, with a total of 0.865 million tons, and this increased to 3.607 million tons by 2016 [4]. According to FAOSTAT [5], Zambia ranked eighth among the top ten maize producing countries in sub-Saharan Africa [6]. Despite government interventions in the maize sector, there were continuous fluctuations in productivity due to prolonged dry seasons and short rainy seasons [4]

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Conclusion