The Impact of Insect Infestation on Stored Purpled Cocoa Beans

Abstract

Under-fermentation of cocoa beans produces purple beans. The fermentation period is 6 to 7 days but some cocoa farmersunder-ferment their cocoa beans leading to the development of purple cocoa beans. This study determined the impact of insectinfestation on stored purple cocoa beans. Wet cocoa beans were fermented for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 days to produce the purple beans.Ephestia cautella and Tribolium castaneum, both singly and in combination, were introduced into the cocoa beans and storedfor different (30, 60, 90 and 120 days) period. Insect population, percentage weight loss and the contaminants produced bythese insects were determined. Cocoa beans infested with E. cautella alone had the highest population of 297.0 ± 22.7. Beansfermented for 3 days had the lowest insect population both singly and in combination after 120 days of storage. The highestpercentage weight loss was recorded in cocoa beans fermented for one day (10.1 ± 1.87%) and 4 days (10.1 ± 8.74%). T.castaneum did not cause much damage to the cocoa beans but E. cautella alone caused significant damage to stored cocoabeans. Insect infestation and poor fermentation contribute significantly to the reduction in quality of cocoa beans.