Diverse Food Research Articles

Does government food demonstration interventioninfluence household dietary diversity in the Upper West Region of Ghana?

Dietary diversity is crucial in ensuring food and nutrition security. In low-middle-income countries, people frequently prioritize the quantity of food they consume over its quality due to a lack of availability and financial limitations. As a result, achieving dietary diversity is often overlooked in favor of ensuring adequate caloric intake. Through a social cognitive theory perspective, our study examines the relationship between food demonstrations and household dietary diversity in Ghana's Upper West Region utilizing cross-sectional survey data from 517 smallholder farmer households. The results from ordered logistic regression presented in odds ratio (OR) show that participating in food demonstrations (OR: 2.585, p<0.01), engaging in home gardening (OR: 1.932, p<0.001), having access to credit (OR: 1.609, p<0.01), self-rated good nutritional status (OR: 1.747, p<0.01), and Waala ethnicity (OR: 3.686, p<0.001) were all positively associated with high household dietary diversity. Conversely, living in the Wa West district was associated with lower dietary diversity (OR: 0.326, p<0.001). Our research findings suggest that policymakers may want to consider implementing community-based educational programs, such as home and school visits for food demonstrations and sensitizations, promoting mother-to-mother support groups for dietary diversity education, nutrition counseling services, and using role-play and local media. In addition, strengthening local agricultural policies through food banks, indigenous seed development, and mobile food markets and enhancing public-private partnerships like the Ghana Schools Feeding Programme and National Food Buffer Stock company could improve the supply chain and distribution networks for diverse food items. Implementing these interventions in the Upper West Region of Ghana could improve health, well-being, food security, and nutritional outcomes.

The Culture of Complementary Feeding Practice Among Stunting in Toddlers Aged Under 24 Months

The Culture of Complementary Feeding Practice Among Stunting in Toddlers Aged Under 24 Months

Land Tenure Security and Households’ Food Security Nexus: Implications for an Improving Land Governance in Iringa District, Tanzania

This study was conducted to determine the contribution of the Certificate of Customary Rights of Occupancy (CCRO) to farming households’ food security in the Iringa District Council. Particularly, the study aimed to determine the influence of land tenure security on the food situation of households, the influence of land tenure security on food consumption, and the influence of land tenure security on the source of food for households. The study was guided by the institutional theory and the theory of access, these theories linked the study to the existing body of literature. The study adopted a quasi-experimental research design where villages that received CCRO were considered as the treatment group of the study and those villages without CCRO were categorized as the control group for the study. The study decided to adopt the Propensity Score Matching method for constructing a comparison group. The total sample size for this study was 400 households, with equality divided between the two villages, with and without CCRO. The study used a systematic random sampling approach to select a sample size of 400 households from the targeted population. The study employed a mixed methods approach whereby both qualitative and quantitative data were collected through questionnaires and interviews respectively. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics using IBM SPSS for quantitative data, while qualitative data was analyzed using a content analysis approach. The study found that those households with CCROs show a high score of food consumption compared to households without CCROs, this indicates that CCROs enhance food security in households. This was supported statistically by regression results and bivariate outcomes that illustrate the significance of CCROs ownership in improving the food situation of households between households having CCROs compared to those that haven’t. Furthermore, the study found that there is a difference in food consumption patterns between households with CCROs and those without CCROs. The study concluded that land tenure security has a great impact on the food security of households in the Iringa district, also, it was concluded that CCRO ownership contributes to improving the food situation of households enhancing their capacity to access diverse food groups. The study recommended that government and local government authorities develop policies and strategies that are tailored and applicable to agriculture development and land ownership to improve land governance structure that allows land registration easy.

Unravelling taboos and cultural beliefs associated with hidden hunger among pregnant and breast-feeding women in Buyende district Eastern Uganda.

Food taboos and cultural beliefs among pregnant and breast-feeding women influence their food consumption patterns and hence the health of women and unborn children. Cognizant of their neglect in programs aimed to ameliorate hidden hunger among pregnant and breast-feeding women in Buyende and other resource-poor communities in sub-Saharan Africa, we opted for a study to unravel them to inform program design. We documented food taboos and beliefs amongst pregnant and breast-feeding women from six sub-counties of Buyende district in Eastern Uganda. A mixed-methods approach was used, which was comprised of questionnaire interviews with 462 women, eight focus group discussions with 6-10 participants in each and a total of 15 key informant interviews. The present study revealed that 129 (27.9%) of the respondents practice food taboos and adhere to cultural beliefs related to their dietary habits during pregnancy and breast-feeding that are fuelling the prevalence of hidden hunger. The most tabooed foods during pregnancy were sugarcane (17.8%), fishes which included lung fish, catfish and the Lake Victoria sardine (Rastrineobola argentea) (15.2%), oranges (6.6%), pineapples (5.9%), eggs (3.3%), chicken (3.3%) and cassava, mangoes and Cleome gynandra (each at 3%). Most foods were avoided for reasons associated with pregnancy and labour complications and undesirable effects on the baby. Most women learnt of the taboos and beliefs from the elders, their own mother, grandparents or mother-in-law, but there was also knowledge transmission in social groups within the community. The taboos and cultural beliefs in the study area render pregnant and breast-feeding women prone to micronutrient deficiency since they are denied consumption of a diversity of nutritious foods. There is a need to educate such women about consumption of nutrient-rich foods like fish, eggs, fruits and vegetables in order to improve their health, that of the unborn and children being breast fed. Additionally, culturally appropriate nutrition education may be a good strategy to eliminate inappropriate food taboos and beliefs with negative impact on the health of pregnant and breast-feeding women.

Association of dietary quality during pregnancy with fetal immune function in Guangzhou

To investigate the situation of women&apos;s dietary quality during pregnancy and explore the correlations between maternal dietary index and fetal immune function. From September 2010 to February 2011, pregnant women who had routine physical examination in Yuexiu District and Baiyun District Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangzhou were recruited as study objects to use 3-day 24-hour dietary review to investigate diet during pregnancy, and general demographic information of pregnant women was collected through questionnaire, and the neonatal umbilical cord blood was collected during delivery. Laboratory detection of immunological indicators included IgG, IgA, IgM, IFN-γ and IL-6. The quality of diet during pregnancy was evaluated by diet quality index for pregnancy(DQI-P), dietary balance index for pregnancy(DBI-P) and alternate Medierranean diet score(aMED). Spearman correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were used to explore the correlations between dietary quality during pregnancy and fetal immune function. The mean score of total DQI-P score of the study subjects was 55.8±10.0, and the mean score of overall food diversity and protein food source diversity was as high as 12.0±2.4 and 4.8±0.7. The mean score of nutrient energy ratio and fatty acid energy ratio was only 0.3±1.0 and 0.4±1.0, indicating that the population had good dietary diversity during pregnancy, but the dietary adequacy, suitability and balance were poor. The total score of DBI-P score was-19.2±9.4. The positive end score was 4.6±2.9, only 7.2% of the subjects had a high degree of dietary intake during pregnancy. The negative end score was 23.9±7.9, indicating the status of moderate dietary intake. Dietary quality was 28.5±7.1. Only 0.6% of the study population had a balanced dietary situation, and more than 67.9% of pregnant women had high intake imbalance. The mean total score of aMED score was 4.9±1.3, and the proportion of the food intake of beans and nuts was less than the median population was 62.5% and 79.1%, respectively, indicating that the food intake of beans and nuts was insufficient in this population. After adjusting for confounding factors such as maternal age, parity, parity, prepregnancy BMI, weight gain during pregnancy, and mode of delivery, multiple linear regression analysis showed DQI-P during pregnancy and negatively with IL-6(β=0.143, β=-0.155, P&lt;0.05). DBI-P was negatively associated with IL-6(β=-0.177, P&lt;0.01) and aMED and IFN-γ(β=-0.161, P&lt;0.01). The dietary quality of women in late pregnancy in Guangzhou is low, the dietary structure is unbalanced. Higher dietary quality during pregnancy can promote the development of fetal immune system and improve fetal immune function.

Haemolymph transfusions transfer heritable learned novel odour preferences to naive larvae of Bicyclus anynana butterflies.

The mechanisms whereby environmental experiences of parents are transmitted to their offspring to impact their behaviour and fitness are poorly understood. Previously, we showed that naive Bicyclus anynana butterfly larvae, whose parents fed on a normal plant feed but coated with a novel odour, inherited an acquired preference towards that odour, which had initially elicited avoidance in the naive parents. Here, we performed simple haemolymph transfusions from odour-fed and control-fed larvae to naive larval recipients. We found that larvae injected with haemolymph from odour-fed donors stopped avoiding the novel odour, and their naive offspring preferred the odour more, compared to the offspring of larvae injected with control haemolymph. These results indicate that factors in the haemolymph, potentially the odour molecule itself, play an important role in odour learning and preference transmission across generations. Furthermore, this mechanism of odour preference inheritance, mediated by the haemolymph, bypasses the peripheral odour-sensing mechanisms taking place in the antennae, mouthparts or legs, and may mediate food plant switching and diversification in Lepidoptera or more broadly across insects.

The Status of Young Children's Nutrition Security in Rural Area of Northwest Ethiopia

Background: Nutrition security is a vital component of growth and development in a nation. However, dietary diversity and availability of healthy food are serious challenges to many local communities in Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to identify status and determinants of nutrition security of school-age children in Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: Primary data were collected and analyzed using a binary logistic regression model to determine the significance of nutrition security odds ratio of 12 variables. Results: The results revealed that around 55.4% of school-age children were nutritionally insecure and underweight, and 44.6% were stunted. The significant determinants of nutrition security in the study area were milk consumption, healthy eating habit, fruits and vegetables consumption, educational status of the guardian, meat consumption, and the child’s place of residence. Conclusion: The findings of the study showed the need for nutrition education of the children and their guardians, and the need for accessibility of diverse and nutritious food products to help the school-age children with acute wasting and stunting problems they are facing.

Characterizations of infant flours and profiles of populations using them in the center of Côte d'Ivoire

IntroductionInfant malnutrition is a public health issue observed in children from the age of 6 months, period of food diversification. The objective of this study was to characterize the infant flours intended for children from 6 to 24 months on the Ivorian market and to identify the profiles of the populations using them in order to improve a new type of flour manufacturing. Materials and methodsThen, a cross-sectional investigation was conducted among 300 households with young children in the center of Cote d'Ivoire. This survey should point out the different types of complementary foods percentages used in households and the ones who use these foods which have an impact on child malnutrition; this in order to highlight the social and economic factors which influence the practices of use, preferences and choices of complementary foods of the populations that use them. Results and discussionsThe results indicate that 76 % of the households surveyed use industrial infant flours, 22 % traditional flours and 2 % make a combination of both industrial and traditional flours. The overall populations find imported manufactured flours too expensive with a preference rate of 41.5 %, 26 % for traditional flours and 32.5 % for products made up of the two previous ones. As for the practice of using complementary foods by households: 18 % practice it early, 54 % at the recommended age (6 months) and 28 % use them late. Conclusionsa preference for traditional flours by households is observed because of their accessibility (affordable prices). Also, to better the nutritional and economic qualities of these traditional flours would be a good strategy to fight against child malnutrition in Africa.

Assessment of Some of the Feeding Practices and Local Infant Flours' Consumption by 6 to 23 Months Children in the City of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Background: From birth to 6 months, children must be exclusively breastfed, and from 6 months, food diversification starts to supplement breast milk. This cross-sectional study aims to evaluate some of the feeding practices regarding children aged 6 to 23 months in the city of Ouagadougou. Methods: First, data were food consumption data as well as recalling meals over the past 24 hours were collected. Then, technological and labeling data regarding infant flours produced locally and sold in Ouagadougou were obtained. For analysis, data were entered into Sphinx V5 and IBM SPSS Statistics 20 software, and means were compared using XLSTAT 2016 software. Results: In total, 33 local infant flours were evaluated, and all the formulations contained cereals. Fruits and legumes (30.30%), milk (30.30%), and eggs (0,00%) were the least used materials. Instant type flours were rarely encountered (9.09%), and packaging in plastic bags was consumed the most (57.57%). Regarding labeling information, batch number (28%) and the method of preservation (32%) were the least identified. With respect to food consumption, 94.84% of the children were breastfed and 98.33% aged 6 to 8 months consumed solid foods. At least 85.28% of women considered the age of 6 months for introduction of solid foods. Concerning consumption of infant porridges, imported infant porridges were preferred the most (37.44%). Conclusion: Concerning local infant flour, some of them did not meet WHO guidelines. With regard to food practice indicators in Ouagadougou, some of them are relatively satisfactory; however, there is still a need to raise awareness regarding feeding practices.

The common wall lizard Podarcis muralis (Reptilia: Lacertidae) shows diverse food preferences and intraspecific difference: a study case from Bulgaria

The common wall lizard Podarcis muralis (Reptilia: Lacertidae) shows diverse food preferences and intraspecific difference: a study case from Bulgaria

Status of Nutritional Services to Vulnerable Population in West Bengal and Their Hardship during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Community-based Qualitative Exploration

Introduction: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions were imposed on various activities including nutritional services. This study was conducted with the objective to explore the status of the nutritional services and to identify the hardship and barriers faced by the vulnerable population and challenges for service providers and program managers during the initial phase of pandemic. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted among three vulnerable population groups (slum dwellers, tribal population, and residents of disaster-prone area) in three districts of West Bengal, the reference period being April–September 2020. To assess the status of nutritional services and identify existing barriers or challenges, the study employed a mixed-methods approach utilizing focus group discussions (FGDs) as well as in-depth interviews (IDIs) conducted with beneficiaries, service providers and program managers. One habitation in each district was selected to obtain case scenarios on food insecurity and hardship. Descriptive analysis of household surveys and thematic analysis of FGDs and IDIs were done, and the findings were triangulated. Results: Different nutritional services (supplementary nutrition, micronutrient supplementation, growth monitoring, nutrition counseling, and nutrition rehabilitation) were disrupted. Shifting from hot-cooked meals to dry take-home ration was the most conspicuous change during restoration phase. Food security was absent in majority of the households. Reduction of income affected their affordability, which along with difficult accessibility to diverse food items contributed to their hardship. Service providers identified several challenges, including increased workload due to both COVID-19 activities and a rise in beneficiaries, transportation difficulties, and experiences of stigma and discrimination. Long administrative decision-making process, additional hurdles due to cyclone, and containment zones were identified as challenges by the program managers. Conclusion: As the hardship of vulnerable population was pervasive, it is necessary to formulate mitigating measures in light of the identified challenges and to combat similar crises in future.

Karakteristik Kimia dan Sensori Crackers dengan Penambahan Tepung Campolay (Pouteria campechiana) dan Teping Ikan Teri Nasi (Stolephorus sp)

ingredients can be added to the manufacture such as campolay flour and ground wheat flour to increase the nutritional content of the crackers. This study aims to make crackers with the addition of campolay flour and rice anchovy flour as a form of food diversification and to find the selected formulation from the ratio of wheat flour: campolay flour: rice anchovy flour. This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) with one treatment factor, namely the ratio of wheat flour : campolay flour : anchovy flour (80:15:5), (70:20:10), (60:25:15), ( 50:30:20). Product analysis includes chemical analysis of water content, acid insoluble ash content, and protein content as well as sensory and hedonic quality tests as a determinant of selected products. The selected treatment was then subjected to further chemical analysis including calcium levels and beta-carotene levels. Data analysis and research used (ANOVA) with Duncan's further test with a 95% confidence interval. The results showed that the selected crackers were treated with a ratio of wheat flour: campolay flour: anchovy flour (70:20:10) with a quality that did not smell of campolay flour, smelled of anchovy rice flour, had a yellow color, had a textured crunchy and salty taste. Crackers had a moisture content of 4,89%, acid insoluble ash content of 0,11% and protein content of 13,28%, an average calcium content value of 4339,19 mg/100g and an average value of beta-carotene content of 1,015 mg/kg

Optimizing niger seed (Guizotia abyssinica) oil quality: A comprehensive analysis of infrared-heat induced changes in bioactive profile, physiochemical attributes, and oxidative stability.

Infrared heating (IRH) at 140, 160, and 180°C for varying durations (5, 10, and 15min) was employed for improving the niger (Guizotia abyssinica) seed oil (NSO) quality for diverse food applications. The study explored changes in phenolic profile, oxidative stability index (OSI), tocopherols, phytosterols, fatty acid profiles, and physicochemical attributes of NSO. Upon IRH at 180°C for 10min, the oil yield, total phenolic, and flavonoid contents increased from 33.09% to 40.56%, 6.67 to 173.62mgGAE/kg, and 24.76 to 120.64mgQE/kg, respectively. The viscosity, chlorophylls, carotenoids, radical scavenging activity, OSI, caffeic, protocatechuic, vanillic, and syringic acids were highest upon IRH at 180°C for 15min. The tocopherols and phytosterols initially augmented while decremented upon raising IRH conditions. The infrared spectra indicated no adverse impact of IRH on NSO quality. The appropriate IRH conditions can be considered for improving NSO quality and making it valuable for various edible products.

Diet of moulting Swainson's Thrushes (Catharus ustulatus) and Tennessee Warblers (Leiothlypis peregrina) at a stopover site during fall migration measured with fecal DNA metabarcoding

Moult and migration are energetically demanding and require adequate nutrition. In some species, individuals may interrupt their fall migration to moult at discrete stopover locations outside of their breeding grounds (i.e., moult-migration) leading to competing nutritional demands for moult and migration. Here, we use DNA barcoding of fecal samples to compare the diet of moulting and actively migrating (post-moult) Swainson’s Thrushes (Catharus ustulatus) and Tennessee Warblers (Leiothlypis peregrina) during their fall migration stopover at a large urban greenspace in Montreal, Canada. Diet differed according to moult status, species, and seasonality. Swainson’s Thrushes had a broad diet with frequent detections of both insects and berry-producing shrubs; while detections in Tennessee Warblers’ diets were mainly arthropods. For both species, more actively migrating individuals consumed fleshy-fruiting plants than moulting individuals. A higher proportion of moulting birds consumed arthropods compared to active migrants, due to either arthropod availability or a dietary preference for proteinaceous foods to grow feathers. Both species and moult classes consumed more native plants than non-native plants later in the season. We show the importance of managing urban greenspaces with native plants and diverse food sources that can provide for the different dietary needs of migratory birds.

The effect of planting distance on the growth and yield of sweet potato clone Arf-03 on alluvial soil

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L) is one of the alternative foods for food diversity. The need for sweet potatoes is increasing as consumption of materials and industrial raw materials have bright prospects, so various efforts are needed to increase production. One of the efforts to improve cultivation techniques to increase sweet potato production is by setting optimal planting spacing so that plant needs are met. Spacing is very closely related to nutrient absorption and photosynthesis processes, so plant growth increases. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of planting distance on the growth and yield of ARF-03 clone sweet potatoes on alluvial soils and obtain optimal planting spacing for the growth and yield of sweet potatoes. The planting distance treatment given in this study was P1 = 20 cm × 100 cm, P2 = 30 cm × 100 cm, and P3 = 40 cm × 100 cm, using RAK as a reference for the placement of experimental units. The results of the growth of ARF-03 sweet potato plants on planting distance treatment showed that planting spacing had a significant effect on the length of the main tendrils, the number of branches, the fresh weight of the plant header, the dry weight of the plant header, the weight of tubers per plant, and the weight of tubers per bed. However, it has no real effect on the variables of the number of tubers, the length of the tubers, or the diameter of the tubers. The plant reaches its highest growth rate at a distance of 40 cm × 100 cm and its highest yield at a distance of 30 cm × 100 cm, with a bulb weight of 425.75 g per plant.

PENGUATAN KAPASITAS TOKOH AGAMA DALAM UPAYA PENANGGULANGAN STUNTING WILAYAH KABUPATEN KUPANG ALOR

The problem of stunting has the potential to disrupt the quality of human resources and is related to health levels and even child mortality. In this case, religious leaders are parties who play a direct role, especially in preventing stunting through shaping family consumption patterns in religious service areas. Family mothers who cultivate and implement nutritious food consumption patterns can prevent family members, including children under five, from nutritional problems, including stunting. The activity was carried out in Alor Regency on 21-23 October 2023 with the aim of strengthening Christian, Catholic, Hindu and Islamic religious leaders in carrying out service duties to families, especially family mothers, in order to increase knowledge about consuming diverse, nutritious, balanced and safe food. and be able to take preventive action at the stage of preparing nutritious food for family consumption. Implementation uses the "Education and/or counseling" method. Where, all religious leaders are given teaching or material with the aim that they can determine the source of the problem and form services related to overcoming and preventing nutritional problems including stunting through choosing healthy, varied and safe types of food. The evaluation process was carried out before and after the activity to measure the abilities and changes in attitudes of 60 religious leaders regarding the counseling material. The pre-test results found that the majority (69.7%) of religious leaders already knew about stunting but did not understand consumption patterns including the type, quantity and correct method of food processing and the impact on the incidence of stunting. However, after confirmation from the results of the counseling, it was discovered that 100% of religious leaders could understand the correct consumption patterns. This starts from indicators of the ability to choose the type of food, compiling a simple but nutritious menu using a processing method that is friendly to the availability of sufficient and appropriate nutritional content as needed and can ensure that the amount of food consumed is according to the needs per day per age per gender of family members.

Meat-Egg-Dairy Consumption and Frailty among Chinese Older Adults: Exploring Rural/Urban and Gender Differences.

The dietary patterns of older adults, particularly in relation to meat, egg, and dairy (MED) consumption, significantly impact frailty, a state of heightened vulnerability to adverse health outcomes. This paper investigates the association between MED consumption and frailty among older Chinese adults, considering rural/urban disparities and gender differences. Analyzing data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) spanning from 2008 to 2018, this study explores how MED consumption influences frailty levels over time. The results show that moderate MED consumption is associated with slower frailty progression, suggesting a protective effect against frailty among older adults. However, excessive MED consumption, particularly among rural residents and females, is linked to accelerated frailty progression. Urban residents and males report higher MED consumption levels, possibly due to their greater access to diverse food options and traditional dietary preferences. The findings underscore the complex interplay between dietary habits, demographic factors, and frailty outcomes. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for developing targeted interventions to mitigate frailty risk factors and promote healthy aging among Chinese older adults.

Ethnoecological Study of Local Community Food in Supporting the Development of Culinary Ecotourism in the Sekotong Region, West Lombok

Combining the concept of ecotourism with culinary delights based on local food resources in coastal communities in West Lombok district is one form of appropriate development strategy that will make the West Lombok district region have its own development characteristics leading to sustainable tourism and tourism support which will become the concept of future tourism development. This research examines in more depth the ethnoecological aspects of coastal communities, especially regarding local food. Through this research, data will be obtained regarding the diversity of local food types in coastal communities, mapping community wisdom in processing and utilizing local food. Local community interactions and perceptions of local food diversity. The type of research used is descriptive exploratory with research techniques in the form of exploration. The sampling techniques used in the research were purpose sampling and snowball sampling. Research data collection uses several techniques, including random observation to obtain qualitative and quantitative data on local food typical of the island of Lombok, which uses an open questionnaire targeting local communities according to predetermined criteria. The research results show that coastal communities have more food resources originating from marine resources, both fish and non-fish, these food resources are still protected because most people still harvest the results using simple equipment. There are around 11 types of processed food as a family practice. Tuna fish has the highest ICS (Index of Cultural Significance) value while mackerel fish has the highest variety of uses. Shrimp is the fish group that has the highest ICS value, while cassava leaves have the highest ICS value for the vegetable group. The local wisdom of the community which originates from their ancestors in order to protect their environmental resources is still maintained today.

Food-web complexity, consumer behavior, and diet specialism: impacts on ecosystem stability

AbstractEcological stability is a fundamental aspect of food web dynamics. In this study, we explore the factors influencing stability in complex ecological networks, characterizing it through biomass oscillations and species persistence. Using an Extended Niche model, we generate diverse food web structures and investigate the effects of intraspecific consumer interference, network size, connectance, and diet specialism on stability. Our findings reveal that intraspecific consumer interference plays a pivotal role in shaping stability. Higher interference results in stable dynamics, reducing oscillations and extinctions. Additionally, differences emerge between food webs comprised of invertebrate consumers and those of ectotherm vertebrates, with the latter showing higher oscillations. Network size and connectance also influence stability, where larger and more connected webs tend to exhibit reduced oscillations. Overall, our study sheds light on the complex interplay of factors affecting ecological stability in food webs. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management.

Development of Functional Muffins from Wheat Flour-Carrot Pomace Powder using Fenugreek Gum as Fat Replacer

Carrot stands out as one of the globally consumed vegetables, and its juice production yields significant quantities of valuable by-products, notably pomace. To mitigate environment impacts and enhance production cost efficiency, incorporating carrot pomace as an ingredient in diverse food items become a viable strategy. This study investigated the potential of carrot pomace powder (CPP) and fenugreek gum (FG) as fat-replacers and dietary fiber sources in muffins. The flour samples i.e. wheat flour (WF) and CPP were analyzed for their physico-chemical, functional and pasting properties. CCP contained crude fiber (27.6 %), moisture (8.75 %), protein (4.25 %), fat (0.2 %), and ash (1.2 %), indicating higher amounts of ash, and fiber contents than WF. Further, WF was replaced with CPP at different levels (5 %, 10 %, 15 % and 20 %), and FG was added at 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 g levels to analyze their effects on different attributes of muffin. The results showed that muffin fortified with CPP showed an increase in crude fiber content, the highest observed for MF4 of 1.19 %. The water and oil absorption capabilities of WF (143 % and 151 %) were lower than CPP (181 % and 163 %) blends. Addition of CPP and FG increased the flour paste viscosity and specific volume (SV). Moreover, sensory analysis showed the firmness, taste and appearance of muffins were improved by the addition of CPP. The most popular muffins were those made with 10 % CPP and 0.2 g FG. In conclusion, CPP and FG can be effectively utilized to produce fiber-enriched low-fat muffins with improved nutritional profiles and acceptable sensory characteristics.