Author(s)

Francis Kweku Amagloh, Louise Brough, Janet L. Weber, Anthony N. Mutukumira, Allan Hardacre, Jane Coad

Department of Biotechnology (Food Processing Technology Section), Faculty of Agriculture, University for Development Studies, Nyankpala, Ghana;Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, College of Health, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand..
Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, College of Health, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand..

The stability of β-carotene in cream-fleshed sweetpotato-based complementary food stored in three different containers under simulated tropical temperature of 32°C and 85% relative humidity in an environmental chamber for 24 weeks was investigated. The formulation stored in a metallised polyester film in a refrigerator (approximately 3.0°C and 95% relative humidity) retained about 81% of β-carotene at 24 weeks, with no significant change in the moisture content. The formulation stored in either a metallised polyester film or a translucent polypropylene container placed in the environmental chamber retained approximately half of the β-carotene at 24 weeks, with a slight increase in moisture content. However, the formulation held in a transparent low-density polyethylene bag had the lowest β-carotene retention (37%) and the highest moisture content at week 24. Within the limits of this study, it has been demonstrated that β-carotene in cream-fleshed sweetpotato-based complementary food was well retained when moisture uptake was minimised.

β-Carotene; Complementary Food; Storage; Sweetpotato

F. Amagloh, L. Brough, J. Weber, A. Mutukumira, A. Hardacre and J. Coad, "Retention of β-Carotene in Cream-Fleshed Sweetpotato-Based Complementary Food Stored in Different Containers under Simulated Tropical Temperature and Humidity," Food and Nutrition Sciences, Vol. 4 No. 9B, 2013, pp. 23-28. doi: 10.4236/fns.2013.49A2004.