Use of sensory and physico-chemical parameters to understand consumer perception of attiéké, a fermented cassava product.

Background: Cassava breeding research programs focused initially on agronomic performance but in recent years they have considered the processability and the organoleptic properties of the final product, to increase the adoption of new varieties. One important cassava foodstuff is attiéké, a fermented and granular product, so it is necessary to determine criteria used by attiéké processors to select raw cassava and the characteristics leading consumers to like this product. This study assessed the attiéké production process, the criteria associated with the quality of attiéké, the sensory drivers of consumer acceptance, and their thresholds.

Combined use of sensory methods for the selection of root, tuber and banana varieties acceptable to end-users.

Background: The assessment of user acceptability in relation to crop quality traits should be a full part of breeding selection programs. Our methodology is based on a combination of sensory approaches aiming to evaluate the sensory characteristics and user acceptability of root, tuber and banana (RTB) varieties.

Results: The four-stepped approach links sensory characteristics to physicochemical properties and end-user acceptance.

Exploring the Complementarity of Fortification and Dietary Diversification to Combat Micronutrient Deficiencies: A Scoping Review.

Achieving a balanced and diverse diet remains a challenge for many people, contributing to an ongoing burden of micronutrient deficiencies, particularly in low-income settings. Fortification or dietary diversification are common food-based approaches. We conducted a scoping review to: 1) find evidence on whether combined food-based strategies are more effective than single strategies, and 2) understand how strategies implemented together could complement each other to achieve optimal nutritional impact on populations.

Women Eat More Rice and Banana: The Influence of Gender and Migration on Staple Food Choice in East Africa.

An original approach was used to examine how staple food choice differs by gender and migration: this consisted of a quantitative survey (six locations with urban consumers from various economic classes (n = 123)), a qualitative in-depth interview with a subset of those consumers (n = 18), and focus group discussions (n = 13). Men and women had similar results in terms of their preferred staple food choice attributes; yet women indicated consuming more rice and banana, and men, more maize and cassava (Chi-squared test; < .05).

Which Choice of Delivery Model(s) Works Best to Deliver Fortified Foods?

Micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs) occur as a result of insufficient intake of minerals and vitamins that are critical for body growth, physical/mental development, and activity. These deficiencies are particularly prevalent in lower-and middle-income countries (LMICs), falling disproportionately on the poorest and most vulnerable segments of the society. Dietary diversity is considered the most effective method in reducing this deficiency but is often a major constraint as most foods rich in micronutrients are also expensive and thereby inaccessible to poorer members of society.

'Yellow is good for you': Consumer perception and acceptability of fortified and biofortified cassava products.

Vitamin A, an essential micronutrient for health, can be obtained from various food sources including cassava products made from either traditional white cassava varieties fortified with red palm oil containing provitamin A, or new high provitamin A biofortified yellow cassava varieties. Both products have a similar yellow appearance due to the coloured pigmentation of provitamin A. Using a range of methods to provide a comprehensive understanding of sensory acceptability (blind triangle test, sensory profiling, hedonic preference that included Check-all-that-applies and Just-about-right tests), we tested the acceptability and nutritional perception of traditional West-African food dough-like products (eba and fufu) made from biofortified, fortified, or control products made with non-fortified white cassava (n = 7) at three suburban locations near Ibadan, Nigeria on a total of 122 consumers.

Physical losses could partially explain modest carotenoid retention in dried food products from biofortified cassava.

Gari, a fermented and dried semolina made from cassava, is one of the most common foods in West Africa. Recently introduced biofortified yellow cassava containing provitamin A carotenoids could help tackle vitamin A deficiency prevalent in those areas. However there are concerns because of the low retention of carotenoids during gari processing compared to other processes (e.

Chemical-sensory properties and consumer preference of hibiscus beverages produced by improved industrial processes.

The need to increase sustainability and add value to traditional foods claiming health benefits led to the introduction of key improvements in the production of hibiscus beverages in Senegal. The physicochemical and sensory properties of three resulting products (an under-vacuum concentrate, a dilute-to-taste syrup and a ready-to-drink infusion) were assessed, vis-à-vis those of conventionally manufactured beverages, and their impact on local consumer preference determined (n=146). New beverages had more intense, redder colour and higher monomeric anthocyanin content, total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity.

Factors influencing micronutrient bioavailability in biofortified crops.

Dietary and human factors have been found to be the major factors influencing the bioavailability of micronutrients, such as provitamin A carotenoid (pVAC), iron, and zinc, in biofortified crops. Dietary factors are related to food matrix structure and composition. Processing can improve pVAC bioavailability by disrupting the food matrix but can also result in carotenoid losses.

Cassava traits and end-user preference: Relating traits to consumer liking, sensory perception, and genetics.

Breeding efforts have focused on improving agronomic traits of the cassava plant however little research has been done to enhance the crop palatability. This review investigates the links between cassava traits and end-user preference in relation with sensory characteristics. The main trait is starch and its composition related to the textural properties of the food.

Cross-cultural acceptance of a traditional yoghurt-like product made from fermented cereal.

Background: Akpan is a traditional ready-to-drink fermented yoghurt-like cereal beverage consumed in urban and rural areas in Benin. With the aim of adapting the product to new local and export markets, this work maps African and European consumer preferences for different types of Akpan.

Results: A sensory profile of Akpan was created and consumer tests were conducted with 103 consumers of African origin and 74 consumers of European origin.

Relationships between anthocyanins and other compounds and sensory acceptability of Hibiscus drinks.

Chemical composition of Hibiscus drinks (Koor and Vimto varieties, commercial and traditional, infusions and syrups) (n=8) was related to sensory evaluation and acceptance. Significant correlations between chemical composition and sensory perception of drinks were found (i.e.

Retention and bioaccessibility of β-carotene in blended foods containing orange-fleshed sweet potato flour.

The retention and bioaccessibility of β-carotene (BC) in blended foods made with part orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) flour (30%) were examined. Chapatis and porridges were prepared by local processors under field conditions (FC) in Uganda (n=10). While the retention of all-trans-BC in porridges (69 to 93%) and chapatis (70 to 97%) varied between the processors, there was no overall difference between the two products and this was probably because of the variability in FC.

Effect of drying and storage on the degradation of total carotenoids in orange-fleshed sweetpotato cultivars.

Background: Orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) can be used to tackle vitamin A deficiency, a major public health problem in most developing countries. In East Africa, common ways of using sweetpotato include drying and subsequent storage. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of drying and storage on the total carotenoid retention (as an estimate of provitamin A retention) from OFSP.