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Plantain flour (PLF) and soy flour (SF) were used to substitute wheat flour (10% and 20% w/w) in composite bread. Physicochemical, phytochemical, and sensory properties were investigated. Partial substitution by PLF significantly increased (p <.05) starch, amylose, ascorbic acid, and potassium content in bread samples. In contrast, a significant improvement (p <.05) in protein, fat, amylopectin, and calcium content was observed with SF substitution. Composite bread with PLF and SF together lowered the hydrolysis index (HI) and glycemic index (GI) as compared with whole wheat flour. The molar phytate to minerals (iron, zinc, and calcium) ratio in all composite loaves was lower than reported critical values, except for phytate to iron. Significant differences (p <.05) were found in color, specific volume, and texture characteristics of loaves made from partial substitution with PLF and SF. Sensory evaluation revealed that bread with 10% PLF exhibited better scores for appearance and willingness to pay than the control. In contrast, SF negatively affected (p <.05) the appearance, texture, color, overall acceptance, and willingness to pay. The trade‐off analysis indicated that PLF can be utilized to produce bread that meets consumers' demands, while incorporating SF as an alternative high‐nutrient density bread will be beneficial to health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The present study investigated the effect of ripening stages and chemical precursors on acrylamide formation in deep‐fried chips of five plantains and one cooking banana. The highest level of acrylamide was found in the cooking banana, followed by False Horn plantain and French plantain, respectively. French plantain hybrids exhibited a significantly lower (P < 0.05) level of acrylamide when compared to French plantain. The ripening stage demonstrated a positive Pearson correlation (P < 0.05, r = 0.57) with acrylamide formation. As ripening progressed, the levels of glucose and fructose significantly increased (P < 0.05) and showed a positive correlation with acrylamide formation (r = 0.85 and 0.96, respectively). The level of the amino acid asparagine during ripening was not correlated with acrylamide formation. In contrast, the level of histidine, arginine, iso‐leucine and cystine during ripening was positively correlated (P < 0.05, r > 0.60) with acrylamide formation in fried chips. The higher level of TP was significantly related (P < 0.05) to the lower level of acrylamide (r = −0.62). The reduced levels of carotenoid isomers, except lutein, during fruit ripening were positively correlated (P < 0.05) with acrylamide formation, especially trans‐BC (r = 0.72) and 9‐cis‐BC(r = 0.64). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of a computer vision system (CVS) for assessing the contact angle of frying oil. The oil was used to fry carbohydrate- and protein-based foods for 40 h, and the oil was collected for measuring free fatty acids (FFA), peroxide value (PV), total polar materials (TPMs), and FOS reading (dielectric constant). The results showed that FFA linearly increased with frying time (R2 > 0.95) while the polynomial correlation between TPMs and FOS reading as a result of time was observed (R2 > 0.97). The contact angle obtained from CVS was highly correlated with all chemical qualities (R2 > 0.94), except PV. In addition, the contact angle models could be used to adequately predict FFA, TPMs, and FOS reading of frying oil (R2 > 0.91). This result suggested that the image processing technique through CVS could be an appropriate alternative to chemical analysis, especially for small- and medium-scale industrial frying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary patterns for consumers among the elite and middle‐income classes in developing countries are shifting rapidly toward the consumption of more animal‐based products. Although this shift presents opportunities, there are significant market failures affecting their preferences and willingness to pay (WTP). This study used a multistage sample survey of 309 consumers from three different communities of Bukavu, Eastern DRC, to examine the effect of socioeconomic/socio‐demographic characteristics and quality attributes on consumers' purchasing decisions and WTP for meat products. The results suggested that about 53% of the respondents were dissatisfied with meat products in the market due to their high price, low quantity, unhealthiness, and harmful effects. Older female respondents living in urban areas were more likely to purchase meat products. Their WTP was significantly determined by attributes such as color, in‐mouth texture, and availability. Nutrition, harmful effects, and availability of meat products are the important factors that influence purchasing decisions among higher income groups. Addressing these market failures could have an impact on the meat market, improving the nutrition of low‐income consumers and ensuring food safety standards in DRC and other developing countries with similar challenges. Congolese household meat consumption and their preference for meat products were investigated. Healthiness, price, quantity, and harmful effect were important attributes for consumer preference in meat products. Socio‐demographic variables such as living area, gender, and age influence/determine purchasing decisions and willingness to pay. A different household income caused a different purchasing decision and willingness to pay. Availability was the most significant product attribute influencing the willingness to pay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aflatoxins are noxious secondary metabolites, of certain fungal species, found in food and feed. Contamination of a commodity with aflatoxins is associated with production and storage losses, and subsequently less food availability. Aflatoxins can also pose human health risks and represent a barrier to the development of trade, in both domestic and international markets. In this study, samples of cassava, maize, groundnut, beans, soybean, sorghum and milk, and their processed products were collected from local markets in Burundi and Eastern DRC. In order to investigate the levels of aflatoxin, crop samples were analyzed using a single step lateral flow immunochromatographic assay (Reveal Q+), while enzyme‐linked immune‐sorbent assay (ELISA) was used to analyze aflatoxin‐M1 in milk, yogurt, and cheese samples. The results revealed the presence of aflatoxins in all samples from both countries, with levels ranging from 1.3 to 2,410 μg/kg. Samples collected from Burundi contained relatively higher (p > 0.0.5) levels of aflatoxins. In 51% of all the crops samples, total aflatoxin contamination was above the EU maximum tolerable level of 4 μg/kg. Processed products, particularly from groundnut, maize, and sorghum, had the highest levels of aflatoxin contamination when compared to unprocessed grain. With regard to milk and dairy products, the level of aflatoxin‐M1 ranged from 4.8 to 261.1 ng/kg. Approximately 29% of milk and yogurt samples had aflatoxin‐M1 higher than the EU regulatory limit of 50 ng/kg, whereas 20% of cheese samples were found to be contaminated at levels higher than the maximum limit of 250 ng/kg. These results can serve as the basis for pre‐ and postharvest approaches to reduce aflatoxin contamination in agricultural commodities in Burundi and Eastern DRC in order to reduce health risk, avoid reduced production in livestock, and open up export markets. The occurrence of aflatoxins in crops, milk, and their processed products were assessed. The percentage of aflatoxin positive samples was 100%. The processed samples presented higher aflatoxin contamination when compared to unprocessed samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Despite efforts to reduce aflatoxin contamination and associated mycotoxin poisoning, the phenomenon continues to pose a public health threat in food and feed commodity chains. In this study, 300 samples of cassava, maize, and groundnut were collected from farmers’ households in Eastern DRC and analyzed for incidence of aflatoxins. In addition, the farmers’ level of knowledge of the causes and consequences of contamination and the measures for prevention were also examined by administering questionnaires to a cross section of 150 farmers. The results showed the presence of aflatoxins in all samples, with levels ranging from 1.6 to 2,270 μg/kg. In 68% of all samples, total aflatoxin contamination was above 4 μg/kg, the maximum tolerable level set by the European Union. Farmers ranked high humidity, improper storage practices, and poor soils as potential causes of aflatoxin contamination and changes in color, smell, and taste, and difficulty in selling crops as consequences. They identified crop management practices as the most effective way to control contamination. The results also revealed that most farmers apply preharvest crop management practices as a means of controlling contamination. More educated households were more knowledgeable about aflatoxins. Female‐headed and married households were less likely to be willing to pay for aflatoxin control. About 28% of farmers claimed to be willing to allocate resources to seed intervention while a smaller proportion agreed to pay for training and information services. The result further suggests that an adoption of pre‐ and postharvest technologies together with awareness creation is still required to reduce aflatoxin contamination in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the effects of calcium chloride ( Ca Cl2) and calcium lactate ( Ca- L) pretreatments prior to osmotic dehydration on physicochemical characteristics and consumer acceptance of dried papaya. Three different calcium concentrations [0.5, 1.5 and 2.5% (w/v)] were applied to samples before they were soaked in a 30 °Brix sucrose solution and subsequently dried at 70 °C. The results showed that the dried samples treated with calcium exhibited significantly lower moisture content, water activity, apparent density and shrinkage, while volume was higher when compared to the control. Calcium applications did not obviously influence sugar content of samples and maintained the quality of dried papaya in terms of colour and textural characteristics. Calcium chloride at 2.5% (w/v) was found to particularly impart undesirable bitterness to the dried papaya. In contrast, using 2.5% (w/v) Ca- L provided the best acceptance scores. Thus, the use of Ca- L could be an alternative to Ca Cl2 in the pretreatment of fruits prior to drying as it offers improved quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of far‐infrared and conventional heaters on heat distribution and physicochemical qualities of chicken nuggets and frying medium were investigated. For chicken nuggets, moisture content, fat content, color (L*, a*, and b*), and texture characteristics were determined, while free fatty acid (FFA), peroxide value (PV), total polar materials (TPMs), and color were used to measure the quality of frying oil. A higher heating rate and more uniform heat distribution were observed in the far‐infrared frying. Physicochemical qualities of chicken nugget were not significantly influenced by type of heater, except the fat content in the crust was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in far‐infrared fried samples. The FFA, TPM, and color values of frying oil were better in far‐infrared frying. Far‐infrared frying can be used for about 56 and 115 more cycles than conventional frying when using FFA of 0.8% and TPM of 25%, respectively as an indicator to discard the oil. Practical application: These results present a novel technology for using far‐infrared radiation in deep‐fat frying process. The far‐infrared radiation provides a way of uniform heating of food. In addition, it therefore shortens frying time, saves energy, and prolong the shelf life of frying medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of various pre‐treatments on the physicochemical and sensory characteristics of vacuum‐fried (VF) banana chips (120°C, 41.3 kPa) and consequently compare them to atmospheric‐fried (AF) banana chips (170°C). Pre‐treatments comprised of osmotic dehydration with sucrose solution (ODSu), osmotic dehydration with salt solution (ODSa), microwave heating (MV), and hot air‐drying (HD). The moisture content, oil content, L*, b*, and index of firmness of all pre‐treated banana chips were significantly decreased, whereas values for a*, volume shrinkage, and hardness were increased when compared to those without pre‐treatment. The ODSu sample provided the lowest oil content. The highest volume shrinkage was obtained from HD and MV treatments. Sensory evaluation revealed that VF chips exhibited the highest scores in color, crispiness, and oiliness when compared to AF chips. ODSu and ODSa samples positively affected the color, crispiness, and taste properties. Practical applications: Although there have been several techniques aimed at reducing the oil content of chips, the particular method investigated in the current work, pre‐treatment before VF, has not so far been investigated. The application of pre‐treatment processes prior vacuum or atmospheric frying in this study could reduce oil absorption and increase the score in sensory properties of fried banana chips. This process could be applied in other fried products in commercial scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]