EFFECT OF DRYING TEMPERATURE AND PACKAGING MATERIAL ON THE QUALITY PARAMETER OF ORANGE-FLESHED SWEET POTATOES

📄 Project Abstract

Orange fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP) contain significant quantities of -carotene, a precursor for vitamin A. The crop is being promoted to tackle vitamin A deficiency, a serious public health problem affecting children and pregnant/lactating women in sub-Saharan Africa. This research aims to evaluate the effect of drying temperature and packaging material on the quality parameter of OFSP flour. This study evaluated the effect of drying temperature on the quality parameter of OFSP flour, this was done using two drying methods, sun drying, and oven drying (90 degrees C, 45 degrees C, and 65 degrees C), and was further studied by evaluating the effect of five packaging material (Transparent low-density polyethylene (LDT), dark low-density polyethylene (LDD), dark high-density polyethylene (HDD), transparent high-density polyethylene (HDT) and Laminated brown paper(HDDL)) on the retention and degradation kinetics of carotene during storage. The moisture, ash, protein, fat, fibre, and carbo...