Development and evaluation of processed foods based on legumes, oil seeds, oil seed meals and protein isolates thereof

Abstract

Data relating to the processing and nutritive value of edible low fat flours from peanut, soyabean, cottonseed, seame seed and coconut and processed foods based on them are presented. The different foods prepared and tested are (a) Indian multipurpose food consisting of 3:1 blen of low-fat peanut flour and chick-pea flour (b) Protein food containing 1:1:2 blend of coconut meal, chick pea flour and peanut flour (c) balanced malt foods consisting of blends of cereal malt, peanut, sesame, soya and chick-pea flours and skim milk powder (d) enriched macaroni products based on blends of cassava flour, wheat semolina, peanut flour and chick pea flour. Experiments on albino rats showed that the above foods promoted good growth when incorporated to provide 15-20% protein in the diet and also supplemented to and marked extent poor Indian diets based on different cereals. Feeding trials on children showed that the different foods when fed at a level of 2 ounces per child per day for a period of six months brought about marked improvement in the growth and nutritional status of children. Spray dried infant foods containing about 25% protein and 18% fat have been prepared from (1) blends of soya, peanut and sesame and (2) blends of peanut protein isolate and skim milk powder. Experiments on albino rats showed that the product promoted good growth comparing well with a milk food of similar composition. No significant differences in the growth rate or the composition of liver and carcass of the different groups of animals were observed. Protein foods suitable for the treatment of protein malnutrition in children and having the following compositions were prepared: Blend I. a 3:3:4 blend of peanut protein, soya protein and casein fortified with l-lysine and dl-methionine; Blend II, a 52:48 blend of peanut protein and skim milk powder; Blend III, a 2:1 blend of peanut protein and skim milk powder; Blend IV, a 1:1 blend of peanut protein and casein fortified with l-lysine and dl-methionine; and, Blend V, a spray dried protein food cotaining 35% protein (2 parts derived from peanut protein and 1 part from skim milk powder). The different blends when administered at a level of 30 g of protein/day per child, over a period of 30 days, proved almost as effective as skim milk powder in curing cases of protein malnutrition.