Mutchayan a derived product from Baobab fruit pulp used as complementary food in Benin

The present study was carried out in Benin and aimed at assessing nutritional values of the baobab (Adansonia digitata) fruit pulp and its important derived products consumed by under five year old children. Field survey was performed in West of Sudanian zone (Materi, Tanguiéta and Natitingou) to collect data on baobab and its derived products. Consumption frequency of baobab fruit pulp and its derived product by under five years old children, the proportion of population using the fruit pulp and its derived products and the processing techniques of the derived products were collected. The score of consumption frequency was computed for the derived food selection using the frequency consumption and the proportion of population that used the derived products. The macronutrient composition (protein, fat, fibre, ash) were estimated for baobab fruit pulp and its derived food according to AOAC method. The mineral iron, zinc calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and cupper content were evaluated using inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometer method. Mutchayan, a fermented cereal dough enriched with baobab fruit pulp (BFP), baobab fruit pulp juice, moukou-moukou, BFP with sugar and cereals porridge enriched with BFP were the derived products found integrate the baobab fruit pulp and consumed by the children 6 to 59 months in West Sudanian zone. Mutchayan recorded the highest frequency consumption and thus is the most important local derived product from baobab fruit pulp consumed by these childrens. BFP nutritional values was 73.12±4.36g/100g dw for carbohydrate and 2.70 ± 0.71g/100g dw for protein content. The minerals content of BFP was estimated to 11.17 ± 2.64mg/100g dw for iron, 277.5 ± 24.75mg/100g dw for calcium, 1.25 ± 0.78mg/100g dw for zinc. Content of vitamin C was 389.66 ± 7.02 mg/100g dw for baobab fruit pulp. Its highest derived product, Mutchayan are 88.62 ± 0.40g/100g dw for carbohydrate and 1.77 ± 0.48 g/100g dw for protein. Mutchayan iron, calcium and zinc content were respectively 1.75 ± 0.02 mg/100g dw, 0.10 ± 0.01 mg/100g dw and 0.35 ± 0.04 mg/100g (dw). Regarding the nutritional values of the baobab fruit pulp it could be promoted as local food fortificant to enrich food for under five years old children. However, Mutchayan micronutrient composition appears poor so further research is needed to improve its mineral composition.