Carotenoid retention in biofortified maize using different post-harvest storage and packaging methods
Orange maize is being promoted as a source of provitamin A carotenoids (pVAC) in Zambia
Abstract
Orange maize is being promoted as a source of provitamin A carotenoids (pVAC) in Zambia. Carotenoid retention in orange maize grains stored in metal silos, multilayer polyethylene and common woven bags, and maize meal packaged in single and multilayer polyethylene bags was evaluated. Significant differences in total pVAC retention were found between grain storage methods after 6 months of storage. Total pVAC retention in hammer meal was higher than in breakfast meal after 4 months of storage; however, no differences in pVAC retention were found between meal types when stored in single and multilayer polyethylene bags. In general, β-cryptoxanthin (βCX) had higher retention than β-carotene (βC). Potential contribution of stored orange maize to the estimated average requirement of children and women was 26.5% and 24.3%, respectively. Orange maize meal can provide significant amounts of provitamin A to diets of Zambians even after 4 months of storage.
This work is an output of the HarvestPlus Programme. The Department for International Development is one of the main donors for HarvestPlus.
Citation
Taleon, Victor, Luke Mugode, Luisa Cabrera-Soto, and Natalia Palacios-Rojas. 2017. Carotenoid retention in biofortified maize using different post-harvest storage and packaging methods. Food Chemistry 232: 60-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2017.03.158.