Evaluation of the nutritional composition and acceptability of powdered ogi enriched with date palm fruits

This study was carried out to evaluate the nutritional composition and acceptability of powdered ogi enriched with date palm fruits. Ogi is a fermented slurry made with maize. Ogi enriched with date palm fruits was formulated in order to develop a nutrient dense product and an alternative to the available products, by increasing the usage of these crop materials. The prepared powdered ogi (POD) was enriched with the inclusion of different proportions of powdered dates (0, 5, 10 and 15%, which were labeled control, POD1, POD2 and POD3 respectively). Proximate analysis and sensory evaluation were then carried out on the samples. The results showed that there was a significant difference (p< 0.05) in the proximate composition of the enriched ogi samples, with sample POD3 having relatively higher values for ash (12.07%) and crude fibre (3.51%) when compared to the control. From the result of the mineral analysis, the concentration of minerals (Na, K, Fe, and P) increased significantly (p<0.05) with increasing level of dates, with POD3 having the highest concentration of P (768.16 ppm), K (728.00 ppm) and Fe (127.00 ppm). POD2 had a significantly high (p<0.05) concentration of Na (146.00 ppm). The sensory properties of the samples were generally liked by the panelist, but the overall acceptability of POD3 was highly rated and preferred. This study revealed that the enriched samples were nutrient dense and therefore recommended for homes to alleviate hidden hunger.