IMPROVED CORN AND MILLET BASED WEANING FOODS: FORMULATION, VISCOSITY, AND NUTRITIONAL AND MICROBIAL QUALITY

In Tanzania, germinated cereal flour is added to weaning foods consisting of ungerminated cereal or root crop flour and sometimes legumes to reduce bulk and viscosity, and increase nutrient density. However, there is no standard procedure for germinated cereal flour preparation and addition to gruels. This study was conducted to improve the chemical, physical and microbiological quality of millet and corn gruels based on protein and energy requirements for infants. Germinated millet flour (GMF) was more efficient than germinated corn flour in reducing gruel viscosity to < 3 Pascal s in 5 min. Washing before germination did not significantly reduce the microbial levels in GMF. Formulations consisting of millet, corn or combinations with soybean or peanut at a cereal: legume ratio of 7:3, and GMF were prepared by traditional and improved methods. In the lat-