Proximate and Mineral Composition of Powdered Akamu Fortified With Edible Palm Weevil (RHYCHOPHORUS PHOENICIS)

Abstract

Complementary foods are foods other than breast milk or infant formula introduced to infants to supply additional nutrients required for proper growth and development. In many developing countries, traditional complementary foods are mainly cereal-based and are often characterized by low protein quality, low energy density and high bulk. These limitations contribute to protein-energy malnutrition among infants and young children during the complementary feeding period. This study evaluated the nutritional quality of complementary food formulated from powdered akamu (fermented maize flour) fortified with Rhynchophorus phoenicis (edible palm weevil larvae) powder. Yellow maize grains were processed into powdered akamu through cleaning, steeping, fermentation, wet milling, sedimentation, drying and sieving. Fresh larvae of Rhynchophorus phoenicis were washed, fried, defatted, oven-dried, milled and stored as powder. Complementary food blends were formulated at different substitution levels of powdered akamu and R. phoenicis powder: 100:0, 95:5, 90:10, 85:15 and 80:20. Proximate and mineral compositions of the formulated samples were determined using standard AOAC methods, while data obtained were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed that moisture content ranged from 5.84% to 6.78%, protein from 8.99% to 19.68%, fat from 5.21% to 14.45%, crude fibre from 1.85% to 2.93%, ash from 0.80% to 3.28% and carbohydrate from 53.82% to 76.38%. Mineral composition revealed calcium (87.66–101.00 mg/100 g), sodium (54.11–59.00 mg/100 g), potassium (40.02–54.28 mg/100 g) and iron (30.68–40.08 mg/100 g). Protein, fat, fibre, ash, and mineral contents increased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing levels of R. phoenicis powder, while moisture and carbohydrate contents decreased. The fortified samples therefore showed improved nutritional quality compared with the control sample. The study concluded that fortification of powdered akamu with Rhynchophorus phoenicis powder significantly enhances the nutritional value of complementary foods. The incorporation of edible insects into complementary food formulations could serve as a sustainable and affordable strategy to combat protein and micronutrient malnutrition among infants in developing countries.