Overview

There is a lack of safe and adequate weaning foods at low cost in Ghana and other parts of West Africa. There is also inadequate use of peanuts either as a direct food source or ingredient in food products for human consumption despite its high protein content. Peanuts are mostly processed by local women into peanut paste for soups and vegetable oil. The development of peanut based products, including weaning foods, would potentially increase the food uses of peanuts and improve the nutrition of babies and other consumers. Aflatoxin contamination is a major constraint in the full use of peanuts for human and animal consumption and due to its toxicity, constitutes a major health risk when contaminated portions are consumed. The proposed research project addresses the constraints of low peanut quality and inefficient utilization by development and implementation of extrusion cooking technology and aflatoxin decontamination methods for use during storage and post harvest handling procedures.