EC Nutrition

Research Article Volume 19 Issue 9 - 2024

Fortification of Rice-Based Masa Diet with Edible Insects: A Possible Tool for Combating Protein Deficiency in Pregnant Mothers and School Children

Otitoju Grace Taiwo Olawale1,2*, Otitoju Olawale3, Kolade John Joseph4, Ibrahim Ajibola Nihmot1 and Uwakwe Linda2

1Department of Nutritional Sciences, College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, USA

2Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Federal University, Wukari Taraba State, Nigeria

3Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Federal University, Wukari Taraba State, Nigeria

4Department of Home Economic and Food Science, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author: Otitoju Grace Taiwo Olawale, Department of Nutritional Sciences, College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, USA and Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Federal University, Wukari Taraba State, Nigeria.
Received: July 17, 2024; Published: November 12, 2024



The nutritional composition and sensory properties of masa produced from rice enriched with edibles insects [grasshopper (Zonocerus variegatus) and caterpillar (Lepidopteran larva)] were evaluated. The rice, grasshopper and caterpillar flour were blended in the ratios of 100:0 (control), 95:5, 90:10, 85:15, 80:20, 75:25 respectively. Sensory attributes, proximate compositions and amino acids profile were determined using standard analytical methods. The result showed that control sample (100% rice-masa) was preferred by consumers with a mean score above 7 in all the sensory parameters considered. Similarly, the result also shows significant (p < 0.05) increase in protein, ash, fibre, and carbohydrate contents while ash and moisture content decrease significantly in the enriched masa. Again, essential amino acid distributions histidine, isoleucine, leucine, methione, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, valine, lysine and the non-essential amino acid arginine, glutamate, cysteine, glycine, proline, serine, alanine, aspartate, tyrosine enriched with 15 and 25% caterpillar increased significantly (p < 0.05). Also, the essential and non essential amino acid contents in samples enriched with 5, 10 and 20% grasshopper were significantly increased (p < 0.05). This study shows that enriching rice-masa with grasshopper and caterpillar has the potential of raising the nutritional status of the snack. Thus, this may be recommended as snack or breakfast meal for school feeding program as well as a possible means in fighting hidden hunger and malnutrition. This research showed that caterpillar and grasshopper used as enriching agents could serve as excellent sources of protein to combat protein-energy malnutrition and supply limiting amino acids to the rice-based masa.

 Keywords: Cereal-Based Foods; Edible Insects; Limiting Amino-Acids; Protein-Dense Masa

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Otitoju Grace Taiwo Olawale., et al. “Fortification of Rice-Based Masa Diet with Edible Insects: A Possible Tool for Combating Protein Deficiency in Pregnant Mothers and School Children”. EC Nutrition  19.9 (2024): 01-14.

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