Use of Chemoprotection in Product Development to Improve Safety and Production of Peanut Products in Ghana, West Africa (OKS 55)

Approach

The goals of OKS 55 were to develop formulations and processing protocols for addition of HSCAS clays to remove aflatoxin from popular Ghana peanut-based products, and measure the physical, chemical and nutritional properties of the products; evaluate the sensory attributes and consumer acceptability of the products, and develop protocols and train processors in Ghana to manufacture peanut products containing levels of HSCAS appropriate for chemoprevention of aflatoxin-induced diseases.

Achievements

The development of formulations and processing protocols for the five peanut products selected by a survey of Ghana consumers has been completed. The products were formulated to include HSCAS clay (Novasil) that adsorbs aflatoxin in the digestive tract. A local cocoa processing company in Tema, Ghana will collaborate in processing, which will allow processing of large volume of products for the human feeding trials. Use of the clay in food products is based on Texas A&M and Texas Tech studies that showed that up to 0.60% clay has no adverse physiological effects on rats (TAM 50). Collaboration is in place with the KNUST collaborator with Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research and the University of Ghana to study the effects of HSCAS claysupplemented peanut foods of humans exposed to high levels of aflatoxins (TAM 50). Studies in the U.S. have shown that the clay additive to food of up to 0.25% has no effect on texture or flavor and that rancidity and off flavors are delayed. A finely ground clay in needed to prevent and unacceptable mouth feel. Use of the peanut products with clay for human studies in OKS 55 must await the outcome of the TAM 50 human trials described above.

Focus

Processor Values