| Abstract |
Namibia has shown to have a high prevalence of malnutrition in children under the age of 5 years (Fujima et al., 2022). A study that was conducted by Mwilima (2018) observed high rates of children who were underweight and stunted in the Northern-Eastern regions of Namibia, while wasting was common in the central region of the country. Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is a nutrient-rich underutilized cereal crop that is grown annually in Namibia. Next to pearl millet is the protein-rich legume, cowpeas, which, when incorporated into cereal crops, can help create a diet-diversified meal for infant feeding to combat malnutrition. The nutrient composition of both the two crops has gained attention in food research and product development, especially in the infant feeding field. To create locally value-added food and create protein-enriched complementary feeding flours, this study investigated the nutritional composition, functional property, shelf-life stability, and sensory attributes of incorporating cowpea flour into pearl millet flour for complementary feeding purposes. The study used various formulations with different cowpea flour incorporation levels and compared them to a control sample without cowpea. Different levels of cowpea flour were incorporated into pearl millet flour at 10, 20, 30, and 40% respectively. The moisture, fat, protein, ash, crude fiber, carbohydrate, mineral, and water absorption indexes were determined. The consumer acceptability of the flours was also evaluated. The results demonstrated that cowpea incorporation significantly increased protein, fiber, and mineral content (notably calcium, potassium, and magnesium), with PCA (40% cowpea) exhibiting the highest nutrient levels. The moisture content across all samples remained below 14%, indicating good storage stability, while the water absorption index (WAI) remained unaffected, suggesting consistent functionality during preparation. Fat content decreased with higher cowpea incorporation, contrary to some literature, which may be attributed to the processing methods used in this study. These findings aligned with existing research supporting legume incorporation to enhance nutritional profiles in complementary flours, though some variations in fat content were noted. The study concluded that pearl millet flour incorporated with cowpea viii flours could serve as a nutritious, shelf-stable, and functionally effective option for complementary feeding in regions affected by malnutrition. |
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