Development and quality evaluation of millet based weaning food

Abstract

The Weaning food (RMS) was developed for infant using Ragi, Raigkeera, whole green gram, soybean, Sapota, sugar, cardamom and skim milk powder. The acceptability of developed RMS weaning food was studied using nine point hedonic scale. Nutrient content of highly accepted RMS weaning food was analyzed using standard methods. The acceptability of formulated weaning food by the infant and their mothers was also studied. The keeping quality of most accepted weaning food was studied by storing the weaning food at room and at refrigerator temperature for 90 days. Simultaneously the determination of colony count of bacteria present in stored sample was carried out by direct method of counting. The data generated was analyzed statistically. Results indicated that developed RMS weaning food contain more amount of energy (355 kcal), protein (20.33g), iron (9.5 mg) and calcium (448 mg) per 100 gm. Even after 90 days of storage found to have low microbial count. It was very well accepted by infants and their mothers and no digestive disorders were noticed after in infant feeding RMS mix. Hence, formulated weaning foods were nutritionally superior, functionally appropriate, microbiologically safe and organoleptically acceptable.