Nutrient Potential Of Wild And Cultivated Edible Mushrooms And Their Possible Use In Fortifying Snacks For Pre-School And School Children

ABSTRACT

The study determined the nutrient composition of wild and cultivated edible mushrooms, and

explored their use of cultivated Pleurotus tuber-regium in food-to-food fortification. Wild edible

mushrooms (Pleurotus tuber-regium, Pholiota mutabilis, Pleurotus ostreatus, Corprinus

disseminates, and Peziza badioconfusa Korf) were collected from different parts of the

University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) residential quarters and identified in the Department of

Botany, UNN. Cultivated Pleurotus tuber-regium was collected from the Department of Botany,

UNN. The wild and cultivated mushrooms were processed into flour and chemically analyzed

using standard methods of analysis. Different proportions (20g, 40g and 60g) of the Pleurotus

tuber-regium flour were incorporated into 600g of wheat flour, cocoyam paste and corn starch to

produce composites. The composites were used to prepare the following snacks: wheat buns,

cocoyam buns and aged jollify. Each of these snacks had their controls made without mushroom.

Sensory evaluation of the snacks was conducted using 20 panelists (children aged 8-14 years).

The evaluation was done in three days at the rate of one fortified food (snack) per day. A 9-point

Hedonic scale of 9 (highest) to 1 (lowest) was used to evaluate the products. The nutrient

composition of the snacks was calculated using available food composition Tables as well as the

nutrient composition of the cultivated Pleurotus mushroom obtained in the study. The percentage

increase in specific nutrients as a result of fortification was calculated. The ability of the most

acceptable snacks in meeting some specific nutrient requirements of pre-school and school

children was determined using recommended nutrient intakes (RENI) for energy, protein,

vitamins and minerals. Data were analysed using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Significance was accepted at p