cONTACT uS

PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND SENSORY EVALUATION OF A BREAKFAST CEREAL MADE FROM SPROUTED FINGER MILLET-MAIZE COMPOSITE FLOUR

Authors: Reuben Acheampong, Dr. Niilante Amissah, Crosby Osei-Tutu Jnr, Prof. Angelina O. Danquah and Prof. Firibu K. Saalia

Abstract:

The study examined the utilization of sprouted finger millet-maize composite flour in breakfast cereal production, with a focus on its physicochemical, functional, and sensory attributes. The study followed a one factor design in which maize flour (MF) was substituted with sprouted finger millet (SFMF) at varying proportions (0%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, and 90%) to investigate the physicochemical and functional characteristics. The tristimulus colour (L* value), pH, amount of water and oil absorption capacity, proximate composition, emulsion capacity and stability, swelling power and solubility index of composite flour samples were analyzed. Breakfast cereal samples made from composite flour were analyzed for sensory characteristics and tristimulus colour (L* value). Notably, the moisture and ash content of the composite flour samples displayed significant increases (p ≤ 0.05) as the proportion of Sprouted Finger Millet Flour (SFMF) incorporation rose, while carbohydrate and protein contents decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.05). Functional properties demonstrated significant increases (p ≤ 0.05) in the composite flour samples, except for bulk density, which decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) with increasing SFMF content. The L* values for the composite flours significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decreased. In sensory evaluations of the breakfast cereal samples, those with 40% and 50% SFMF received the highest overall acceptability, colour, and taste scores (p ≤ 0.05). The findings of this study suggest that nutritious breakfast cereal can be produced using finger millet-maize composite flour, characterized by elevated levels of ash and crude fiber, alongside low carbohydrate and moisture content.

Gap addressed:

This study has the following significance:
1. It will document a protocol for making Sprouted Finger Millet Flour and its use in
instant breakfast cereal formulations.
2. It will help researchers improve the nutritive value of breakfast cereal for adults and
serve as complementary food for infants.
3. The procedure can be adopted, further refined and up-scaled to be used by interested
entrepreneurs to process fortified, sprouted finger millet based breakfast cereals for
commercial purposes.

Sector/Industry focus:

FOOD INDUSTRY

Potential uptake or practical application:

Targeted Product Development
Children: Nutrient-rich instant cereals, porridges, or puffs using germinated millet, sorghum, and legumes can meet the nutritional needs for growth and development.
Elderly: Soft, easily digestible cereal blends made from sprouted grains (e.g., barley, oats) address common issues like chewing difficulty, low appetite, and poor digestion.

Institutional Use
It can be introduced in school feeding programs, clinics, elderly care homes, and community nutrition projects.
Ideal for emergency nutrition kits due to long shelf life when processed properly.

Home and Retail Markets
Easy-to-cook or ready-to-eat forms (flours, flakes, bars) suit urban health-conscious consumers and rural households seeking fortified yet natural food options.

Functional Health Products
Sprouted cereals can be positioned as diabetic-friendly, immune-boosting, or gut-friendly breakfast solutions.

Key recommendations:

Encourage Research and Innovation
Support academic and food technology research to improve shelf life, flavor, and acceptability of germinated cereal products tailored to different age groups.

Support Local Processing Enterprises
Invest in small-scale equipment (e.g., solar dryers, grain mills) to help local processors produce affordable sprouted cereal products, especially in rural areas.

Integrate Sprouted Cereals into Public Nutrition Programs
Include germinated seed products in school feeding, maternal and child health, and elder care nutrition schemes for better dietary quality and impact.

Develop Guidelines and Quality Standards
Establishment of simple, locally appropriate protocols for germination, hygiene, drying, and packaging to ensure product safety and consistency.

Collaborative Engagement

Collaborative Engagements - Fostering collaboration for lasting impact

From steering committee and subcommittee meetings to stakeholder dialogues and strategic convenings, we foster cross-sectoral and multi-sectoral engagements to strengthen research-industry collaboration and drive sustainable impact.

GRIC_Platform

The GRIC Platform - Connecting research with industry: Real-time engagement for impact

Our digital hub showcases industry-friendly research outputs and facilitates real-time engagement between researchers, businesses, investors, and policymakers to promote research uptake and commercialisation.

GRIC_Forum

GRIC Annual Forum - Fostering collaboration, enabling uptake, mobilising support, and advancing innovation

This flagship hybrid event brings together stakeholders from academia, industry, government, and international development. It serves as a national platform to share insights, highlight success stories, secure diverse forms of support (including funding), and update collaborative action to advance research-industry collaboration and impact.

Learning Workshops

Learning Workshops - Building Capacity, Driving Collaboration, Empowering Commercialisation.

Through interactive workshops, we empower researchers and industry professionals with the tools and resources to collaborate and translate research into market-ready solutions.

Industry_Brief

Industry Brief Sessions - Bridging research and industry: Driving uptake, application, and investment

Our curated sessions connect researchers with industry players by spotlighting high-potential research in business-friendly formats to promote adoption, practical application, and secure financing for innovative solutions.

Knowledge Translation

Knowledge Translation - Turning Research into Action: Making Knowledge Accessible for Industry

We support researchers to translate their findings into accessible, industry-relevant formats through training and the development of research summaries aimed at driving uptake and commercialisation.