PAPER TITLE :EFFECTS OF PACKAGING MATERIALS ON PROXIMATE, MINERAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF PLANTAIN CHIPS (MUSA PARADISIACA) IN STORAGE

FUTA JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN SCIENCE | VOLUME 11 NUMBER 1 2015

Paper Details

  • Author(s) : J.O Akinneye and R.O Aringbangba
  • Abstract:

ABSTRACT
The effects of packaging materials on proximate, mineral and physicochemical properties of plantain chips, Musa paradisiaca
was studied in the laboratory at ambient temperature of 28 + 20C and relative humidity of 75+5%. The packaging materials
assessed include craft paper, transparent polyethylene, black polyethylene, plastic and tin containers. The proximate
compositions of the dried plantain chips in different packaging materials were obtained before and after storage. After 3
months of storage, plantain chips stored in craft paper recorded an increase in moisture content (12.26%) when compared with
the other packaging materials. Transparent polyethylene recorded the lowest moisture content (9.92%) but was not
significantly different (p>0.05) from plastic and tin containers. Tin container recorded the lowest ash content (0.83%). The
protein content, crude fibre, crude fat and carbohydrate content showed no significant difference (p>0.05) when all the
packaging materials were compared. There was significant (p<0.05) increase in the sugar content of chips in all the packaging
materials. There were slight increase in the mineral element of the plantain chips after storage for 3 months but not
significantly different (p>0.05) from each other. The lowest acid value (8.90%) was obtained in tin container and the highest
was recorded in craft paper (11.32%) and all were significantly higher (p<0.05) than the values obtained before storage. The
free fatty acid, peroxide and the iodine value increased and were significantly different (p<0.05) from each other. Craft paper
and transparent nylon recorded highest insect perforation and insect population. Therefore, plastic and tin containers were
more suitable in maintaining the nutritive value of plantain chips since they offered total protection against insect pest
infestation. Moreover, if an insect free environment could be maintained, it will be more preferable to use transparent
polyethylene for the storage of Musa paradisiaca.
Keywords: packaging material, proximate composition, Musa paradisiaca.