Production of Suitable and Reusable Packaging Container for Transportation of Fruits

Experimental wooden boxes were constructed and used for packaging and transporting fruits, i.e. oranges and bananas from Gboko in Benue State and Ogoja in Cross River State respectively to Bauchi State. Four trips each were made to Gboko and Ogoja, transporting the fruits to Bauchi by the transporter. Some of the fruits were stored in the experimental boxes for one week for every trip made, while others were offered for sale as usual. Damaged oranges from the usual packaging containers (“Bagco bags”) were counted as well as damaged bananas taken from the trucksas traders usually transport them. Damaged fruits from the experimental wooden packages were also recorded. The estimated lorry load for orange and banana (counted as fingers) were 95,060 and 13,500 respectively; the average percentage loss per bag of orange was 2.46% and per bunch of banana was 7.65%, while the estimated loss of oranges and banana bunches per vehicle were 2,339 and 1,032 respectively. These losses translate to 28,068 per day and 5,160; per week, 196,476 and 36,120; per month 842,040 and 154,800; and per year 10,244,820 and 1,883,400 for orange and banana respectively. No losses were recorded using the experimental wooden packages for transportation and storage for the period of the study. The results are discussed in relation to the need for alternative practical and sustainable ways of minimizing post-harvest losses of fruits during transportation in Nigeria

Comparative Evaluation Of Four Formulated Weaning Foods And A Commercial Product

Four weaning foods were produced with millet, soyabean and crayfish in varying proportions. The quantity of crawfish was constant while the Millet and Soyabean were varied. Four formulations were prepared designated A, B, C, and D. The samples were evaluated chemically, microbiologically and sensorily in comparison with a commercially available weaning food. The protein, fat, ash, moisture, carbohydrate and energy content of the formulated weaning food: A, were 10.2%, 4.2%, 0.62%, 7.02%, 73.5% , and 372.6 Kcal/100g respectively; while sample B, were 13.30%, 5.50%, 1.0%, 6.80%, 65.26% and 364.9 Kcal/100g, respectively; sample C, 18.96%, 6.20%, 1.3%, 5.02%, 59.81% and 366.9 Kcal/100g respectively; and D, 23.01%, 7.50%, 1.58%, 3.80%, 66.11%, and 416.0 Kcal/100g respectively. The samples were subjected to 30 days accelerated total aerobic count; sample A ranged from no growth to 2. X 103 cfu/g, sample B from no growth to 3. X 103 cfu/g, sample C was from no growth to 2.8 x 103 cfu/g, sample D was from no growth to 2.5 x 103, while the commercial product(E) from no growth to 2.0 x 103 cfu/g. Sensory evaluation showed that the product were significantly different (P>0.05) in taste, flavour, and texture. Sample D was judged best in all sensory parameters except texture. The product is considerably cheaper in cost than a commercial product of same quality. Key words: Weaning foods, Millet, Soybean, Crayfish, evaluation-chemical, microbiological, sensory. Nigerian Food Journal Vol.22 2004: 48-5