Dear Label_Name,

Greetings! I hope you are well.

I am writing on behalf of an international publishing house, Science and Education Publishing, USA (http://www.sciepub.com).

Science and Education Publishing (SciEP) is a multidisciplinary open access publisher of Journals covering the fields of Science, Technology and Medicine. All SciEP publications are subject to high-quality peer review, editorial and production processes and are freely available online.

Welcome to the April, 2013 edition of SciEP newsletter, providing monthly summaries of articles on science & education related topics of interest to scientist and professionals. The mission of our journals is to provide an open access forum for publishing new findings on issues pertinent to scientific and academic field. We also invite you to submit original research papers, review articles, short reports, or case studies are considered for publication in our Multidisciplinary Journals.

American Journal of Public Health Research
DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-1-1-3

The Implementation of a Tele-Homecare System with Service Oriented Architecture and HL7 Message Transmission Standard
Ching-Sung Wang

American Journal of Medical and Biological Research
DOI: 10.12691/ajmbr-1-1-2

The Influence of Ethanol on Pyruvate Kinases Activity in Vivo, in Vitro, in Silico
Lelevich Sergey Vladimirovich, Khrustalev Vladislav Victorovich, Barkovsky Eugene Victorovich, Shedogubova Tatyana Aleksandrovna

American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine
DOI: 10.12691/ajmsm-1-1-1

Clinical and Histological Features in Wegener Granulomatosis
Li Cavoli Gioacchino, Passantino Rita, Bono Luisa, Tortorici Calogera, Ferrantelli Angelo, Giammarresi Carlo, Rotolo Ugo

American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
DOI: 10.12691/ajidm-1-1-2

The Curse of Lymphatic Filariasis: Would the Continual Use of Diethylcarbamazine Eliminate this Scourge in Papua New Guinea?
Anne Lanham, Lillian Mwanri

We have released issues of some journals on February 2013.
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American Journal of Clinical Medicine Research
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American Journal of Cancer Prevention
American Journal of Medicine Studies
American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
American Journal of Cardiovascular Disease Research
American Journal of Biomedical Research
American Journal of Mechanical Engineering
American Journal of Microbiological Research
Journal of Preventive Medicine
American Journal of Food and Nutrition
American Journal of Hypertension Research
American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine
Journal of Cancer Research and Treatment
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Label_Title

Dear Label_Name,

Greetings! I hope you are well.

I am writing on behalf of an international publishing house, Science and Education Publishing, USA (http://www.sciepub.com).

Science and Education Publishing (SciEP) is a multidisciplinary open access publisher of Journals covering the fields of Science, Technology and Medicine. All SciEP publications are subject to high-quality peer review, editorial and production processes and are freely available online.

Welcome to the April, 2013 edition of SciEP newsletter, providing monthly summaries of articles on science & education related topics of interest to scientist and professionals. The mission of our journals is to provide an open access forum for publishing new findings on issues pertinent to scientific and academic field. We also invite you to submit original research papers, review articles, short reports, or case studies are considered for publication in our Multidisciplinary Journals.

American Journal of Public Health Research
DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-1-1-3

The Implementation of a Tele-Homecare System with Service Oriented Architecture and HL7 Message Transmission Standard
Ching-Sung Wang

American Journal of Medical and Biological Research
DOI: 10.12691/ajmbr-1-1-2

The Influence of Ethanol on Pyruvate Kinases Activity in Vivo, in Vitro, in Silico
Lelevich Sergey Vladimirovich, Khrustalev Vladislav Victorovich, Barkovsky Eugene Victorovich, Shedogubova Tatyana Aleksandrovna

American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine
DOI: 10.12691/ajmsm-1-1-1

Clinical and Histological Features in Wegener Granulomatosis
Li Cavoli Gioacchino, Passantino Rita, Bono Luisa, Tortorici Calogera, Ferrantelli Angelo, Giammarresi Carlo, Rotolo Ugo

American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
DOI: 10.12691/ajidm-1-1-2

The Curse of Lymphatic Filariasis: Would the Continual Use of Diethylcarbamazine Eliminate this Scourge in Papua New Guinea?
Anne Lanham, Lillian Mwanri

We have released issues of some journals on February 2013.
American Journal of Public Health Research
American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine
American Journal of Medical and Biological Research
American Journal of Pharmacological Sciences
American Journal of Clinical Medicine Research
American Journal of Nursing Research
American Journal of Cancer Prevention
American Journal of Medicine Studies
American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
American Journal of Cardiovascular Disease Research
American Journal of Biomedical Research
American Journal of Mechanical Engineering
American Journal of Microbiological Research
Journal of Preventive Medicine
American Journal of Food and Nutrition
American Journal of Hypertension Research
American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine
Journal of Cancer Research and Treatment
American Journal of Zoological Research
Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology
American Journal of Microbiological Research
Biomedical Science and Engineering

We are pleased to announce that submissions are now being accepted for peer review for all the journals across all our subject areas in SciEP.

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Label_Title

Dear Label_Name,

Greetings! I hope you are well.

I am writing on behalf of an international publishing house, Science and Education Publishing, USA (http://www.sciepub.com).

Science and Education Publishing (SciEP) is a multidisciplinary open access publisher of Journals covering the fields of Science, Technology and Medicine. All SciEP publications are subject to high-quality peer review, editorial and production processes and are freely available online.

Welcome to the April, 2013 edition of SciEP newsletter, providing monthly summaries of articles on science & education related topics of interest to scientist and professionals. The mission of our journals is to provide an open access forum for publishing new findings on issues pertinent to scientific and academic field. We also invite you to submit original research papers, review articles, short reports, or case studies are considered for publication in our Multidisciplinary Journals.

American Journal of Public Health Research
DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-1-1-3

The Implementation of a Tele-Homecare System with Service Oriented Architecture and HL7 Message Transmission Standard
Ching-Sung Wang

American Journal of Medical and Biological Research
DOI: 10.12691/ajmbr-1-1-2

The Influence of Ethanol on Pyruvate Kinases Activity in Vivo, in Vitro, in Silico
Lelevich Sergey Vladimirovich, Khrustalev Vladislav Victorovich, Barkovsky Eugene Victorovich, Shedogubova Tatyana Aleksandrovna

American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine
DOI: 10.12691/ajmsm-1-1-1

Clinical and Histological Features in Wegener Granulomatosis
Li Cavoli Gioacchino, Passantino Rita, Bono Luisa, Tortorici Calogera, Ferrantelli Angelo, Giammarresi Carlo, Rotolo Ugo

American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
DOI: 10.12691/ajidm-1-1-2

The Curse of Lymphatic Filariasis: Would the Continual Use of Diethylcarbamazine Eliminate this Scourge in Papua New Guinea?
Anne Lanham, Lillian Mwanri

We have released issues of some journals on February 2013.
American Journal of Public Health Research
American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine
American Journal of Medical and Biological Research
American Journal of Pharmacological Sciences
American Journal of Clinical Medicine Research
American Journal of Nursing Research
American Journal of Cancer Prevention
American Journal of Medicine Studies
American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
American Journal of Cardiovascular Disease Research
American Journal of Biomedical Research
American Journal of Mechanical Engineering
American Journal of Microbiological Research
Journal of Preventive Medicine
American Journal of Food and Nutrition
American Journal of Hypertension Research
American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine
Journal of Cancer Research and Treatment
American Journal of Zoological Research
Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology
American Journal of Microbiological Research
Biomedical Science and Engineering

We are pleased to announce that submissions are now being accepted for peer review for all the journals across all our subject areas in SciEP.

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Enhancing the Nutritional Value of Weaning Foods: Formulation of a Roasted-Corn Flour Enriched with Egg Powder

Mamy Eklou*, Komlan Tekando, Gott’liebe Mawuena Goka, Simplice Damintoti Karou, Elolo Osseyi, Kokou Tona

Laboratory of Microbiology and Quality Control of Foodstuffs (LAMICODA), University of Lome, Lome, Togo

Abstract: The inclusion of eggs in the diets of non-exclusively breastfed children can improve nutritional quality during the weaning period. However, the egg's high moisture content and the usual method of incorporating it into infant food pose significant risks of food poisoning. This study aimed to formulate an enriched complementary infant flour based on roasted corn flour and egg powder incorporated at 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30%. Physicochemical analysis were completed in reference to AFNOR standards: NFV03-707, NFV03-760, NF EN ISO 3188-1994. Microbiological analysis were conducted in reference to AFNOR (XP V 059, NF V08-057-1 and -2, NF V08-060), ISO 4833 and ISO 6579/A1 norms. Results showed a progressive increase in protein (10.72–25.84 g/100 g DM), lipid (2.61–24.04 g/100 g DM), and energy contents (389.62–491.31 kcal/100 g DM) with increasing egg powder incorporation. These macronutrient levels correspond to World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for complementary foods for children aged 6–23 months, particularly for energy density and protein adequacy. Among the formulations, the 20% egg powder flour (FTO 20) showed the most balanced mineral profile relative to WHO criteria. The results of microbiological analyses comparing control flour and flours treated with egg powder show that germ concentration quantities are below the poisoning levels. Salmonella sp was not present in the corn flour mixed with egg powder (25g). In this mixed food powder, compared to respective control values of 103CFU/g, 105CFU/g and 102 CFU/g, the concentration proportions of yeast and mold, total aerobic mesophilic flora, and Staphylococcus aureus were less than 100 CFU/g. Thermotolerant coliforms are less than 10 CFU/g (the control value). Further research is recommended to assess micronutrient fortification, shelf stability, and digestibility for full WHO compliance.

Keywords: infant flour, egg powder, corn, nutrition, processing

Received December 18, 2025; Revised January 20, 2026; Accepted January 27, 2026

Citation: Mamy Eklou, Komlan Tekando, Gott’liebe Mawuena Goka, Simplice Damintoti Karou, Elolo Osseyi, Kokou Tona, Enhancing the Nutritional Value of Weaning Foods: Formulation of a Roasted-Corn Flour Enriched with Egg Powder. American Journal of Food and Nutrition, 14 (1). 38-46. January 2026. doi:10.12691/ajfn-14-1-5

1. Introduction

The nutritional needs of children from birth to 6 months of age are all covered by breast milk [1]. Beyond this age, breast milk is no longer sufficient to fully cover energy and protein requirements. During this period, new food in liquid or semi-liquid forms must be introduced to supplement the mother's milk. This period is known as weaning and lasts 6 to 24 months.

In Togo, in 2021, the mortality rate of children under five years old was estimated at 47%. This rate is expected to decrease to 39% in 2025 and to 28% in 2030. [2]. The main causes of these under-five deaths are associated in one case out of three with malnutrition [3] [4].

Over the past five years, Togo has succeeded in achieving food self-sufficiency for the main staples [5]. However, the population's diet, particularly that of children, is insufficient in both diversity and quality [6]. This situation is primarily due to the limited availability of appropriately formulated quality foods rich in vitamins and micronutrients [7] [8]. There is also a lack of knowledge about meal composition and proper food preparation, as well as about the specific nutritional needs of young children [9].

As a result, complementary foods are produced to correct this dietary deficit [10]. These foods are essentially composed of cereals, legumes, fruit and vegetables [11]. They are often prepared in the form of enriched flours for infant nutrition. Ukom, et al. [12] and Damndja, et al. [13] formulated infant foods based on yam, sorghum, corn, plantain and soya bean flours enriched with soy.

In human nutrition, eggs are considered to be a complete food with high nutritional value. They are a source of protein, minerals, and vitamins. [14]. In general, eggs are recommended as part of a child's diet. They are certainly a food that is permanently available throughout the world. However, they remain relatively expensive and beyond the budget of most households in developing countries. [15]. Furthermore, fresh raw eggs have a limited shelf life of 6 weeks [16]. Converting them into powder could enhance convenience, simplify storage and increase accessibility over time and distance [17]. Incorporating egg powder into infant flours can enhance their nutritional value, making this complete food more accessible to children in all households, including those with limited resources [18]. Dewi, et al. [19] demonstrated that introducing eggs into the diets of weaning children can significantly improve their nutrition. However, the processes involved in mixing egg powder with infant foods carry risks of poisoning due to their high moisture content, which is conducive to microbial contamination. [20]. Thus, processing fresh eggs into egg powder will reduce or eliminate this bottleneck. In order to improve the quality of infant foods during weaning, the research contributes, on the one hand, to the transformation of liquid eggs into powder. Based on this transformation, this work will determine the appropriate incorporation rates of egg powder into corn flour in order to obtain an enriched food powder intended for infant consumption. This will make a significant contribution to reduce child malnutrition in Africa.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Materials

2.1.1. Biological Material

The biological material used comprises the rust-shelled egg (Figure 1), Obatampa corn (Figure 2), and commercial complementary infant flour (Figure 3). Fresh eggs were purchased from the experimental poultry science unit of the University of Lomé and stored in a refrigerator at 4°C, before being processed into powder. White corn was purchased at the “Cacavéli market” (on the outskirts of Lomé) and processed into flour. Commercial complementary infant flours were collected from pharmacies in Lomé. Twelve (12) second-age flours (6 months and older) were randomly selected for the research study.

Figure 1. Eggs in shell

Figure 2. Corn kernels

Figure 3. Infant flours

Source: Photos taken while conducting the research

2.2. Methods

2.2.1. Processing of Whole Eggs Into Powder

Egg powder was obtained by vacuum evaporation at 50°C for 2 hours. Mini Rotary Evaporator (RE-201D, 2L Manual) was used. Prior to evaporation, the eggs were washed, disinfected with bleach, dried at room temperature and broken. The content was homogenized with a spatula and submitted to vacuum evaporation (P ˂ 100 mbar). Figure 4 illustrates the steps involved in egg powder production.

2.2.2. Incorporating Egg Powder Into Corn Flour

Egg powder was incorporated into roasted corn flour at rates of 0% (control), 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30% (selected at random). The mixture was made manually (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Formulation diagram for enriched infant formula flour

The various formulations comprised roasted corn flour without egg powder (FT); roasted corn flour with 10% egg powder added (FTO 10); roasted corn flour with 15% egg powder added (FTO 15); roasted corn flour with 20% egg powder added (FTO 20); roasted corn flour with 25% egg powder added (FTO 25) and roasted corn flour with 30% egg powder (FTO 30).

2.2.3. Collection of Commercial Complementary Infant Flour

Table 1. Some commercial complementary infant flours and their ingredients bought in Lomé pharmacies

A representative sample of the commercial complementary infant flours most commonly used was taken from randomly selected pharmacies in Greater Lomé. Twelve flour samples were selected after a preliminary investigation and purchased for the study. The raw materials and ingredients making up these flours are summarized in Table 1.

2.2.4. Physico-chemical Analysis

The physico-chemical parameters determined on egg-treated and commercial complementary flours are moisture, protein, fat, ash, total carbohydrates, energy and certain minerals such as iron, zinc, magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium.

Moisture

The moisture content of the flours studied was determined in accordance with AFNOR standard NFV03-707, June 1989 (AFNOR, 1991), by drying a 5 g test sample at 103°C to constant mass. The flour sample was oven-dried (Memmert) during 4 hours. The difference in weight gave the moisture content.

Ash

Ash content was determined by incinerating a 5 g test sample at 550°C, in accordance with AFNOR standard NFV03-760, December 1981 (AFNOR, 1991). Incineration was carried out in a muffle furnace (Nabertherm P330). Mineralization continued for 6 hours, until total combustion of the organic matter has taken place and a whitish residue has appeared.

Protein content

Total protein content was determined by calculating total nitrogen using the Kjeldahl method in accordance with NF EN ISO 3188-1994.

The total nitrogen content "NT" in g per 100 g of dry product was given by the following formula:

V: volume in ml of titrating H2SO4;

N: normality of titrating H2SO4;

Pe: test sample mass in grams;

H: sample water content in % of wet mass

Protein content= NT × 6.25

Total lipids

Extraction was performed using hexane in a Soxhlet extractor (TALC). After evaporation of the solvent, the capsule was dried in an oven at 103°C for 30 min. The difference in weight gave the lipid content "L" per 100g of dry sample, expressed by the following formula:

m: mass in g of lipid residue;

Pe: mass in g of test sample;

H: sample water content in % of wet mass.

Total carbohydrates

The total carbohydrate content "G" in g per 100 g of dry product is calculated by difference:

H: moisture content (in % of dry product); C: ash content (in % of dry product);

P: total protein content (in % of dry product); L: total lipid content (in % of dry product).

Energy value

Energy values were calculated using Atwater's specific coefficients for proteins, lipids and carbohydrates [21].

Minerals

After dry mineralization in a muffle furnace (Nabertherm P330), the ash obtained was put into solution (distilled water) and filtered using Watman paper. The filtrate obtained (100 ml) was assayed by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (Agilent 200 serie AA) (iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium) and flame photometry (JENWAY, sodium and potassium).

2.2.5. Microbiological Analysis

Microbiological analyses were carried out on flours treated with egg powder (FTO 10, FTO 15, FTO 20, FTO 25 and FTO 30) and control flour (FT). Microorganisms tested included Total Aerobic Mesophilic Flora (TAMF), Yeasts and Moulds, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus and Thermotolerant Coliforms. The microorganism tested, normative references, and incubation conditions for these germs are shown in Table 2.

Table 2. Microorganisms’ analysis conditions and standards

2.2.6. Sensory Evaluation

Preliminary tests with untrained tasters led to the selection of 50 g of flour cooked in 225 ml of drinking water. This quantity took account of the slurry's fluidity. Cooking took 8 min at 110°C. The porridges were cooled to around 40°C at room temperature in the preparation room before being served.

The method consisted in evaluating and quantifying the appropriate descriptors (colour, odor, taste, texture and acceptability) according to a category scale. The porridge, made from roasted corn flour enriched with 20% egg powder, was presented to a panel of 25 mothers who were recruited and trained for the research purposes. The pleasure perceived by each panelist was marked on a 9-point hedonic scale. Scores ranging from 9 (extremely pleasant) to 1 (extremely unpleasant) were assigned to the different modalities of the scale.

2.2.7. Statistical Analysis of Data

The results of the physico-chemical analyses were entered using Microsoft Excel spreadsheet software. Mean values (± standard deviation) of physicochemical characteristics were obtained over three trials. Differences among values were evaluated by oneway analysis of variance using Fisher’s least significant difference (LSD). Differences were considered to be significant at P < 0.05.

3. Results

3.1. Description of Egg Powder

Whole egg powder obtained by vacuum evaporation was yellowish in color and had a neutral odor. This coloration comes from the yolk of the egg. The imperceptibility of the egg odor may be explained by the process of water evaporation. This process removes most of the odor molecules from the egg and reduces the initial intensity of its scent to a level below the threshold of human perception. The evaporation yield of liquid whole egg was 20%, i.e. 12 g of egg powder for a 60 g shell egg.

3.1.1. Nutritional Value of Whole Egg Powder

Physico-chemical characteristics

The physico-chemical characteristics of whole egg powder (WOP) are presented in Table 3.

Moisture, protein, lipid, ash and carbohydrate contents in g/100g and energy in Kcal/100g DM were respectively 5.39 ± 0.30, 51.64 ± 3.03, 30.55 ± 0.42, 3.61 ± 0.46, 16.18 ± 4.22 and 546.31 ± 0.93. These results indicate that egg powder has a low moisture content, which should enable it to have a long shelf life. It was also low in carbohydrates, but very rich in proteins and lipids.

Mineral content

The mineral elements determined in the Oven-Dried Base/Blend/Composition (OCB) were iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium. Their contents are shown in Table 4.

The results showed that the contents of iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium in mg/100g DM were 8.60±0.50, 3.37±0.04, 287.98±9.19, 56.06±0.37, 673.96±3.50 and 648.52±1.75 respectively. These results indicate that egg powder contains high levels of sodium, potassium, iron and calcium, and low levels of zinc and magnesium.

Table 3. Physico-chemical characteristics of whole egg powder

Table 4. Mineral content of egg powder (mg/100g DM)

3.2. Nutritional Value of Infant Flours Studied

3.2.1. Physico-chemical Characteristics of Infant Flours Studied

The physico-chemical composition of commercial complementary infant flours and flours processed at different rates of incorporation of egg powder is presented in Table 5.

According to the results in Table 5, the moisture content of commercial infant flours ranged from 2.32±0.23 to 7.75±0.66 g/100g DM for VITA and MAP flours respectively. Experimental flours (FT, FTO 10, 15, 20, 25, 30) also had a moisture content of less than 12%, which would ensure good shelf life.

The difference was not significant (P>0.05) for both types of flour. The protein contents of commercial complementary flours ranged from 6.29±0.94 g/100g DM for MAP flour to 15.71±1.22 g/100g DM for FOR flour. But those of flours treated with egg powder increased proportionally (15.50±1.43; 20.16±0.39; 22.36±0.20; 24.61±0.55 and 25.84±0.09 g/100g DM) as the incorporation rate of egg powder increased (FTO 10. FTO 15. FTO 20. FTO 25 and FTO 30 respectively). The protein content of FT flour (10.72±0.56 g/100g DM) was lower than that of flours treated with egg powder. Only the FOR flour of the market complied with the recommendations (15.3-36.46 g/100g DM), but all the flours treated with egg powder complied.

The lipid content of commercial complementary flours ranged from 7.59±3.51 g/100g DM (FOR) to 21.79±0.08 g/100g DM (MAP). The lipid content of FT flour (2.61±0.38 g/100g DM) was lower than that of flours treated with egg powder with the latter showing higher values (9.82±3.24; 15.14±2.52; 17.25±1.88; 19.17±3.50 and 24.07±1.14 g/100g DM), increasing with incorporation rates (10%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30% respectively) and indicating a lipid-rich egg intake.

The ash content of commercial flours ranged from 1.45±0.07 g/100g DM (FIT) to 2.65±0.05 g/100g MS (VIT). The ash content of FT flour (1.59±0.27 g/100g DM) was lower than that of egg-treated flours. However, these levels did not differ significantly (P>0.05) as the incorporation rate of egg powder increased. The mineral content of egg powder would be as low as that of corn flour (FT) and commercial complementary flours.

The total carbohydrate contents of the flours varied between 61.83±2.16 g/100g DM (MAP) and 79.44±2.15 g/100g DM (FIT). As the incorporation rate of egg powder increased from 0% (FT) to 30% (FTO 30), the total carbohydrate content decreased from 80.80±0.04 g/100g DM to 42.82± 0.60 g/100g DM, indicating that egg powder composition in carbohydrates is low compared to corn flour.

The energy of commercial complementary flours ranged from 409.72±9.44 Kcal/100g DM for FDE flour to 468.71±13.12 Kcal/100g DM for MAP flour, but that of experimental flours increased (389.62±0.97; 424.31±15.97; 450.03±12.81; 457.79±12.88; 467.45±14.78 and 491.31±8.24 g/100g DM) in proportion to the incorporation rates of egg powder. According to these results, the flours studied had almost the same energy values, which would be due to the fact that these flours have a high amount of carbohydrates (commercial complementary flours), proteins and lipids (egg flours), which are energy components.

Table 5. Physico-chemical characteristics of commercial complementary and experimental infant flours

3.2.2. Mineral Content of Infant Flours Studied

The mineral content of the experimental and the commercial complementary flours is shown in Table 6. This mainly concerns the importance of Iron, Zinc, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, and Potassium in the categories of experimental flours compared to those acquired from traders.

Table 6. Mineral content of commercial complementary flours and experimental flours in mg/100Kcal

In Table 6, the iron content of commercial complementary flours ranged from 0.32±0.07 mg/100 Kcal (NUT flour) to 1.06±0.05 mg/100 Kcal (VIT flour). Experimental flours ranged from 0.60±0.31 (FT) to 1.21±0.72 mg/100 Kcal (FTO 20). Furthermore, the iron content of these categories of flour was below the recommended level (4 mg/100 Kcal), with no significant difference (P > 0.05). This indicates that the components making up commercial complementary flours are low in iron and that these flours could be enriched with vegetables or fortified with iron.

Zinc levels in commercial complementary flours ranged from 0.07±0.01 mg/100 Kcal (NUT flour) to 1.70±0.13 mg/100 Kcal (FAN flour) and in experimental flours from 0.43±0.11 (FT) to 0.48±0.16 mg/100 Kcal (FTO 30). It appears that FDE, VIT, VITA and FAN flours have values in line with recommendations (0.8 mg/100 Kcal), probably due to the use of certain zinc-rich ingredients in their formulations. Flours treated with egg powder on the other hand did not comply indicating that egg is not rich in zinc and leading to a significant difference (P < 0.05) between the two types of flour.

Calcium levels in commercial complementary flours ranged from 0.47±0.04 mg/100 Kcal (FIT flour) to 3.49±0.36 mg/100 Kcal (MAP flour) and in experimental flours from 8.35±3.57 (FT) to 31.78±11.07 mg/100 Kcal (FTO 20). All flours showed values not in line with recommendations (125 mg/100 Kcal). These flours are therefore low in calcium, as they are essentially made from cereals and pulses, which are low in this element. However, egg flours were slightly richer in calcium than commercial complementary flours, indicating a significant difference (P < 0.05) between them.

The magnesium content of commercial complementary flours ranged from 15.13±2.05 mg/100 Kcal (SMA flour) to 25.61±3.52 mg/100 Kcal (FDE flour) and was not significantly different (P > 0.05) from that of experimental flours ranging from 19.45±0.37 (FTO 25) to 37.86±2.93 mg/100 Kcal (FTO 20). Commercial complementary and experimental flours were in line with recommendations (19 mg/100 Kcal) except SMA and NUT flours. Most cereals, legumes and fruits used in flours are generally rich in magnesium.

Sodium levels in commercial flours ranged from 6.16±1.86 mg/100 Kcal (NUTR flour) to 45.82±2.34 mg/100 Kcal (SMA flour), and from 3.86±1.12 (FT) to 70.61±2.52 (FTO 20) mg/100 Kcal in experimental flours. The sodium FTO 20 which was very close. The constituents of these flours may be responsible for this finding.

Potassium levels in commercial complementary flours ranged from 127.82±12.30 mg/100 Kcal (FIT flour) to 188.87±11.30 mg/100 Kcal (VIT flour), and from 106.78±3.21 (FTO 25) to 173.23±2.23 (FTO 20) mg/100 Kcal for experimental flours.

3.3. Microbiological Characteristics of Flours Treated with Egg Powder

Infant formulas must not contain pathogenic germs which could have harmful repercussions on infant health. Table 7 shows the microbiological characteristics of flours treated with egg powder.

The results of microbiological analyses of control flour and flours treated with egg powder showed germ counts (FAMT. CTH. STAPH. LM) below the microbiological criteria applicable to foodstuffs. Salmonella was also absent from all flours.

Table 7. Microbiological characteristics of egg powder-treated flours

3.4. Sensory Analysis

The porridge prepared from roasted corn flour enriched with 20% egg powder and no added sugar. was presented to a panel of 25 mothers for evaluation according to the appropriate descriptors (color, odor, taste, texture and acceptability). Average scores (± standard deviation) are shown in Table 8.

Table 8. Average scores /9 for the BFTO 20 slurry sensory test

From Table 8, the values attributed to the descriptors (color, Odor, taste, texture and acceptability) of the porridge were respectively 5.68±1.57; 5.37±1.70; 6±1.78; 4.68±1.95; 6.43±1.63 out of 9 and were above average (4.5). Figure 6 illustrates the sensory descriptor values.

Figure 6. Sensory profile of BFTO slurry

The color of the porridge was judged to be slightly light by 81% of mothers. This may be explained by the less thorough roasting of the white corn. The roasting time would have to be increased slightly to obtain a brown porridge. The smell of the porridge was judged scarcely pleasant by the panelists. Only 31% of mothers felt that the porridge had a characteristic eggy smell. Most mothers (81%) thought the porridge had a good taste. Others thought it would be very good if sugar were added. The texture of the porridge was lumpy according to 54% of mothers. This could be explain by the fact that the corn flour and egg powder do not have the same particle size. This texture can be corrected by mixing and homogenizing the corn meal and dehydrated egg powder at the mill. In sum, 94% of mothers found the porridge satisfactory.

4. Discussion

The research focuses on the aim of formulating an enriched infant flour based on corn flour and egg powder to improve infant nutrition quality during weaning.

It can be inferred that the cereals making up FOR flour are improved varieties and the low content of the other commercial complementary flours is due either to inappropriate formulation or to the protein-poor components used. In the case of experimental flours, this could be attributed to the protein-rich egg according to Rybicka [22]. The protein content of flours treated with egg powder was clearly higher than that of commercial complementary flours and the difference was significant (P < 0.05). NUTR and MAP flours (17.61±0.73 and 21.79±0.08 g/100g DM respectively) have values in line with recommendations (20-21.54 g/100g DM), no doubt due to the use of an adequate proportion of soya, a legume rich in fat [23] [24]. Other flours that do not comply with recommendations should be enriched with legumes such as soy and peanuts. Only FTO 20 and FTO 25 flours comply with the recommendations. It should be noted that these lipid contents were significantly (P <0.05) better than most commercial complementary flours [25]. The high carbohydrate content of commercial complementary flours could be explained by the fact that all these flours were composed of high proportions of cereals, in this case corn, which is rich in carbohydrates. The difference was significant (P > 0.05) between these two types of flour. These results are similar to those of Mbame, et al. [26]. The low energy value of FT indicates that corn flour is low in lipid and protein but high in carbohydrate. The difference was significant (P < 0.05) between commercial complementary flours and flours with egg powder.

The results indicated that the components making up commercial complementary flours were low in iron and that these flours could be enriched with vegetables or fortified with iron. This implies that egg powder incorporated into corn flour at varying rates had no major impact on the iron content of the resulting flour. Similarly, these results show that egg powder incorporated into corn flour at varying rates had no major impact on the iron content of the resulting flour [27]. Similar report showed that egg powder incorporated into corn flour at varying rates had no major impact on the iron content of the resulting flour [27]. However, egg flours are slightly richer in calcium than commercial complementary flours, indicating a difference (P < 0.05) between them [28]. The potassium content of all commercial complementary flours complied with recommendations (129 mg/100 Kcal), but only FTO 20 flour complied with recommendations among the experimental flours. The cereals and flours would therefore be rich in this element. These results showed that FTO 20 flour meets the necessary criteria for enriched infant flour [22].

Microbiological data showed that flours treated with egg powder were free from germs. These flours are therefore of satisfactory quality for the germs of interest. This result is close to that of the works of Daramola-Oluwatuyi, et al. [29] and Al-Bachir [30]. According to the people interviewed (over 90%), roasted corn flour treated with 20% egg powder (FTO 20) is a safe highly nutritious, energetic, popular and low-cost flour [31]. It can be recommended as a complementary food for infants (6 months and over) and used to correct nutritional deficiencies of children [32]. Here is a revised discussion with short sentences and very recent references, within 20 lines:

These research findings are consistent with WHO recommendations for complementary foods for children aged 6–23 months [33]. WHO emphasizes that complementary foods should be energy-dense and rich in high-quality protein [33] [34]. The enriched flours, especially FTO 15–30%, meet these macronutrient requirements better than most commercial flours. The inclusion of egg powder aligns with WHO guidance promoting animal-source foods in infant diets [33] [35]. However, iron, zinc, and calcium levels remain below WHO recommended intakes. WHO identifies these micronutrients as critical gaps in cereal-based complementary foods [33] [34]. Eggs improve overall nutrient quality but are not sufficient to meet iron and zinc needs alone. Additional fortification or dietary diversification is therefore required. Microbiological results fully comply with WHO food safety criteria. The absence of Salmonella and low microbial counts confirm product safety for infants. Overall, the formulation meets WHO standards for energy, protein, and hygiene. It partially meets mineral requirements, with FTO 20 showing the best balance. Further micronutrient fortification would be needed for full WHO compliance.

5. Conclusion

Eggs are a remarkable source of protein, lipids, minerals, and vitamins, which makes them an essential food for human nutrition. To improve the quality of infant foods during the weaning period, an infant flour enriched with egg powder was developed. The nutritional composition analysis showed that the formulated flour is rich in energy, high-quality proteins, and lipids, in line with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for complementary foods intended for children aged 6–23 months. These results indicate that the product meets WHO standards for energy density and protein adequacy, which are essential to prevent protein–energy malnutrition in developing countries. Although mineral contents were improved, some key micronutrients identified by WHO as critical (iron, zinc, calcium) remain below recommended levels, suggesting the need for additional fortification or dietary diversification. Microbiological analyses demonstrated the absence of pathogenic microorganisms, confirming compliance with WHO food safety criteria for infant foods. Sensory evaluation showed good acceptability of the porridge, supporting its potential use in infant feeding. Future research should focus on the product’s long-term stability, digestibility, and micronutrient fortification to ensure full compliance with WHO complementary feeding standards.

Acknowledgment

We express our gratitude to the World Bank group for funding this research.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding this paper.

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