Evaluation of bamboo shoots for fortification and production of novel food products

Abstract

Food and nutritional security are one of the critical issues of mankind in the present century. Micronutrient deficiency can be overcome through food fortification. Recent studies have indicated the nutritive value and numerous health benefits of bamboo shoots. The present work was undertaken to devise methods to use the shoots of an edible bamboo Dendrocalamus hamiltonii for food fortification and development of bamboo shoot fortified biscuit, namkeen and noodle. Studies indicated that the shoots are a rich source of macronutrients, micronutrients and bioactive compounds and the product developed utilizing the shoots also showed enrichment in the nutrients and bioactive compounds. Usage of bamboo shoot in fortification is an ideal way to deal with the current micro-nutrient deficiency which is largely prevalent in our country. newline