<p> The inter/intramolecular interactions and associations between constituents determine the microstructure of food and its response to mechanical deformation and flow. The characterization of food rheology enables the design of efficient processing equipment, production of high-quality, stable end products, prediction of textural and sensorial attributes, and assurance of consumer acceptability. Foods are subjected to rapid and large deformations during processing operations and consumption. Dynamic oscillatory shear tests are carried out by subjecting food to a sinusoidal deformation (or stress) and probing the mechanical stress (or strain) and recording the response as a function of time. In the SAOS region, the mechanical response is in the form of a perfect sinusoidal curve and interpretation is straightforward as expected from a linear model. On the other hand, LAOS response requires complex mathematical relations to extract meaningful rheological parameters. In this dissertation, Fourier Transform-Chebyshev Decomposition (FTC) and Sequence of Physical Processes (SPP) methods were utilized to quantify the LAOS response of selected food materials. The objective of this study is to gain new insights into the nonlinear rheology and structural architecture of food materials. To offer insights into the microstructure–rheology relations, rheological measurements were accompanied by various techniques probing chemical interactions (FTIR), imaging (Cryo-SEM, SEM), quantitative network analysis, and molecular size (SDS-PAGE). This dissertation showed that LAOS rheology is highly correlated with the network structure of food shown by the quantitative network analysis utilizing SEM images. It is a powerful tool to detect the effect of small molecules on the nonlinear rheology of food (HMW-LMW glutenin ratio, gliadin for dough, fat content in yogurt, and amylopectin/amylose ratio of starch in a suspension). Nonlinear parameters were sensitive to structural changes occurring in dough structure during processing conditions including aging at room and elevated temperatures. Lastly, the SPP method enabling time-resolved interpretation of nonlinear rheology provided detailed transient microstructural interpretations whereas the FTC method gave static measures at specific strains in an oscillation cycle. Thus, nonlinear rheology of doughs with various gluten subfractions in MAOS and LAOS regions as well as shear thickening characteristic of starch suspensions with changing amylopectin/amylose ratio interpreted by the SPP method gave more sensitive results than the FTC method. The application of fundamental knowledge from this work can be a guide to evaluating the architecture and nonlinear rheology of food for the assurance of consumer acceptancy and the fabrication of efficient machinery by building more accurate mechanical models of complex food systems. </p>

<p>  </p> <p>The research in this dissertation explored the impact of different sugar reducing agents [SRAs: sugars, sugar alcohols, oligosaccharides (OS), and polymers] on the thermal properties of starch (gelatinization, pasting, and retrogradation) and the baking performance of a model baked goods system (wire-cut cookies). The overconsumption of added sugar and underconsumption of dietary fiber have been linked to increased developmental risks for obesity and related diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and colorectal cancer. Some SRAs, such as non-digestible oligosaccharides (OS), are considered soluble dietary fiber and could help offset the health detriments from excess sugar and low fiber intake, while also providing similar functionality (texture and structure) to that of sucrose in baked goods systems that rely on the control of phase and state changes in starch. The gelatinization temperature (Tgel) of wheat starch in the presence of SRA solutions at various concentrations (10% to 60% w/w) was measured using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and was best explained by SRA plasticization properties [solvent effective volume fraction (<em>feff,w</em>)], solution viscosity, and size (based on the previously proposed starch granule size limit of 1,000 g/mol). The paste viscosity parameters of starch in SRA solutions were measured with a routine rapid visco analyzer (RVA); and were increased in monosaccharide solutions and decreased in 6-carbon sugar alcohol and OS solutions as solution concentration was increased. Differences in starch paste response variables were explained by SRAs either promoting or restricting amylose leaching during heating. The recrystallization of amylopectin over time was promoted in monosaccharide solutions (glucose, fructose, allulose) and in many OS solutions, and was explained in terms of SRA hydrogen bonding interactions with water and/or starch chains. The appearance attributes of wire-cut cookies containing OS were similar to a sucrose control formulation; however, differences were found in cookie texture attributes which were linked to OS effects on solution viscosity and moisture retention during baking. Cookies made with allulose and erythritol were the least similar to the sucrose control across all quality attributes, and therefore these two SRAs would not be recommended as sugar replacers in low-moisture baked goods. The findings from this dissertation could be helpful to food researchers and product developers seeking to reduce or replace added sugars in starch-containing food systems with healthier alternatives.</p>

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1986 D53 / Master of Science / Human Nutrition

O queijo Minas frescal é um produto muito perecível e de curta duração. É necessário boas práticas de higienização durante sua produção e condições de armazenamento adequado para evitar a contaminação de microrganismos patogênicos e deteriorantes. Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a vida útil do queijo Minas frescal durante o período de 30 dias armazenado a 4&#176;C, através de análises sensoriais, microbiológicas e físico-químicas. Foram selecionadas seis marcas de queijo Minas frescal com registro no Serviço de Inspeção Federal (SIF), comercializados em supermercados de Piracicaba/SP até ser encontrado um produto dentro dos padrões da legislação vigente (BRASIL, 2001). O queijo selecionado foi adquirido direto do próprio lacticínio. As análises foram realizadas nos períodos de 1, 10, 20 e 30 dias após a fabricação do produto em três diferentes lotes denominados A, B e C. A contagem da população de microrganismos psicrotróficos totais, psicrotróficas proteolíticos, psicrotróficas lipolíticos, bactérias lácticas assim como de bactérias mesófilas totais apresentaram constante aumento mostrando crescimento de 8,50; 8,04; 8,30; 6,05 e 7,7 log UFC/g, respectivamente. Apenas do 30&#186; dia do lote C o produto apresentou-se impróprio para o consumo com 1,7x104 NMP/g de Escherichia coli. Observou-se a redução do pH de 6,66 a 5,85 (0,81) e o aumento do ácido láctico de 0,044 a 0,07% (0,026%). O teor de gordura do queijo foi de 21,3% não sendo observado a sua redução. A quantidade de ácidos graxos livres foram determinados pela lipólise a qual aumentou em 0,22 mg KOH/g de gordura juntamente com a evolução dos microrganismos lipolíticos. A proteína variou de 21,30% a 22,10% sem diferença estatística significativa. A análise sensorial realizada pelo teste de aceitação através da escala hedônia teve entre 6,5 a 7,5 como pontuação o que indica que os julgadores gostaram ligeiramente e gostaram moderadamente do produto respectivamente durante o período de 30 dias. Conclui-se que o desenvolvimento das bactérias mesófilas, psicrotróficas totais, psicrotróficas proteolíticas, psicrotróficas lipolíticas e bactérias lácticas tem crescimento constante no queijo mesmo sob refrigeração levando este a se deteriorar com o passar do tempo. Da mesma forma o aumento significativo da acidez e de ácidos graxos livres. Apesar do aumento dos microrganismos e as alterações químicas o produto não teve mudanças sensoriais quanto aos atributos aparência, cor, odor, sabor e textura perante os dias de armazenamento. Uma vez que o queijo seja produzido sob ótimas condições higiênico sanitárias, ele é capaz de atingir o período de 30 dias de vida útil quando mantido a 4&#176; C. / The Minas fresh cheese is very perishable product and its a short shelf life. Good practical of hygienic condition is necessary during its production and adjusted storage to prevent the proliferation of pathogenic and damage microorganism. This work had the objective evaluating the shelf life of the Minas fresh cheese for 30 days storaged at 4&#176;C, through sensorial analyses, microbiological and physic-chemistries. Six marks of Minas fresh cheese commercialized in supermarkets in city Piracicaba/SP were selected, those are registered in Serviço de Inspeção Federal (SIF), but just one of them is inside of the standards of the current law (BRASIL, 2001). The select cheese was acquire direct of the Factory Dairy. The analyses were carried out in the periods of 1, 10, 20 and 30 days after the manufacturing of the product in the three different lots named A, B and C. The counting of the population of psychrotrophic microorganism total, psychrotrophic proteolytic, psychrotrophic lipolytic, lactic acidy bacteria as well as of mesophilic bacteria pesent constant increase showing growth of 8,50, 8,04, 8,30, 6,05 and 7,7 log UFC/g, respectively. On the 30th day of the lot C the product showed improper for the consumption with 1,7x104 NMP/g de Escherichia coli. It was observed a reduction of pH of 6,66 the 5,85 (0,81) and the increase of the lactic acidy of 0,044 the 0,07% (0,026%). The content of the cheese fat was 21,3% therefore its reduction wasn&#39;t observed. The amount of free fatty acid was determined by lipolysis which increased in 0,22 mg KOH/g of fat together with the evolution of the lipolytics microorganisms. The protein varied from 21,30% to 22,10% without difference significant statistics. The sensorial analysis carried through by the test of acceptance out the hedônic scale had punctuation between 6,5 the 7,5 what it indicates that the judges liked slightly and moderately respectively during the period of 30 days. The conclusion is that the development of the mesophilic bacteria, total psychrotrophic microorganism total, psychrotrophic proteolytic, psychrotrophic lipolytic and lactic acidy bacteria has constant growth in the cheese under refrigeration taking it this if to spoil with passing of the time. In the same way the significant increase of the acidity and free fatty acid. Despite of the increase of the microorganisms and the chemical alterations the product did not have sensorial changes how much to the attributes appearance, color, odor, flavor and in the presence the storage days. A time that the cheese is produced under excellent sanitary conditions hygienical, it is capable to reach the period of 30 days of shelf life when kept 4&#176; C.

O queijo Minas frescal é um produto muito perecível e de curta duração. É necessário boas práticas de higienização durante sua produção e condições de armazenamento adequado para evitar a contaminação de microrganismos patogênicos e deteriorantes. Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a vida útil do queijo Minas frescal durante o período de 30 dias armazenado a 4&#176;C, através de análises sensoriais, microbiológicas e físico-químicas. Foram selecionadas seis marcas de queijo Minas frescal com registro no Serviço de Inspeção Federal (SIF), comercializados em supermercados de Piracicaba/SP até ser encontrado um produto dentro dos padrões da legislação vigente (BRASIL, 2001). O queijo selecionado foi adquirido direto do próprio lacticínio. As análises foram realizadas nos períodos de 1, 10, 20 e 30 dias após a fabricação do produto em três diferentes lotes denominados A, B e C. A contagem da população de microrganismos psicrotróficos totais, psicrotróficas proteolíticos, psicrotróficas lipolíticos, bactérias lácticas assim como de bactérias mesófilas totais apresentaram constante aumento mostrando crescimento de 8,50; 8,04; 8,30; 6,05 e 7,7 log UFC/g, respectivamente. Apenas do 30&#186; dia do lote C o produto apresentou-se impróprio para o consumo com 1,7x104 NMP/g de Escherichia coli. Observou-se a redução do pH de 6,66 a 5,85 (0,81) e o aumento do ácido láctico de 0,044 a 0,07% (0,026%). O teor de gordura do queijo foi de 21,3% não sendo observado a sua redução. A quantidade de ácidos graxos livres foram determinados pela lipólise a qual aumentou em 0,22 mg KOH/g de gordura juntamente com a evolução dos microrganismos lipolíticos. A proteína variou de 21,30% a 22,10% sem diferença estatística significativa. A análise sensorial realizada pelo teste de aceitação através da escala hedônia teve entre 6,5 a 7,5 como pontuação o que indica que os julgadores gostaram ligeiramente e gostaram moderadamente do produto respectivamente durante o período de 30 dias. Conclui-se que o desenvolvimento das bactérias mesófilas, psicrotróficas totais, psicrotróficas proteolíticas, psicrotróficas lipolíticas e bactérias lácticas tem crescimento constante no queijo mesmo sob refrigeração levando este a se deteriorar com o passar do tempo. Da mesma forma o aumento significativo da acidez e de ácidos graxos livres. Apesar do aumento dos microrganismos e as alterações químicas o produto não teve mudanças sensoriais quanto aos atributos aparência, cor, odor, sabor e textura perante os dias de armazenamento. Uma vez que o queijo seja produzido sob ótimas condições higiênico sanitárias, ele é capaz de atingir o período de 30 dias de vida útil quando mantido a 4&#176; C. / The Minas fresh cheese is very perishable product and its a short shelf life. Good practical of hygienic condition is necessary during its production and adjusted storage to prevent the proliferation of pathogenic and damage microorganism. This work had the objective evaluating the shelf life of the Minas fresh cheese for 30 days storaged at 4&#176;C, through sensorial analyses, microbiological and physic-chemistries. Six marks of Minas fresh cheese commercialized in supermarkets in city Piracicaba/SP were selected, those are registered in Serviço de Inspeção Federal (SIF), but just one of them is inside of the standards of the current law (BRASIL, 2001). The select cheese was acquire direct of the Factory Dairy. The analyses were carried out in the periods of 1, 10, 20 and 30 days after the manufacturing of the product in the three different lots named A, B and C. The counting of the population of psychrotrophic microorganism total, psychrotrophic proteolytic, psychrotrophic lipolytic, lactic acidy bacteria as well as of mesophilic bacteria pesent constant increase showing growth of 8,50, 8,04, 8,30, 6,05 and 7,7 log UFC/g, respectively. On the 30th day of the lot C the product showed improper for the consumption with 1,7x104 NMP/g de Escherichia coli. It was observed a reduction of pH of 6,66 the 5,85 (0,81) and the increase of the lactic acidy of 0,044 the 0,07% (0,026%). The content of the cheese fat was 21,3% therefore its reduction wasn&#39;t observed. The amount of free fatty acid was determined by lipolysis which increased in 0,22 mg KOH/g of fat together with the evolution of the lipolytics microorganisms. The protein varied from 21,30% to 22,10% without difference significant statistics. The sensorial analysis carried through by the test of acceptance out the hedônic scale had punctuation between 6,5 the 7,5 what it indicates that the judges liked slightly and moderately respectively during the period of 30 days. The conclusion is that the development of the mesophilic bacteria, total psychrotrophic microorganism total, psychrotrophic proteolytic, psychrotrophic lipolytic and lactic acidy bacteria has constant growth in the cheese under refrigeration taking it this if to spoil with passing of the time. In the same way the significant increase of the acidity and free fatty acid. Despite of the increase of the microorganisms and the chemical alterations the product did not have sensorial changes how much to the attributes appearance, color, odor, flavor and in the presence the storage days. A time that the cheese is produced under excellent sanitary conditions hygienical, it is capable to reach the period of 30 days of shelf life when kept 4&#176; C.

<p>  </p> <p>The ever-growing interest in novel food ingredients and their dietary influence on human health and wellbeing has driven the study of bioactive peptides (BAP). BAP are protein-derived fragments composed of (2-20 amino acids) that could positively affect bodily function and chronic diseases. This dissertation explores the health-promoting properties of a novel source of BAPs, namely canary seed, by encompassing three specific aims: 1) evaluate the <em>in vitro </em>potential of hairless canary seed peptides (CSP) as a nutraceutical ingredient, 2) develop an understanding of CSP's bioavailability and molecular interactions with its biological targets, and 3) evaluate CSP's antioxidant and antiobesity activity at the organism level using a nematode (<em>C. elegans</em>) and murine (C57BL/6J mice) model, respectively. First, CSP were generated by implementing mechanical oil extraction followed by commercial enzymatic hydrolysis with Alcalase™. In addition, CSP were also subject to simulated gastrointestinal digestion (SGD) to assess their gastric stability and <em>in vitro</em> bioavailability. The results showed that canary seed proteins were mainly composed of prolamins fractions followed by glutelins, globulins, and albumins. CSP extracts with low molecular weight (< 3 kDa and 3–10 kDa) showed the highest bioactivity. Furthermore, after SGD, CSP inhibitory activity remained stable toward angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV), and pancreatic lipase but unstable for α-glucosidase. The digested peptides were transported efficiently (>10%) through the Caco-2 monolayer, indicating a potential high absorption capacity through the intestinal epithelium. During kinetic analysis by Lineweaver-Burk plots, it was observed that CSP-SGD interacted by mixed-type inhibition for DPP-IV and α-glucosidase, non-competitive inhibition for ACE, and uncompetitive inhibitor for pancreatic lipase. Furthermore, CSP-SGD were especially potent as antihypertensive (ACE inhibitors) and antiobesity (pancreatic lipase) agents. Consequently, molecular docking and <em>in silico</em> analyses were targeted to understand CSP-SGD interactions with ACE and pancreatic lipase. CSP-SGD with ACE inhibitory activity were found to be rich in proline, glutamine, and cationic residues and could have inhibited ACE by destabilizing the tetrahedral transition state and zinc ions interaction leading to conformational changes in the enzyme structure. For peptides with antiobesity properties, it was also found that arginine, glycine, and hydrophobic amino acids from CSP-SGD hold critical interactions with the lid domain (CYS238-CYS262) of pancreatic lipase, disrupting its proper function and preventing fat hydrolysis.</p> <p>In the second part of this dissertation, the relevant health-promoting properties of CSP were further investigated by testing the effects of peptide supplementation on obesity and oxidative stress animal models. The studies showed that exposure to CSP significantly mitigated the acute and chronic oxidative damage in <em>C. elegans</em>, extending the lifespan of the nematodes by 88 and 61%, respectively. Furthermore, it was established that the CSP prevented oxidative stress by scavenging free radicals and antioxidant gene upregulation. Concerning this, CSP caused a drop in reactive oxygen species (ROS) to safe levels and induce the upregulation of the GST-4 gene encoding antioxidant enzyme Glutathione S-transferase. Concerning antiobesity properties, the daily supplementation with CSP successfully prevented metabolic implications of western diet-induced obesity in C57BL/6J mice, including preventing weight gain by up to 20%, increasing glucose tolerance, and reducing insulin, leptin, and LDL/VLDL levels in plasma. Likewise, CSP promoted a drop in fatty acid uptake gene, LPL, and fatty acid biosynthesis genes FAS and ACC while unaffecting lipid oxidation genes PPAR-α and ACO in the liver. While both moderate and high CSP supplementation levels exhibit hypolipidemic effects, only moderate levels induce satiety and significantly prevent weight gain. Together, these results suggest that CSP's weight gain prevention depended on a dual mechanism involving lipid metabolism retardation to modulate satiety. Overall, the results presented in this dissertation establish the effectiveness of canary seed peptides as nutraceutical ingredients for antioxidant and antiobesity functional food applications.</p>

<p>  </p> <p>Pacheco, Kathryn Nichole. M.S. Purdue University, December 2022. Snacking Interventions Differentially Influence Saliva, Salivary Alpha Amylase Activity, and Sensation. Major Professor Dr. Cordelia A. Running.</p> <p>Human saliva contains the enzyme alpha amylase, which greatly influences many facets of human health such as digestion, absorption of nutrients, and the sensory perception of certain foods. However, the complex relationships between chewing behavior, food texture preference, and salivary amylase require further investigation. In this study, we aim to observe salivary alpha amylase through a simple assay using pudding, and to examine whether salivary amylase activity relates to diet, the sensory properties of starchy foods, or mouth behavior. We hypothesized that the pudding/salivary amylase activity assay would show more activity (less pudding remaining) 1) at the end of the high dietary starch intervention week, with little or no change from baseline to the end of the low dietary starch intervention week and 2) for people with greater baseline starch consumption compared to less baseline starch consumption. A counter-balanced, crossover design was implemented for the study. 34 participants (11 Men, 23 Women, 0 Other) completed study tasks, consisting of a 3-day dietary recall, 2 separate weeks of dietary intervention consisting of high starch or low starch snacks, and 4 research visits. These research visits included participant taste and smell acuity assessments, sensory ratings of the study foods, a mouth behavior typing test, and our salivary amylase activity assay that determined flow rate of a mixture of participant saliva and starch-containing ready-to-eat pudding. After our higher and lower starch snack interventions, we saw minimal evidence of changes to salivary amylase activity in our assay; the only trend we observed was opposite our expectation (less amylase activity after the low starch intervention). However, we did observe mouth behavior grouping tended to associate with sensory ratings that validate the premise of the mouth behavior typing tool we utilized. Ultimately, more work on the consistency and usefulness of the salivary amylase activity assay will need to be conducted if it is to be utilized for research purposes, but our data do help validate the concept that different people prefer foods due to their preferred methods of orally manipulating foods. r.  </p>

<p dir="ltr">Bean flour possesses a significant fraction of water-insoluble components that are known to limit its uses in food applications. This study aimed to determine if using specific enzymes targeting the dietary fiber of bean flour could increase solubility, release protein and starch, and improve its utilization as a replacement for soy protein isolates in meat analogues. Water solubility, protein solubility, starch content and texture of bean flour was measured after enzymatic treatment with pectin- or hemicellulose-degrading enzymes in aqueous suspension. Low moisture reactive extrusion trials ranged from 60-80% solid content at 2 % enzyme content. High moisture extrusion ranged from 30% solid content from 1.5 to 5% enzyme content and from 40 % solid content at 2% enzyme content. Water solubility and insoluble protein increased with both low and high moisture reactive extrusion. Starch content increased with high moisture reactive extrusion. Beta-glucanase increased starch and insoluble protein content more than polygalacturonase treatments. However, Polygalacturonase and beta-glucanase increased overall water-solubility similarly. Determined starch content decreased with low moisture extrusion and both enzymes behaved equally. In the final set of trials, meat analogues were prepared with wheat gluten in combination with soy protein isolate, bean flour, or a mixture of soy protein isolate and bean flour. Replacing soy protein isolate with bean flour in meat analogues provided comparable hardness and anisotropic index. Polygalacturonase and beta-glucanase treatments during reactive extrusion of bean flours both decreased hardness of bean-containing meat analogues; beta-glucanase decreased the anisotropic index, whereas analogues made from polygalacturonase-treated flour did not differ from the control. Therefore, reactive extrusion showed either negative or null impact on texture. Reactive extrusion with polygalacturonase and beta-glucanase improved some desired analytical targets for bean flours, but the practical application (meat analogue) did not demonstrate an improvement.</p>

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1985 B55 / Master of Science

Introduction: Micronutrient malnutrition has been identified as a serious health problem globally and is on the rise in South Africa. This is evident from the escalating burden of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in South Africa. Rural infants are the most affected, as their diets often lack micronutrients. Food fortification, vitamin A supplementation and dietary diversity are the strategies that have been employed in South Africa to alleviate VAD. However, these strategies have not been effective, for various reasons. Biofortification is the production of micronutrient dense staple crops to alleviate micronutrient deficiencies. This strategy could complement existing strategies in the alleviation of VAD in South Africa and in other countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where VAD is prevalent. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the nutritional composition and acceptance of a complementary food (soft porridge) made with provitamin A-biofortified maize by female infant caregivers from the rural areas of Umgungundlovu District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Objectives: (i) To evaluate the nutritional composition of soft porridge made with provitamin A-biofortified maize compared to non-biofortified white maize porridge; (ii) To assess the sensory acceptability of soft porridge made with the biofortified maize by black African female infant caregivers of varying age; and (iii) To determine the perceptions of the black African infant caregivers about the biofortified maize relative to the non-biofortified white maize. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Grains of two provitamin A-biofortified maize varieties and one white variety (control) were used. Grain and soft porridge of each variety of maize were analysed for their nutritional composition. The sensory acceptability of the porridges were evaluated by black African female infant caregivers, using a five-point facial hedonic scale. Focus group discussions were conducted, using some of the study subjects, to determine their perceptions about the provitamin A-biofortified maize. Results: The results showed that the grains of the provitamin A-biofortified maize varieties and their soft porridges were more nutritious than the control white variety in terms of energy, fibre, fat, protein, iron, zinc and phosphorus content. The results of the sensory evaluation indicated that there was no significant difference in the sensory acceptability of the biofortified soft porridges and the white maize soft porridge, irrespective of the age of the sensory evaluation panellists. The female caregivers perceived the biofortified maize as nutritious and health-beneficial and thought that infants would like its unique yellow colour and taste. However, the black African female caregivers perceived the provitamin A-biofortified maize as an animal feed or food for the poor. Nevertheless, the female caregivers expressed a willingness to give their infants porridge made with provitamin A-biofortified maize if it was cheap, readily available and health-beneficial. Conclusion: This study suggests that provitamin A-biofortified maize has the potential to be used as a complementary food item. Biofortification of maize with provitamin A could be used as a possible complementary strategy to assist in the alleviation of VAD in SSA. Furthermore, the relatively higher energy, fibre, fat, protein, iron, zinc and phosphorus content of the biofortified maize could contribute to the alleviation of protein-energy malnutrition and mineral deficiencies, respectively, which are prevalent in children of SSA. Although the findings of this study, like other previous studies, indicate that there are some negative perceptions about the provitamin A-biofortified maize, this study shows that provitamin A-biofortified maize soft porridge is as acceptable as white maize soft porridge to female infant caregivers from the rural areas of Umgungundlovu District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The female caregivers are thus likely to accept the biofortified maize for use as an infant complementary food in the form of soft porridge. Further research is recommended to expand the study area and consumer sample size in order to increase the confidence of inferring these results for large rural populations. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2014.