STABILITY OF Β-CAROTENE LOADED CASSAVA GRANULES (GARRI) AND VITAMIN-A BIO-FORTIFIED CASSAVA GRANULES UNDER UV-RADIATION

ABSTRACT Cassava is a vital staple crop in sub-Saharan Africa, and its biofortification with provitamin A is a sustainable approach to combatting Vitamin A deficiency. However, sunlight exposure during garri processing and storage can accelerate the degradation of β-carotene, limiting its nutritional impact. This study investigated the stability of β-carotene in two forms of garri: β- carotene-loaded granules (GL) and vitamin A–biofortified granules (GB). The experimental design involved exposing both GL and GB samples to a controlled UV light source for 0, 60, 120, and 180 minutes. The physicochemical properties, proximate composition, FTIR spectra, and carotenoid contents were determined using standard AOAC methods. The goal was to understand how UV light impacts the molecular structure and nutritional integrity of each garri type. The results showed a significant and rapid degradation of carotenoid content in both samples, with values ranging from 0.22 μg/g (GB180) to 2.28 μg/g (GL60). FTIR analysis revealed a distinct decrease in the intensity of the C=C stretching peaks at 1642–1675 cm-1 in the GL samples, which is characteristic of β-carotene degradation. The functional properties were also negatively affected, with water-binding capacity ranging from 3.41% (GB180) to 6.28% (GL0), and swelling power significantly increasing with temperature. Overall, the loaded garri (GL) retained a higher absolute amount of carotenoids, primarily due to its higher initial concentration.In conclusion, both fortified garri preparations are highly susceptible to UV-induced degradation. While the loaded garri demonstrated a higher retention of β-carotene, likely due to its higher initial content, the findings underscore the importance of proper storage and packaging to preserve the nutritional quality of fortified garri. This research has significant implications for enhancing food security and public health initiatives by mitigating nutrient loss during garri processing and storage. Keywords: Garri, β-carotene, Vitamin A, stability, UV-radiation, degradation.