West African soft cheese ‘wara’ processed with Calotropis procera and Carica papaya: A comparative assessment of nutritional values

Abstract

The nutritional contents of Carica papaya and Calotropis procera processed cheeses were evaluated. The following nutrients and elements were assayed; fat, protein, moisture, sugar, Zn, Mn, Fe, and Cu
and their values were 22.3 and 31.45%, 31.60 and 33.84%, 62.5 and 61.70%, 2.05 and 8.10%, 1.19 and 4.14%, 2.80 and 2.35%, 4.8 and 4.7%, 4.6 and 7.3% for C. papaya and C. procera processed cheeses,
respectively. The values obtained for fat, protein, sugar, Zn, and Cu were higher in C. procera processed cheese while Fe and Mn were higher in C. papaya processed cheese. This work therefore showed that even though C. procera have higher nutrient compositions, C. papaya processed cheese
could be a good supplement for Fe and Mn in food deficient of the minerals.