ABSTRACT

This study assessed the effect of scrapping and keeping time on the minerals and proximate composition of carrots. The raw-materials (carrot) was bought from Orie-Ugba market, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. The samples were prepared and packaged, stored and send to the laboratory for chemical analysis. Proximate and mineral composition of the samples were determined with standard methods. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the mean of the samples and were presented in mean and standard deviation. P-value (p<0.05) is statistically significant and accepted. The proximate composition showed that sample SC4 (Scrapped carrots with 4Shours keeping time) with the value of 12.46% was significantly higher in moisture contents compared to the other samples while sample UNS (Unscrapped carrots) with the value of 11.05% had the least moisture content making the carrot sample to possess a good shelf life than the other samples. Sample SC4 had the highest protein value with the value of 6.71% followed by sample SC2 with the value of 6.60% and 6.36% for sample FSC, respectively. The result showed that there was no significant difference in the fat contents of sample SC4 (2.33%), SC2 (2.34%) and UNS (2.31%), respectively. Sample UNS was significantly higher in fiber contents while sample SC4 was higher in ash contents and sample FSC was higher in carbohydrate contents. The mineral composition of the carrot samples showed that sample SC4 has the highest calcium contents but not significantly difference compare to other samples used for the study. Sample SC4 had the highest amount of magnesium followed by sample SC2 and FSC. The result further showed that sample UNS (Unscrapped samples) had the highest percentage of potassium (237.80 mg/lOOg), sodium (43.00 mg/lOOg) and iron (0.69 mg/lOOg) contents while sample SC4 and SC2 had the least potassium (233.50 mg/lOOg) and sodium (41.01 mg/lOOg) contents. The zinc contents (0.37-0.39 mg/lOOg) offreshly scrapped carrot kept for 24hours and 48hours respectively were significantly higher than the zinc contents (0.33mg/100g) of unscrapped carrot. Therefore, this study indicated that sample SC2 and SC4 which was prepared with scrapped carrot and keeping time before utilization had a significant nutritional value and had higher fiber value than other samples and it's good for consumption. The findings ofthe study shows that sample SC2 and SC4 contain significant amount of protein, carbohydrate, calcium and magnesium among the samples prepared in this study, despite that it contains good nutritional value, it is not wholesome for consumption because scrapping and keeping time exposes them to microbial activities which make the sample unfit.