Impact of Clarification Process on the Nutritional, Mineral and Vitamin Composition of Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) Apple Juice

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of clarification process on the nutritional, mineral and vitamin composition of the cashew apple juice. The proximate composition in percentage for moisture, dry matter, ash, crude fibre, ether extract, crude protein and carbohydrate were determined in line with the recommended methods of Association of Official Analytical Chemist (AOAC), and vitamin profile was analyzed using Gas Chromatography coupled with the Pulsed Flame Photometric Detector (GC-FPD). The mineral analysis also followed the recommendation of AOAC. The clarified cashew apple juice had values in mg/100 of 10.1, 6.1, 2.2, 28.8, 10.2 and 0.22 for calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus and iron, respectively. The study showed that cashew apple juice is rich in nutrient and contains a good level of trace elements necessary for healthy living. Rice gruel as a natural l sourced clarifying agent can better replace industrial clarification agents for a safer drink production.