Abstract
The effect of physicochemical properties (moisture content, total acidity, total phenolic content and viscosity) of honey on the microbial shelf stability of cassava-wheat composite bread was investigated. The percentage weights of the sugar (sucrose) required in the formulated recipe was substituted with different types of honey at the same level (70% sucrose: 30% honey). Freshly baked and cooled cassava-wheat composite bread loaves were stored or shelf at ambient temperature and the total aerobic bacteria and mould counts were determined after 4 and 6 days. The physicochemical analyses revealed that the total acidity, total phenolic content, moisture and viscosity of the different types of honey used varied. The physicochemical properties of the various honey used influenced the microbial shelf stability of the cassava-wheat composite bread. Highest total aerobic bacteria counts of 0.25 × 104 cfu/g was recorded for the cassava-wheat composite bread baked with Hamba honey 2 which had significant (p ≤ 0.05) lowest total acidity (42.41 mEq/kg) and total phenolic contents (48.97 GAE/100 g) as well as significant (p ≤ 0.05) highest % moisture after 4 days of storage. However, the incorporation of dark and golden honey with higher total acidity and total phenolic contents compared with other types of honey used, resulted in the least mould counts of 0.42 × 104 and 0.45 × 104 cfu/g, respectively, after 6 days of storage. The physicochemical properties of honey could enhance the microbial shelf stability of baked bread if the minimum inhibitory concentration of the honey after baking is employed.
Key words: Honey, cassava-wheat composite bread, microbial shelf stability.
