Evaluation of nutritional composition of two date palm (<i>Phoenix dactylifera L.</i>) varieties as influenced by packaging materials in Sokoto State-Nigeria

Abstract

A study to evaluate the nutritional composition of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Fruits (Deglet and Al-nakheel) as influenced by packaging materials was conducted in the Biochemistry Laboratory of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. The Date Palm Fruits were randomly collected from a standard vendor at Sokoto Central Market in Sokoto, Nigeria which were packaged in paper carton and cotton sacks. The laboratory analysis was conducted using Standard Analytical Methods. The results of the study revealed packaging materials could influence the nutritional composition of the Deglet date fruits. Significant differences were observed, especially in date fruits packaged using carton in all the measured parameters except for Ash content that gave statistically similar results in both carton and cotton sacks. The study further indicated that, Al-nakheel packaged using carton had significant effect in all the measured parameters except for crude protein that gave similar values in both carton and cotton sack. This study provides some basic results that could be helpful in future development of short- and long-term preservation methods for better handling and industrialization of date fruits. Further research on the influence of packaging materials on date fruits nutritional quality is highly recommended.