Jiraporn Sirison. Technology transfer of calcium-fortified soybean milk to school level . Master's Degree(Food and Nutrition for Development). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2004.
Technology transfer of calcium-fortified soybean milk to school level
Abstract:
Soybean milk is an inexpensive beverage and it can be easily prepared and controlled
to contain protein at the level closed to cow’s milk. However, its calcium content is much
lower than that of cow’s milk - 25 mg/100 mL compared to 120 mg/100 ml. Calcium is an
essential mineral for proper growth and for bone and teeth development. Thus, children and
teenagers need high amounts of calcium. This study was carried out with the objective to
study the feasibility and sustainability of the small-scale production of calcium-fortified
soybean milk at school level.
Five schools were selected to attend the project for 2 semesters (6 to 7 months). The
target students were those who were not under school milk programmes. Each school
received an electric food grinder and other basic equipment for soybean milk preparation.
Nutritional information on soybean, soybean milk, calcium, the use of okara for consumption
as well as safe methods for soybean milk preparation were provided to teachers and students.
Intensive hands-on training was organised to transfer technology for calcium fortified soybean
milk preparation from laboratory scale to school level. A quality control model for safe
production of calcium-fortified soybean milk was developed and implemented. The
nutritional quality and microbiological safety of the products were evaluated. The use of
okara in the daily diet was promoted. The acceptability of the products was tested among
target students using a questionnaire and the feasibility and sustainability of the project were
assessed using focus-groups and in-depth interviews.
The nutrition knowledge of the students at four of the schools increased after
receiving the information except at the one whose students had previous good basic
knowledge. The nutritional quality of calcium-fortified soybean milk produced at each school
fluctuated; protein, calcium and total solid contents were 1.6-2.9 g/100mL, 56-123 mg/100mL
and 8-17 g/100mL, respectively. However, the product quality conformed to the standard (no
food-borne pathogens) after using modified-method (adding the ingredients before boiling for
20 min). The total acceptability of the product, rated by the target students at five schools,
was “like slightly” to “like very much”. Four out of the five schools continued the production
and the transferred technology was well accepted. The incorporation of okara into daily
menus was accepted by the teachers and students at primary schools. The findings showed
that calcium-fortified soybean milk production at school level is feasible but more attention is
necessary to standardise the nutritional quality of the product. The executive team, teachers
and students at four of the schools realised the benefits of the product to health. The
technology for production and the products were well accepted among the producers and
target consumers. This implies that the production of calcium fortified soybean milk at school
level would be sustainable.