banana powder

Banana powder is a powder made from processed bananas. It is used as a component for production of milk shakes and baby foods.{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/05/25/stories/2005052501581000.htm|title=The Hindu Business Line : BARC develops tech to make biscuits, baby food from banana|work=The Hindu|accessdate=25 November 2010}}{{cite book |title=Rooted in America: foodlore of popular fruits and vegetables |last=Scofield Wilson |first=David |year=1999 |publisher=Univ. of Tennessee Press |isbn= 9781572330535|pages=[https://archive.org/details/rootedinamericaf00davi/page/28 28]–29 |url=https://archive.org/details/rootedinamericaf00davi |url-access=registration |quote=banana powder}} It is also used in the manufacture of various types of cakes and biscuits.{{cite book |title=Handbook of Food Products Manufacturing: Principles, Bakery, Beverages, Cereals, Cheese, Confectionary, Fats, Fruits, and Functional Foods |last=H. Hui |first=Yiu |author2=Stephanie Clark |year=2007 |publisher=Wiley-Interscience |isbn= 9780470049648|page=873 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mnh6aoI8iF8C&q=%22banana+powder%22&pg=PA873}}

Manufacture

Banana powder is formed by using banana pulp, which is mechanically chopped and then processed with hydraulic shear using a colloid mill, turning it into a paste. Sodium metabisulfite is then used to brighten the yellow color of the paste. The paste is then dried by either spray- or drum-drying, although the latter is more common, because none of the paste is lost while drying. Drum-drying also produces about 2% more powder and dries it more thoroughly.{{cite book |title=Utilization of Tropical Foods: Trees |last=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |year=1989 |publisher=Food & Agriculture Org. |isbn= 9789251027769|pages=33–34 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NdD1AOTuNbcC&q=%22banana+powder%22&pg=PA33}} Regardless of the drying process, banana powder can generally only stay fresh on the shelf for about a year.{{cite journal |author=Association of Food Technologists |year=2007 |title=Packaging and storage studies on spray dried ripe banana powder under ambient conditions |journal=Journal of Food Science |volume=44 |pages=16–19 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-_9IAAAAYAAJ&q=%22banana+powder%22}}

History

The use of banana powder in baby formula has been widespread since the very early 1900s as a method of keeping babies healthy.{{cite book |title=Pamphlets on Biology: Kofoid collection, Volume 147 |year=1900 |pages=12–15 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Pi0XAQAAIAAJ&q=%22banana+powder%22&pg=RA1-PA13}} In 1916 it was also considered to be one of the "important industries of the West Indies" during this period, along with dried banana "figs".{{cite book |title=Commerce reports, Volume 4 |last=United States. Bureau of Manufactures |year=1916 |publisher=Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, United States Dept. of Commerce. |page=290 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zSsoAAAAYAAJ&q=%22banana+powder%22+history&pg=PA290}}

The United Fruit Company began to produce a product named Melzo during the 1930s, in which banana powder was the main ingredient. Because of the useful properties of banana powder, Melzo was marketed as a "health food for children and old folks, as a corrective for certain indigestions, and as a revitalizer for all who are sluggish mentally or physically".

Usage

=General uses=

Banana powder has been found to be a "major source of carbohydrate and calories". While it is generally low as a source of protein, the beneficial ingredients of the powder are still "markedly superior to that of other fruits".{{cite book |title=The Indian journal of nutrition and dietetics, Volume 13 |last=Sri Avinashilingam Home Science College |year=1976 |publisher=Sri Avinashilingam Home Science College for Women |pages=218–224 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o5ReAAAAIAAJ&q=%22banana+powder%22}} The powder has also been found to be useful as a general treatment for dyspepsia (indigestion).{{cite book |title=An introduction to botanical medicines: history, science, uses, and dangers |last=Al-Achi |first=Antoine |year=2008 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn= 9780313350092|page=80 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nc9PuImnvyIC&q=%22banana+powder%22+history&pg=PA80 }}

=Scientific uses=

In 1984, scientists from India were able to extract part of the "antiulcer compounds" found in banana powder, which ended up creating a type of powder that was "300 times more active" in preventing ulcers in the stomach.{{cite journal |date=6 September 1984 |title=Rats with ulcers go bananas |journal=New Scientist |pages=22 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MUC8uPq-Wd8C&q=%22banana+powder%22&pg=PA22 |last1=Information |first1=Reed Business }} Banana powder was later found to increase cell growth, which allowed more rapid healing of the area where ulcers had previously occurred.{{cite journal |author1=R.K. Goela |author2=Saroj Guptab |author3=R. Shankarc |author4=A.K. Sanyal |year=1986 |title=Anti-ulcerogenic effect of banana powder (Musa sapientum var. paradisiaca) and its effect on mucosal resistance |journal=Journal of Ethnopharmacology |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=33–44 |doi=10.1016/0378-8741(86)90041-3 |pmid= 3821133}}{{dead link|date=March 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

banana powder

Manufacture

History

Usage

=General uses=

=Scientific uses=

See also

References

Further reading