4.1.8.5 In Beverage Industry
Developing countries where large numbers of individuals do not have access to milk
and other dairy products, peanut-derived beverages can be used to make protein-rich
drinks. In one study a chocolate-flavored peanut protein-based drink was made from
protein isolates (from peanut), butter, sugar, stabilizer, cocoa, and water. The taste,
texture, and aroma were similar to commercially available milk products
(Chompreeda et al. 1989).
4.1.8.6 In Meat and Meat Products
Peanuts are used in combination with meat for stew preparation such as in African
cuisine. They can also be ground together as a base for soups such as in Philippine
cuisine and used to thicken or add texture to spicy pepper sauces and meat such as in
Latin cuisine. Crude peanut powder has been proposed as a meat stabilizer (for
coating the meat); however, soy-based alternatives are more popular (Angelo and
Mann 1973).
4.1.8.7 Use of Peanuts in Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs)
Ready-to-use therapeutic foods are used in famine or disaster-struck regions as a
remedy for malnourishment. RUTFs are usually given to children that suffer from
severe malnourishment. RUTF is helpful in rehabilitation of severely malnourished
individuals so that they can be brought to a healthy weight. Essentially the RUTF is
an oil-based emulsion, rich in calories, discourages bacterial growth, and is ready-toeat without the need for cooking. Peanuts are a major component of RUTF since they
can help with healthy weight gain. Additional components of RUTF include sugar,
milk powder, vegetable oil, vitamins, and minerals. All the ingredients are ground up
to a uniform paste, with particle size of less than 200 microns. The whole process is
done without the addition of water. The major advantages of RUTF are the ease of
large-scale production, cost-effective, and long shelf life (Manary 2006). Commercially available peanut-based RUTF is called Plumpy’nut, which is manufactured by
a French company called Nutriset (Nackers et al. 2010). Similar to other RUTFs, the
Plumpy’nut is used in emergency malnutrition cases and can be administered from
home (virtually eliminates the need for hospitalization). The product is in the form of
a peanut butter-like paste containing fats, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, proteins,
vitamins, and minerals. The unique composition of this peanut-based RUTF causes
healthy weight gain and also maintains it (Smith et al. 2013). The Plumpy’nut has
been successfully given to malnourished children in real-life scenario in Niger
(Nackers et al. 2010), where its administration led to a better recovery rate, healthier
weight gain, and low rate of transfers to an intensive care unit. However a similar
trial in Bangladesh (Ali et al. 2013) was not so successful, with the participants
112
F. Syed et al.
Developing countries where large numbers of individuals do not have access to milk
and other dairy products, peanut-derived beverages can be used to make protein-rich
drinks. In one study a chocolate-flavored peanut protein-based drink was made from
protein isolates (from peanut), butter, sugar, stabilizer, cocoa, and water. The taste,
texture, and aroma were similar to commercially available milk products
(Chompreeda et al. 1989).
4.1.8.6 In Meat and Meat Products
Peanuts are used in combination with meat for stew preparation such as in African
cuisine. They can also be ground together as a base for soups such as in Philippine
cuisine and used to thicken or add texture to spicy pepper sauces and meat such as in
Latin cuisine. Crude peanut powder has been proposed as a meat stabilizer (for
coating the meat); however, soy-based alternatives are more popular (Angelo and
Mann 1973).
4.1.8.7 Use of Peanuts in Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs)
Ready-to-use therapeutic foods are used in famine or disaster-struck regions as a
remedy for malnourishment. RUTFs are usually given to children that suffer from
severe malnourishment. RUTF is helpful in rehabilitation of severely malnourished
individuals so that they can be brought to a healthy weight. Essentially the RUTF is
an oil-based emulsion, rich in calories, discourages bacterial growth, and is ready-toeat without the need for cooking. Peanuts are a major component of RUTF since they
can help with healthy weight gain. Additional components of RUTF include sugar,
milk powder, vegetable oil, vitamins, and minerals. All the ingredients are ground up
to a uniform paste, with particle size of less than 200 microns. The whole process is
done without the addition of water. The major advantages of RUTF are the ease of
large-scale production, cost-effective, and long shelf life (Manary 2006). Commercially available peanut-based RUTF is called Plumpy’nut, which is manufactured by
a French company called Nutriset (Nackers et al. 2010). Similar to other RUTFs, the
Plumpy’nut is used in emergency malnutrition cases and can be administered from
home (virtually eliminates the need for hospitalization). The product is in the form of
a peanut butter-like paste containing fats, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, proteins,
vitamins, and minerals. The unique composition of this peanut-based RUTF causes
healthy weight gain and also maintains it (Smith et al. 2013). The Plumpy’nut has
been successfully given to malnourished children in real-life scenario in Niger
(Nackers et al. 2010), where its administration led to a better recovery rate, healthier
weight gain, and low rate of transfers to an intensive care unit. However a similar
trial in Bangladesh (Ali et al. 2013) was not so successful, with the participants
112
F. Syed et al.