Sweet Potato An Untapped Food Resource

A review of our knowledge concerning the potential of the sweet potato as a human and animal foodstuff.

The sweet potato is at present grown in more than 100 of the independent countries of the world. Most of the producer nations are situated in the tropical developing world where a high proportion of the poorest people live. Increasing recognition of the potential which sweet potato holds for combating food shortages and malnutrition has resulted in intensified research efforts to enhance production and consumption. This book reviews our knowledge about the varied aspects of the sweet potato as a human food and animal feedstuff. This volume will be found practical and informative by all those involved in food and nutrition sciences, especially but not exclusively in developing countries. These include research workers in food or agriculture, dieticians, nutritionists, food technologists, students, planners and policy makers.

Acknowledgements; Abbreviations for organizations; Introduction; 1. Sweet potato - past and present; 2. Chemical composition; 3. The nutritional value of sweet potato roots and leaves; 4. Toxic and anti-nutritional factors; 5. Post-harvest procedures: I. Storage and cooking; 6. Post-harvest procedures: II. Processing; 7. Livestock feeding with sweet potato roots and vines; 8. Consumption and utilization patterns and trends; Appendix: a selection of sweet potato dishes from around the world; Index.

Increasing recognition of the potential which sweet potato holds for combating food shortages and malnutrition has resulted in intensified research efforts to enhance production and consumption. This book reviews our knowledge about the varied aspects of the sweet potato as a human food and animal feedstuff.