FOOD USES OF PEANUT PROTEIN

Approximately 19 million metric tons of peanuts (Arachis lypogae L.) are harvested annually, and contribute over 3.5 million tons to the world's protein pool for food and feed uses. Peanut is the world's fourth most important source of edible vegetable oil and the third most important source of vegetable protein feed meal. About 70% of the U.S. Crop is consumed domestically or exported as peanut kernels, peanut butter, and confections. Crushing is limited primarily to culls and kernels containing aflatoxin; and to stabilize the market. However, in countries such as India, Senegal, Brazil and Argentina, 75 to nearly 100% of the crop is crushed or exported for use as oil and livestock meal. The peanut is perhaps the world's most widely researched food protein oilseed. Advantages over other oilseeds include relatively bland flavor, minor color problems, and minimal preparation requirements. Products in use throughout the world include boiled peanuts, roasted full-fat or partially defatted peanuts, peanut butters, grits and flours (full-fat or defatted), defatted peanuts, protein concentrates, and protein isolates. Compounded food applications include fortified breads and bakery products, snacks, meat products, extended milks, cheese and curd type products, and various mass-feeding foods in developing countries. Challenges encountered in peanut utilization include improvement of flavor levels and stability, identification of nutritional adequacy and fortification requirements, elimination of antinutritional factors, development of new products and improved processes, and elimination of aflatoxin problems. © 1979 The American Oil Chemists' Society.