# Exploring the Nutritional and Anti‐Nutritional Composition of Traditionally Fermented Qocho From Widely Cultivated Enset (Ensete ventricosum) Landraces in Central Ethiopia

## TL;DR

This study analyzed the nutritional and anti-nutritional content of traditionally fermented qocho from eight enset landraces in Ethiopia to assess their potential for food security.

## Contribution

The study provides the first detailed nutritional and anti-nutritional profile of qocho from widely cultivated enset landraces in Central Ethiopia.

## Key findings

- Qocho samples showed considerable variation in nutritional content across the eight enset landraces.
- Anti-nutritional factors in qocho were found to be at low levels, with molar ratios below critical thresholds.
- The results highlight the potential of qocho for improving food security and nutrition in the region.

## Abstract

Enset is a multipurpose perennial root crop primarily used as a staple food for over 25 million people in Ethiopia. Despite the existence of various landraces, little information is known about their nutritional profile. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the nutritional and anti‐nutritional contents of qocho from the eight widely cultivated landraces. Traditionally fermented qocho samples were milled individually into a fine powder and analyzed by applying standard food procedures. The mean proximate component (%) varied in moisture value from 59.0–66.5, crude protein (1.75–3.15), crude fat (0.14–0.73), crude fiber (2.25–5.39), and total ash (1.2–2.4), whereas the total carbohydrates came to 89.74–94.64, and gross energy was 370.69–387.97 kcal/100 g. The mean contents of minerals (mg/100 g) ranged: calcium (80.17–110.60), potassium (90.35–157.14), magnesium (14.37–16.35), phosphorus (10.84–40.19), sodium (7.41–8.35), iron (4.08–6.71), and zinc (0.39–0.73) on a dry weight basis. The mean anti‐nutritional values (mg/100 g) for oxalate, tannin, and phytate ranged from 6.26–9.39, 5.04–32.05, and 74.28–141.19, respectively. This showed that the qocho samples contain low contents of anti‐nutritional factors. Regarding molar ratios, phytate to calcium, phytate × calcium to zinc, and oxalate to calcium were shown below the critical values. Overall, the qocho of the analyzed enset landraces had a considerable variation in nutritional profile. Therefore, continued identification is crucial to distinguish the enset landraces with more nutritious qocho for local and regional consumption as well as to sustain enset cultivation for food security.

The qocho samples of each landrace contained various amounts of proximate, minerals, anti‐nutritional, and molar ratios. All the analyzed samples showed a low level of anti‐nutritional factors. Qocho has a promising future in terms of food security and nutrition.