Sweet Potato Ketchup: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Production costs in Kenya.

Abstract

Ketchup sauce is increasingly a popular condiment used as a flavouring ingredient in fast-food businesses in East African urban areas. It is one of a myriad of products that can be made using sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) roots. We assessed the feasibility, consumer acceptability, and cost of production for a ketchup sauce made by substituting tomatoes with sweet potatoes. The final product, in which up to 80% tomatoes were substituted with sweet potato, was found to be organoleptically acceptable in Nairobi, Kenya. The yellow flesh colour of the sweet potato had a good influence on the final consumer preference of the product. Adding sweet potato to the ketchup formulation had little influence on the final pH, which ranged from 3.8 to 4.1. Titratable acidity values ranged from 0.36 to 0.60 g (acetic acid) per 100 g sauce. Shelf life test indicated that ketchup sauce incorporating sweet potato could safely be stored for 2 to 3 months. The addition of sweet potato in the ketchup formulation significantly reduced the production cost of the sauce.