From anecdotal evidence that traditional African sorghum and millet foods are filling and provide sustained energy, we hypothesized that gastric emptying rates of sorghum and millet foods are slow, particularly compared to non-traditional starchy foods (white rice, potato, wheat pasta). A human trial to study gastric emptying of staple foods eaten in Bamako, Mali was conducted using a carbon-13 (13C)-labelled octanoic acid breath test for gastric emptying, and subjective pre-test and satiety response questionnaires. Fourteen healthy volunteers in Bamako participated in a crossover design to test eight starchy staples. A second validation study was done one year later in Bamako with six volunteers to correct for endogenous 13C differences in the starches from different sources. In both trials, traditional sorghum and millet foods (thick porridges and millet couscous) had gastric half-emptying times about twice as long as rice, potato, or pasta (p < 0.0001). There were only minor changes due to the 13C correction. Pre-test assessment of millet couscous and rice ranked them as more filling and aligned well with postprandial hunger rankings, suggesting that a preconceived idea of rice being highly satiating may have influenced subjective satiety scoring. Traditional African sorghum and millet foods, whether viscous in the form of a thick porridge or as non-viscous couscous, had distinctly slow gastric emptying, in contrast to the faster emptying of non-traditional starchy foods, which are popular among West African urban consumers.

In West Africa, cowpea is processed into several end-products among which the most consumed in Mali is a steamed granulated product known as cowpea couscous or Shô basi, in Bambara. Organoleptic properties ofShô basi are variable, probably as a consequence of the diversity of the practices of production. This study aims at determining these practices, their constraints and the physico-chemical characteristics of Shô basi as sold on Malian markets. A survey using focus group discussions, and involving eighteen (18) Shô basi production cooperatives, each gathering 8 to 32 members, was conducted in South Mali. The information collected was related to cowpea varieties used for production, flow diagrams, constraints of production, and quality criteria of the end-products. Eighteen (18) Shô basi samples were collected from the interviewed groups and used for the determination of the physical and chemical properties of Shô basi. Results showed that most of the processors were married, non or moderately literate and aged between 20 and 59 years women. The main cowpea varieties used for the production are sangaraka and wilibali, both from the species Vigna unguiculata. Both varieties of cowpea are characterized by a white or cream color. Shô basi is produced using a single process with two major technological variants. One involves a wet total dehulling (VDT), whereas the second involves a dry partial dehulling (VDP) of cowpea seeds. Regardless of the technological variant and cowpea variety used, interviewees indicated that a good qualityShô basi must have a light color, a soft mouthfeel texture, a homogeneous granule size and lacking beany flavor. Protein(25,0g/100g) and polyphenol (24,3mg/100g)contents as well as swelling level were similar for Shô basi from both variants. However, Shô basi from technology involving partial dehulling (VDP) was less bright, richer in fiber and minerals, and contained more fine granules thanShô basi involving whole dehulling(VDT). Cowpea dehulling, flour granulation, steam cooking and drying are the mean constraints for quality standardization and large-scale production of Shô basi in Mali.

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Shô basi is a traditional Sahelian couscous-like product obtained essentially by dehulling and milling white cowpeas, granulating the moistened resulting flour, steaming, and sun-drying the obtained granules. To comply with market demand and ensure continuous production year-round, processors are simplifying and shortening the dehulling step. From full wet dehulling, they moved to partial dry elimination of cowpea hulls. Such a practice could have an impact on the comprehensive quality of shô basi. Therefore, this study evaluated the effect of the unit operations on physicochemical and sensory traits of cowpea during shô basi production. Six productions of couscous including full dehulling (FD) or partial dehulling (PD) methods were carried out. Production yield, color, proximate composition, phenolic compounds, degree of disintegration, and swelling were determined. Thereafter, the sensory traits of both shô basi were assessed. Although FD induced a higher dry matter loss than partial dehulling, the overall yield of shô basi production was not affected (p < 0.05) by the method of dehulling implemented. The intermediate and end products from FD showed brighter cream color than those from PD. Irrespective of processing method, cowpea processing into shô basi affected significantly (p < 0.05) protein, fiber, and polyphenol contents. In comparison with PD method, shô basi from FD variant had the lowest fat, mineral, and fiber contents. However, sensory traits of high quality of shô basi were preferentially associated to shô basi from FD method. Thus, this dehulling method should be promoted among consumers and thereby led to increased profitability of shô basi production and trading.