Rohanie Maharaj

University of the West Indies, St. Augustine | UWI · Department of Chemical Engineering

Ready-to-eat street foods, while popular because of their convenience, taste, and affordability, can be hazardous to consumers if improperly prepared and stored. The "Bake and Shark" sandwich sold at the Maracas Bay beach facility in Trinidad is a popular ready-to-eat street food that has not been researched for its potential risk to consumers. Sta...

Research background. While the use of chemical preservatives in meats may appear to be tremendously advantageous, they have long been purported to increase the risk of incidence of certain types of cancers. Consequentially, many persons have opted for minimally processed alternatives. This consumer shift has placed substantial pressure on the food...

Popular snow cone desserts are susceptible to microbial contamination. Snow cone quality, hygienic practices and consumer food safety knowledge and attitudes of three popular vendors in Central Trinidad were evaluated through structured questionnaires. Physicochemical and microbiological analyses of snow cones and components were undertaken. Vendor...

Greenhouse–grown crops are generally considered safer than open field crops. The study objectives were to determine whether greenhouse–grown crops in Trinidad were safer than open field crops by monitoring microbiological, trace metal and pesticide levels via a “farm-to-fork” approach. Open field tomatoes were compared to those grown in greenhouses...

Foodborne diseases are often associated with poor personal and food hygienic practices of street food vendors who sell Ready to Eat (RTE) meals prepared and served in public places. The study evaluated the hygienic practices of 30 street food vendors in Barbados regarding food contamination prevention and the microbiological quality of black puddin...

Background: Non-wood plant parts provide unique opportunities for cellulose for paper manufacture and offer advantages over wood, such as less harsh chemicals and lower lignin content. Objective: This review examined several cellulose extraction procedures from non-wood sources, such as leaves, stems, grass, straw, fruit peels, and husks Method:...

In this study, an alcoholic fermented beverage of acceptable quality characteristics was produced from two types of dasheen (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott) musts, A-boiled dasheen must and B-cooked dasheen with must, each at three total soluble solids (TSS) levels (18, 22 and 25 ˚Brix). Quality characteristics of pH, TSS, alcohol content, titratabl...

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the agro and food processing industries in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) face challenges such as a lack of knowledge and skills to launch quality products which hinder their exponential growth. The study objectives were to ascertain the most prevalent issues facing an intentional pool of MSME...

Jamun (Syzygium cumini) is a seasonal, underutilized and highly perishable fruit which has high postharvest losses in the Caribbean islands. This research evaluated the quality of the fermented alcoholic beverage produced using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae ex bayanus at three sugar concentrations of 18°, 22° and 25° Brix. Quality evaluatio...

Improving academic quality of a graduate programme in Food Science and Technology Leah Williams1 Professor Rohanie Maharaj2; The Food Science and Technology Unit of The Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. 1Email: leah.williams@sta.uwi.edu 2Emai...

SENSORY EVALUATION OF A NOVEL SAPODILLA CANDY Che L. John; Aaron J.B. Augustine; Kayla N. Thompson; and Rohanie Maharaj Food Science and Technology Unit, Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. Email: chejohn168@gmail.com Email: aaron_augustine@ho...

Improving academic quality of a graduate programme in Food Science and Technology Leah Williams1 Professor Rohanie Maharaj2; The Food Science and Technology Unit of The Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. 1Email: leah.williams@sta.uwi.edu 2Emai...

https://user-fc5crhc.cld.bz/Food-Security-Measurements-and-Indicators/27/; https://www.eccb-centralbank.org/p/presentations-1

The environmental quality of the learning environment is a critical element for good health and well-being among beneficiaries of tertiary institutions, ultimately influencing staff productivity and learning performance of students. High population densities, inefficient resource use and unique microenvironments within tertiary institutions can res...

Personal tutoring provides professional skills development and support to students as they matriculate through their respective university programmes. Recently, there has been a growing trend of students facing academic difficulties in their first year of undergraduate study at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) which have impacted on stud...

Personal tutoring provides professional skills development and support to students as they matriculate through their respective university programmes. Recently, there has been a growing trend of students facing academic difficulties in their first year of undergraduate study at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) which have impacted on stud...

https://www.igi-global.com/chapter/mini-livestock-ranching/170314

Personal tutoring programme (PTP) provides personal and professional skills-development support to students as they matriculate through their respective university programmes. This paper shares the experiences of a pilot project of the PTP launched in March 2018 at the UTT. Five hundred and thirty two (532) students along with fifty (50) personal t...

The first year of an engineering program provides a chance for academic staff to prepare students not only for their degree but also to the world of work and to instill in them the drive to become motivated, lifelong learners and be independent. An Engineering Systems Design 1 course was developed for the first year to introduce students to the wor...

Consumer demands for high quality and safe fresh-cut and ready to eat food products, which are free from contaminants and pathogens, require novel and complementary food preservation technologies, which will ensure integrity and wholesomeness of the foods. This chapter will examine recent advances in the application of primarily non-thermal posthar...

Moringa oleifera tree is universally recognized for its importance to human nutrition due to its high source of micronutrients and protein content. Similarly yogurt is a highly nutritious food produced from culturing one or more optional dairy ingredients with select lactic-acid producing bacteria. The purpose of this study was to incorporate the h...

Commercializing Breadfruit for Food and Nutrition Security

This paper examined local self-reported perceptions on healthy eating, nutrition and obesity among select groups of the population and how these varied with gender, age, socioeconomic status/professional/educational training, and ethnicity. 97% of participant volunteers believed that what you eat is one of the most important factors for maintaining...

Abstract: Research was conducted on acceptability of five different flavored pulled smoked chicken products - Hot Pepper, Rosemary, Clove, Pimento and Pommecythere. Several Sensory Evaluation tests were used to assess food acceptability and consumer bahaviour including; hedonic evaluations, food action rating, descriptive rating and likability and...

The rising demand and cost of animal protein, food and feed insecurity, environmental and climatic challenges of livestock agriculture have made the option of insects as food sources a viable topic. This chapter presents existing information and research on edible insects, insect farms and value-added insect products and assesses insects as a poten...

The rising demand and cost of animal protein, food and feed insecurity, environmental and climatic challenges of livestock agriculture have made the option of insects as food sources a viable topic. This chapter presents existing information and research on edible insects, insect farms and value-added insect products and assesses insects as a poten...

The rising demand and cost of animal protein, food and feed insecurity, environmental and climatic challenges of livestock agriculture have made the option of insects as food sources a viable topic. This chapter presents existing information and research on edible insects, insect farms and value-added insect products and assesses insects as a poten...

This study investigated self-reported perceptions and awareness of females on food safety and health risks associated with certain types of street foods. Satisfaction of females with the monitoring of street food vendors by the local authorities and the food safety practices executed by vendors in Trinidad were investigated including the factors th...

Abstract: The papaya fruit and the leaves are popularly used in folk medicine throughout the Caribbean and particularly in Trinidad and Tobago for its ability to treat and prevent various ailments and diseases such as strokes, heart attacks and cancer, etc. The natural bio-fermentation process triggered by adding yeast to green Papaya (Carica papay...

The study examined student enrolment numbers over a five (5 year period and interventions embarked upon in the fifth year to ensure sustainability of its Food Science and Technology (FS&T) programmes at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT). From the inception (2010) of the B.Sc. in FS&T full time (FT) programme with a student intake of 7; to...

Student evaluations are a useful means for gathering feedback about the overall delivery of courses and services and are used to inform staff and decision-makers about relevant issues that can impact the program and student learning. The success of the evaluations to ensure the maintenance of quality standards include: the validity of instrument to...

Climate change will pose many challenges along the food value chain and will threaten not only food security but also poverty alleviation and economic growth in SIDS. Building resilient food systems for vulnerable farmers should focus not only on improving yields and on use of more suitable crops under changing climatic conditions but also on clima...

Available from: http://www.intechopen.com/books/phytochemicals-isolation-characterisation-and-role-in-human-health/effects-of-abiotic-stress-uv-c-induced-activation-of-phytochemicals-on-the-postharvest-quality-of-ho

Caribbean (CARICOM) countries have traditionally hosted dairy industries that were pivotal to the supply of fresh produced milk to domestic markets. The main dairy producers in the CARICOM are Jamaica, Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and the Dominican Republic wherein, Trinidad and Tobago is the leading dairy producer. Currently, the Caribbea...

Hog head Cheese, Forcemeat, or Fromage de Tệte is a form of meat jelly that originates in Europe and is made in many areas in the world. It utilizes skeletal meats and cartilaginous trimmings especially those of the pig’s head, which are normally discarded by most pork consumers in Trinidad and Tobago. Skeletal meat contains high levels of collagen...

Over 3 million liters of fresh cow’s milk and 1 million liters of fresh goat’s milk are produced in Trinidad and Tobago annually. 80% of the cow’s milk is sold to the Swiss food and beverage giant Nestle at a subsidized price of 2.15 TTD/L. The state through the Ministry of Food Production contributes a further 1.50 TTD for every liter produced by...

The Breadfruit crop has emerged as a potential to contribute to improving food and nutrition security. In order to have a competitive advantage with this underutilized crop in Caricom and the Caribbean region, not only in terms of price but also quality and safety, there is need to exploit its full potential. Some advantages of this crop include it...

Developing and maintaining a disciplined management system provides any organization with a blueprint for exceptional performance and success. Indeed, for larger multinational corporations, a management system is a critical component for sustainable growth and performance management. In this book, the authors discuss a series of fundamentals for cr...

A complex interrelationship exists between food production and the environment. The prevention and control of environmental risk associated with Food Production is important for the preservation of human health and communities within which they exist. Agriculturist in addition to their struggle to increase food production efficiencies must consider...

Climate change will pose many challenges along the food value chain and will threaten not only food security but also poverty alleviation and economic growth in SIDS. Building resilient food systems for vulnerable farmers should focus not only on improving yields and on use of more suitable crops under changing climatic conditions but also on clima...

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are small islands and low-lying coastal countries with varied geography, climate, social, cultural, political and economic development. Currently, fifty-one (51), SIDS are included in the list used by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) in monitoring the sustainable development...

Trinidad is recognized as a premium producer and supplier of fine or flavour cocoa. Beans from Trinidad have been awarded prizes at the “Cocoa of Excellence” in the Salon du Chocolat’s, International Cocoa Awards (ICA). The principal markets for the exportation of local beans from Trinidad are Europe, USA and Japan. While cocoa beans sourced from T...

This paper discusses the comprehensive and practical training that was delivered to students in a university classroom on how sensory evaluation can be used to determine acceptability of food products. The report presents how students used their training on sensory evaluation methods and analysis and applied it to improving and predicting acceptabi...

http://cfcs.eea.uprm.edu/sites/default/files/CFCS%202013%20Vol.%2049%20rs_0.pdf

This paper discusses the comprehensive and practical training that was delivered to students in a university classroom on how sensory evaluation can be used to determine acceptability of food products. The report presents the training on; taste identification and intensity, acceptable vocabulary and proper application of these words, designing and...

Generally sheep heads and feet are discarded at abattoirs and butcher shops in the Caribbean. In some societies (Middle East and Norway) however, these parts form part of the local cuisine. In Trinidad and Tobago the head and feet otherwise regarded as offal are significantly underutilized compared to other offal parts such as the tripe and interna...

Table of Contents Process Safety Management (PSM) Process Safety Management (PSM) Elements of PSM References Historical Perspective: A Review of Operationally Disciplined and Excellent Organizations Where Process Safety Management Is Entrenched Operational Discipline Process Safety Management History of Process Safety Management Operationally Dis...

With annual cost in excess of $150 billion from workplace related illnesses and injuries, any knowledge that can reduce this burden contributes to the overall welfare of the work force and business performance. Yet, there are many key areas of opportunities that have not yet been discussed in the literature, such as approaches to improving contract...

Currently the Caribbean islands of Trinidad, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Grenada and the Commonwealth of Dominica enjoy a unique place in the world market as exclusive suppliers of fine or flavor cocoa. There is a surge in demand for fine or flavor cocoa, influenced partially by health and nutritional attributes of cocoa and dark chocolates. While the fine...

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis [Park.] Fosb.) is a starchy staple, which has been domesticated over millennia in the Pacific Basin, where some 130 cultivars are recognised today. This starchy fruit is unusual in that it is typically eaten at the mature, unripe stage, usually after it is cooked. The commodity is a climacteric fruit with a high respi...

The world demand for cocoa beans has been steadily increasing over recent decades as a direct result of increased world demand for chocolate and chocolate-flavored products. Trinidad is one of the few countries in the world that produces an exclusive fine or flavor cocoa. Cocoa sourced from Trinidad and Tobago receives a premium price well above th...

Drying continues to be an important operation in the processing, preservation and marketing of tropical agricultural crops. While sun drying is still widely practiced, the use of solar dryers present a viable alternative to counteract the disadvantages of sun drying, while offsetting the high costs associated with conventional drying systems. This...

The effect of hormic dose (UV-3.7 kJ m -2) of ultraviolet radiation in delaying the senescence of tomato was investigated. Mature-green tomato fruits (var. Capello) were irradiated with doses of ultraviolet light (UV-C, 254 nm) corresponding to 0 (control), UV-3.7 kJ m -2 (hormic dose) and UV-24.4 kJ m -2 (hyper dose) and were stored at 16°C, under...

Abstract: Drying continues to be an important operation in the processing, preservation and marketing of tropical agricultural crops. While sun drying is still widely practiced, the use of solar dryers present a viable alternative to counteract the disadvantages of sun drying, while offsetting the high costs associated with conventional drying syst...

ABSTRACT The effect of hormic dose (UV-3.7 kJ m-2) of ultraviolet radiation in delaying the senescence of tomato was investigated. Mature-green tomato fruits (var. Capello) were irradiated with doses of ultraviolet light (UVC, 254 nm) corresponding to 0 (control), UV-3.7 kJ m-2 (hormic dose) and UV-24.4 kJ m-2 (hyper dose) and were stored at 16°C,...