Moringa oleifera supplemented foods in South Africa : A multidisciplinary approach combining consumer studies with physico-chemical and nutritional analyses

Malnutrition is a major challenge in South Africa (SA), particularly in Eastern Cape and Limpopo provinces, which are predominantly black and historically disadvantaged. This thesis aims to assess the potential of Moringa oleifera (MO) as a source of nutritional improvement in the diets of mothers and their children in these provinces. Known for its nutritional benefits, MO is a plant native to India, now cultivated in SA but not widely used for human nutrition. A two-part approach was followed in this thesis. The first part aims to understand how MO is perceived by consumers and how it can be integrated into the South African food repertory. A study of the knowledge, beliefs and consumptio…