Phisico-chemical characteristics of cassava flours from different regions of Brazil

Cassava flours (Manihot esculenta Crantz) are produced in all Brazilian states and it is part of Brazilian alimentary habit. Cassava flour is characterized as high-energy food, with high level of starch, and it contains fibers and some minerals as potassium, calcium, match, sodium and iron. In the North and Northeast regions the consumption of this flour is larger than the others. Due the economical and nutritional importance of the cassava flour the present work had as objective to characterize cassava flours from different Brazilian states aiming to supply industries and consumer with important nutritional and technological characteristics information. The results showed that cassava flours differ to each other and among the producing states to centesimal composition besides to belong to the same classification group. The analyzed flours are not in agreement with the legislation limits for proteins and acidity. For fibers, the cassava flours showed low to moderate levels, but due the high consumption could be considerate as important source of fiber. The flours color analysis showed that commercial classifications of some cassava flours differ of the analytical results obtained.