Fortified Thong-Att products with silkworm pupae and water lily peduncle powders using response surface methodology and principal component analysis
Abstract The aim of this study was to develop fortified Thong-Att products, a traditional Thai dessert, by incorporating silkworm pupae powder and water lily peduncle powder to modestly improve estimated nutritional values while maintaining acceptable sensory quality. Silkworm pupae provide an alternative protein source, whereas water lily peduncles contribute dietary fibre. An exploratory simplex-lattice mixture design with five formulations (silkworm pupae powder 1-3%, water lily peduncle powder 1-3%) was applied to compare formulations. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used for trend visualisation, and multivariate analyses (Principal Component Analysis and Partial Least Square Regression) were applied to explore relationships among physical properties, sensory attributes, and software-estimated nutritional composition. The formulation containing 3% silkworm pupae powder and 1% water lily peduncle powder showed the highest estimated protein content (4.76 g/100 g) and the highest scores for texture and overall acceptability among fortified samples, whereas the formulation with the highest water lily peduncle powder content exhibited the greatest estimated dietary fibre (1.37 g/100 g). Multivariate analyses revealed an inverse relationship between estimated nutritional enhancement and overall acceptability, likely associated with increased hardness and water activity. Consumer testing ( ; predominantly 21-25 years) indicated general acceptance and willingness to purchase, though generalisability is limited. Overall, the results demonstrate the feasibility of moderately fortifying traditional desserts using insect-based protein and plant-derived fibre while highlighting the trade-off between nutritional enhancement and sensory acceptability.