Nutritive composition of a street food ‘doubles’ channa (Cicer arietinum) burger and its components sold in Trinidad, West Indies

‘Doubles’ or channa (Cicer arietinum) burger is a street-food sold in the twin-islands of Trinidad and Tobago West Indies, other Caribbean islands and North America. The whole ‘doubles’ (bara with filling of channa) and components of the ‘doubles’ e.g. bara and channa were analysed separately for their nutritive composition. Consumers (200) were interviewed using structured questionnaire based on six questions to ascertain consumer perception to the product. Samples were purchased from six vendors and pooled to form four composites. From each composite, two analytical samples were drawn. Most respondents (89.5%) ate doubles and had two doubles (40.5%) at one meal. They (45.5%) were unsure whether ‘doubles’ could be considered as nutritious. The nutritive composition for ‘doubles’ was 6.9 g/100 g protein, 8.5 g/100 g fat, 3.7 g/100 g total dietary fibre, 230 mg/100 g Na, 222 mg/100 g K, 104 mg/100 g P, 27 mg/100 g Mg, 0.72 mg/100 g Mn, and 0.53 mg/100 g Zn. According to the US Nutrition Labelling and Education Act, based on a 8400 kJ (2000 kcal) diet, consumption of one ‘double’ provided mandatory components of 17% fat, 12% sodium, 12% total carbohydrate, 20% dietary fiber, 18% protein, 2% calcium and 25% iron of the daily reference values. Of the total 1230 kJ (300 kcal) in one ‘double’, fat provided 38% of the energy values and protein and total carbohydrate contributed 12% and 50%, respectively.