London, December 01: If scientists are to be believed, millions of people across the world could soon be eating bread and biscuits made from — cotton which is rich in protein.
Cotton seed is inedible as it contains a poisonous substance called gossypol. Now, the scientists claim to have found a way to reduce the poison which can harm the liver and heart, the ‘Daily Express’ reported.
A team from Texas A&M University in the US, led by Indian-origin Keerti S Rathore, has claimed that the leftover kernel — which has a nutty flavour — can be ground into meal and combined with wheat or corn flours.
In tests, the meal has been used to make pancakes and cereals and could be available in 10 years. The amount of cotton grown worldwide is enough to feed 500 million people a year, the scientists said.
“There are a lot of poor people that cannot afford diets with a reasonable amount of protein,” Rathore was quoted by the British tabloid as saying.
–PTI