Food product models developed to evaluate starch as a food ingredient.

Three highly reproducible food models have been developed to evaluate rheological and functional properties of starches. The food models are dutch vla, dressing, and white sauce, and they vary in pH, serving temperature, oil content, and content of other functional ingredients than starch (milk proteins, whole egg, carrageenan). The viscous properties were calculated in a controlled stress rheometer, and the power law index, n, and the consistency index, K, was calculated. The viscoelastic properties at small deformations were measured by oscillating viscometry. Also a spreadability analysis was performed. The rheological data for the three food models were analysed by use of a principal component analysis (PCA), which enabled an evaluation of the functionality of the models and visualisation of the correlation to the concentration of starch. The rheological parameters all varied significantly with starch concentration in dutch vla. In dressing and white sauce most of the rheological parameters depended on the starch concentration. In addition, it was found that results from the empirical rheological method (USDA consistometer) correlate well with fundamental rheological parameters. Syneresis was measured for a period of time up to 15 days. The degree of syneresis of dressing was highly dependent on starch concentration, while the syneresis of the white sauce was dependent on time but not on starch concentration. The dutch vla showed no syneresis at all.

Synthesis of structured triacylglycerols containing caproic acid by lipase-catalyzed acidolysis: optimization by response surface methodology.

Production in a batch reactor with a solvent-free system of structured triacylglycerols containing short-chain fatty acids by Lipozyme RM IM-catalyzed acidolysis between rapeseed oil and caproic acid was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). Reaction time (t(r)), substrate ratio (S(r)), enzyme load (E(l), based on substrate), water content (W(c), based on enzyme), and reaction temperature (T(e)), the five most important parameters for the reaction, were chosen for the optimization. The range of each parameter was selected as follows: t(r) = 5-17 h; E(l) = 6-14 wt %; T(e) = 45-65 degrees C; S(r) = 2-6 mol/mol; and W(c) = 2-12 wt %. The biocatalyst was Lipozyme RM IM, in which Rhizomucor miehei lipase is immobilized on a resin. The incorporation of caproic acid into rapeseed oil was the main monitoring response. In addition, the contents of mono-incorporated structured triacylglycerols and di-incorporated structured triacylglycerols were also evaluated. The optimal reaction conditions for the incorporation of caproic acid and the content of di-incorporated structured triacylglycerols were as follows: t(r) = 17 h; S(r) = 5; E(l) = 14 wt %; W(c) = 10 wt %; T(e) = 65 degrees C. At these conditions, products with 55 mol % incorporation of caproic acid and 55 mol % di-incorporated structured triacylglycerols were obtained.

Efficiency of enzymatic and other alternative clarification and fining treatments on turbidity and haze in cherry juice.

Several alternative strategies were examined for improving conventional juice fining procedures for cherry juice clarification and fining in laboratory-scale experiments: Centrifugation of freshly pressed juice from 1000g to 35,000g induced decreased turbidity according to a steep, negative power function. Individual and interactive effects on turbidity and haze formation in precentrifuged and uncentrifuged cherry juice of treatments with pectinase, acid protease, bromelain, gallic acid, and gelatin-silica sol were investigated in a factorial experimental design with 32 different parameter combinations. Gelatin-silica sol consistently had the best effect on juice clarity. Centrifugation of cherry juice (10,000g for 15 min) prior to clarification treatment significantly improved juice clarity and diminished the rate of haze formation during cold storage of juice. Both treatment of precentrifuged cherry juice with Novozym 89L protease and co-addition of pectinase and gallic acid improved cherry juice clarity and diminished haze levels. None of the alternative treatments produced the unwieldy colloids notorious to gelatin-silica sol treatment. The data suggest that several alternative clarification strategies deserve further consideration in large-scale cherry juice processing. Precentrifugation of juice before clarification and fining is immediately recommended.

Lipid oxidation in fish oil enriched mayonnaise: calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, but not gallic acid, strongly inhibited oxidative deterioration.

The antioxidative effects of gallic acid, EDTA, and extra emulsifier Panodan DATEM TR in mayonnaise enriched with 16% fish oil were investigated. EDTA reduced the formation of free radicals, lipid hydroperoxides, volatiles, and fishy and rancid off-flavors. The antioxidative effect of EDTA was attributed to its ability to chelate free metal ions and iron from egg yolk located at the oil-water interface. Gallic acid reduced the levels of both free radicals and lipid hydroperoxides but promoted slightly the oxidative flavor deterioration in mayonnaise and influenced the profile of volatiles. Gallic acid may therefore promote the decomposition of lipid hydroperoxides to volatile oxidation products. Addition of extra emulsifier reduced the lipid hydroperoxide levels but did not influence the level of free radicals or the oxidative flavor deterioration in mayonnaisse; however, it appeared to alter the profile of volatiles. The effect of the emulsifier on the physical structure and rheological properties depended on the presence of antioxidants.

Effect of ascorbic acid on iron release from the emulsifier interface and on the oxidative flavor deterioration in fish oil enriched mayonnaise.

This research examines the effect of ascorbic acid (0-800 ppm) on the sensory perception of mayonnaises containing 16% fish oil and on the levels of iron and copper in the aqueous phase. Ascorbic acid increased the formation of fishy off-flavors in fresh mayonnaise. Simultaneously, the iron concentration increased from below the detection limit (1.8 microM) to 34 microM in the aqueous phase of mayonnaises. Model mayonnaises with various concentrations of egg yolk (1-7% w/w) and ascorbic acid (0-8000 ppm) were prepared. Iron concentrations in the aqueous phase increased with increasing ascorbic acid levels, whereas iron concentrations in the assumed interfacial layer decreased. It is proposed that ascorbic acid is able to complex and reduce Fe(3+) to Fe(2+) from phosvitin in the egg yolk, whereby iron is released from the interface. The ascorbic acid-iron complex subsequently reacts with lipid hydroperoxides, resulting in increased lipid oxidation and in the immediate formation of rancid and fishy off-flavors.

Partitioning of selected antioxidants in mayonnaise.

This study examined partitioning of alpha-, beta-, and gamma-tocopherol and six polar antioxidants (Trolox, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, propyl gallate, gallic acid, and catechin) in mayonnaise. Partitioning of antioxidants between different phases was determined after separation of mayonnaise by either (a) centrifugation + ultracentrifugation or (b) centrifugation + dialysis. Antioxidants partitioned in accordance with their chemical structure and polarity: Tocopherols were concentrated in the oil phase (93-96%), while the proportion of polar antioxidants in the oil phase ranged from 0% (gallic acid and catechin) to 83% (Trolox). Accordingly, proportions of 6% (Trolox) to 80% (gallic acid and catechin) were found in the aqueous phase. Similar trends were observed after dialysis. After ultracentrifugation, large proportions of polar antioxidants were found in the "emulsion phase" and the "precipitate" (7-34% and 2-7%, respectively). This indicated entrapment of antioxidants at the oil-water interface in mayonnaise. The results signify that antioxidants partitioning into different phases of real food emulsions may vary widely.

Enzymatic degradation of plant cell wall polysaccharides: the kinetic effect of competitive adsorption.

Insoluble potato dietary fibre, isolated from potato pulp, can be enzymatically hydrolysed with the pectolytic enzyme preparation Pectinex Ultra SP from Novo Nordisk A/S, in order to produce soluble fibre. The soluble fibre has valuable functional properties for the food industry. Cloned monocomponent enzymes from Pectinex Ultra SP (arabinofuranosidase, endoglucanase II, pectin lyase, polygalacturonase I, rhamnogalacturonan acetyl esterase, rhamnogalacturonase a, rhamnogalacturonase b and xylanase I) were added in order to increase the yield. Surprisingly, however, the yield is not increased when any of the monocomponent enzymes are added. To describe the results a new model designated 'the competitive activity adsorption model' is proposed. The model is based on the fact that the enzymes are adsorbed to the substrate before action. A combination of the Langmuir adsorption isotherm and basic enzyme kinetics shows that different enzymes that adsorb competitively will have an inhibitory effect on each other and consequently decrease the hydrolysis rate and thereby the yield. The model has been confirmed by an experiment in which the fibre has been pre-treated with rhamnogalacturonan acetyl esterase.

Fermentability of an enzymatically modified solubilised potato polysaccharide (SPP).

OBJECTIVE: To study processing and fermentability in the human gastro-intestinal tract of a newly isolated, enzymatically modified, soluble, and highly concentrated (> 80% dietary fibres) solubilised potato fibre (SPP). SETTING: Gastroenterological laboratory. DESIGN, SUBJECTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Seven healthy volunteers ingested in random order on seven different days: 20 g SPP; bread made of 180 g wheat flour served with 20 g raw SPP; bread baked of 180 g wheat flour and 20 g SPP; bread made from 180 g what flour; 20 g lactulose; 20 g oat bran; and 20 g wheat bran. The hydrogen breath test was used to evaluate oro-coecal transit time (OCTT) and fermentation. RESULTS: Fermentation of SPP yielded a measurable increase in end-expiratory H2. The total incremental increase in end expiratory H2 due to SPP was unaffected of whether SPP was served alone, as the raw flour served with bread, or baked into bread. The OCTT for raw SPP was significantly delayed compared to lactulose (P = 0.01). The OCTT for SPP baked into bread was significantly delayed compared to raw SPP (P = 0.01), indicating that SPP may be used as a marker of oro-coecal transit time for as well the fluid phase as the solid phase of a meal. CONCLUSIONS: SPP is a fermentable, highly concentrated soluble fibre source. Baking SPP did not interfere with the fermentable properties. Thus, SPP may be interesting as a fibre-supplement in fibre-poor diets. The change in oro-coecal transit time for SPP, depending on the composition of the total meal, makes SPP interesting as a marker in studies of gastrointestinal transit.

Enzymatic hydrolysis of soy protein for nutritional fortification of low pH food.

Enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins is an attractive means of obtaining the changes in the functional properties often necessary for incorporating the protein in low pH food, e.g. soft drinks. The main problem associated with protein hydrolysis is the welldel-known formation of bitter-tasting peptides. The bitterness seems to be related to a too high degree of hydrolysis (DH). DH is defined as the percentage of cleaved peptide bonds and serves as the controlling parameter for the hydrolysis process. The choice of hydrolysis parameters is briefly discussed in relation to studies on the hydrolysis kinetics which in many respects can be described by classical enzyme kinetics. Several pilot plant productions of isoelectric soluble soy protein hydrolyzates have been carried out using soy isolate or soy concentrate as the raw material. The preferred enzyme for this type of hydrolysis is Alcalase 0.6 L, a food-grade liquid preparation of subtilism Carlsberg. The chosen hydrolysis parameters are : Substrate conc. : 8 per cent protein (N x 6.25). Enzyme-substrate ratio : 2 per cent. pH : 8.0. Temperature : 50 degrees C. The optimal DH value with regard to taste seems to be 10 per cent, corresponding to about 2 hours' hydrolysis time. The hydrolysis is terminated by the addition of citric or malic acids until pH reaches a value of 4.2. Separation of the supernatant from the unconverted protein is carried out in a continuous, solids-ejecting centrifuge. Preliminary rat trials show a satisfactory nutritional quality of the hydrolyzates. Possible end-uses for soy protein hydrolyzates are briefly discussed.