Determination of triacyl glycerol and sterol components of fat to authenticate ghee based sweets.

Method comparison of triacyl glycerol (TAG) and sterol components of fats of ghee based sweets was carried out on dairy ghee, laboratory prepared control sample and market samples. The fat was extracted from control and market samples. Determination of TAG and sterol composition of the fats was carried out using low resolution Gas Chromatography. The quantification of cholesterol and ß-sitosterol and TAG classes of dairy ghee, control and market samples fat was also determined using single short column. Adulteration at 5 % level in milk fats showed varied TAG compositions of C50, C52 and C54 as compared to control and pure ghee sample. The cholesterol content of ghee and control sample was 2.30 ± 0.8, 2.00 ± 0.24 g/kg respectively and ß-sitosterol content of control was 0.20 ± 0.11 g/kg. The adulterated samples showed varied cholesterol and ß-sitosterol contents as compared to control sample fat.

Effect of heating oils and fats in containers of different materials on their trans fatty acid content.

BACKGROUND: The nature of the container material and temperature employed for deep-frying can have an influence on the development of trans fatty acids (TFAs) in the fat used. The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of heating vegetable oils and partially hydrogenated vegetable fats with different initial TFA content in stainless steel, Hindalium (an aluminium alloy), cast iron and glass containers. Ground nut oil (oil 1), refined, bleached and deodorised (RBD) palmolein (oil 2) and two partially hydrogenated vegetable oils with low (fat 1) and high (fat 2) TFA content were uniformly heated at 175-185 °C over a period of 12 h. RESULTS: An increase in TFA content to 20 g kg⁻¹ was observed in oil 2 in the cast iron container, while a decrease in TFA content of 20-30 g kg⁻¹ was observed in fat 2 in all containers. The heating process of fats and oils also led to an increase in Butyro refractometer reading and colour values. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the TFA 18:1t content of oil 1, oil 2 and fat 1 increased with repeated or prolonged heating. The cast iron container showed the highest increase in TFA 18:1t for RBD palmolein (oil 2). The amount of linoleic acid trans isomers formed in the heating process was negligible. Fat 2 with high initial TFA content showed a decrease in TFA 18:1 and 18:2 on heating in all containers. Oils heated in glass and stainless steel containers showed less TFA 18:1t formation.