Skyr yogurt with mango pulp, fructooligosaccharide and natural sweeteners: Physical aspects and drivers of liking

Effects of Exidia yadongensis polysaccharide as emulsifier on the stability, aroma, and antioxidant activities of fat-free stirred mango buffalo yogurt

Because of the poor stability and rheological properties of fat-free stirred yogurt fortified with fruit pulp, new functional polysaccharides as a natural emulsifier, which can increase viscosity in the aqueous phase, may be needed. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Exidia yadongensis polysaccharide (EYP) as emulsifier on the stability, aroma, and antioxidant activities of mango buffalo yogurt at 4 °C for 25 days. The yogurt with 15 g/L EYP gave a higher content of 215 g/L total solids, 11.3 g/L exopolysaccharides, 0.10 g/L total polyphenols, 630.5 g/L water-holding capacity, and 11.43 g/kg total free amino acids, and maintained better texture, DPPH scavenging activity of 54.05 % and OH scavenging rates of 67.16 %. Moreover, the EYP exhibited the expected ability to weaken postacidification, syneresis, and growth of microorganism, and greatly promote the textural, rheological properties, suspension stability, microstructure, and aroma profiles of stirred mango-flavored buffalo yogurt (p < 0.05). In addition, the addition of 15 g/L EYP can inhibit protein degradation and improve the stability of secondary structure of the protein complex in mango yogurt during 25 days of storage. Therefore, EYP (15 g/L) could be used as natural positive functional factors and emulsifiers in such fat-free stirred yogurt industry.

Development and characterization of a novel flavored functional fermented whey-based sports beverage fortified with Spirulina platensis

Spirulina platensis, a microalga known for its exceptional nutritional value, especially its bioactive compounds and protein content, holds promise for incorporation into functional food products. Ricotta cheese whey is a byproduct of the production of ricotta cheese that is difficult to use in industries due to its low pH and less favorable processing qualities. This research aimed to create a unique fermented ricotta cheese whey-based beverage supplemented with various Spirulina powder concentrations (0.25 %, 0.5 %, and 0.75 % w/w) cooperated with a mixture of lemon and peppermint juice 10 % and fermented by probiotic (ABT) culture. The physicochemical, rheological, bioactive compounds, microbiological, and sensory properties were evaluated over a storage period of 21 days at cold storage. Spirulina-fermented whey-based beverages with a mixture of lemon and peppermint juice increased the concentration of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and total phenolic compounds in the final product. The count of probiotic bacteria in all fermented beverage samples exceeded 7 log CFU/mL throughout storage, indicating that the fermented beverage kept its probiotic properties. The addition of 0.5 % Spirulina significantly improved the final product's structural qualities and sensory acceptance.

Consumer Acceptance Studies of Margarine to Guide Product Development in the Food Industry

Margarine exhibits significant variations in composition, allowing it to cater to diverse consumer segments. This study aimed to characterize the physical and sensory attributes of margarine samples available in the Brazilian market. Twelve commercial samples from six different brands, encompassing 30% to 80% of lipid contents, were subjected to instrumental texture analysis and affective assessment. A total of 112 consumers participated in acceptance tests and Check-All-That-Apply (CATA) evaluations, while another group of 62 subjects performed Projective Mapping. Samples with lipid percentages exceeding 70% achieved the highest average acceptance scores for taste and overall impression. The brand with the lowest lipid content (30%) exhibited a stronger association with negative attributes, including rancid flavor and aroma, bitterness, and metallic flavor, resulting in lower average scores for aroma, flavor, texture, and overall impression. However, these scores were not statistically different from samples with 50% and 60% lipid content. Reducing lipid levels in fat-based products such as margarine poses a challenge to food manufacturers, as consumers generally perceive higher lipid percentages as indicative of superior flavor quality.

Low-sugar egg-based dessert (sweet egg yolk drops): Characterization, consumer acceptance and driver of liking

The addition of sweeteners and fructooligosaccharides (FOS) to partially reduced-sugar syrup allows for the development of high-sugar egg-based desserts, which are a healthier alternative with good consumer acceptance. This study aimed to analyze the effects of different sweeteners and sugar reductions on physicochemical properties, consumer liking, and emotional responses of sweet egg yolk drops. Five experimental desserts were prepared: four with 25 % low-calorie sweeteners (erythritol, mannitol, sorbitol, and tagatose) combined with 25 % FOS in reduced-sugar syrup (50 %), and one as a control (full-sugar formulation). Substitution of erythritol (E50), mannitol (M50), and tagatose (T50) in the syrup significantly decreased the quality of the desserts. This implies a decrease in the sensory properties, leading to negative emotional responses among consumers. However, the application of external preference mapping (EPM) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) revealed that two of the four commercial desserts and one control sample (F100) included sorbitol desserts (S50). Desserts in this group that are related to specific attributes as drivers of liking, such as appearance, yellowness, sweetness, cohesiveness, and juiciness evoke positive emotional responses in consumers ('Auspicious', 'Glad', 'Attractive', 'Secure', 'Loving', 'Natural'). Therefore, sorbitol and FOS are suitable sweeteners in reduced-sugar syrups for producing egg-based desserts with reduced calories and improved consumer acceptance. This study thus paves the way for the development of healthy dessert products.

Functional stirred yogurt manufactured using co-microencapsulated or free forms of grape pomace and flaxseed oil as bioactive ingredients: Physicochemical, antioxidant, rheological, microstructural, and sensory properties

Functional stirred yogurt samples were manufactured with combinations of grape pomace (GP) and flaxseed oil (FO) in microencapsulated or free forms (2% w/w) and quality characteristics of yogurts were investigated during 21 days of storage. The incorporation of GP and FO in microencapsulated or free forms caused a significant decrease in pH, syneresis, and a significant increase in acidity, water holding capacity, and viscosity of stirred yogurt (p < .05). While stirred yogurt containing GP and FO in free form had the highest loss modulus (G″), all yogurt samples represented solid-like behavior. Stirred yogurts containing the microencapsulated form of GP and FO showed the highest amount of phenolics and antioxidant activity compared with the two other yogurt samples (p < .05). More compact structure and higher gel strength were observed in stirred yogurts formulated with the microencapsulated or free form of GP and FO, compared to the control yogurt sample. The overall sensory acceptability of stirred yogurt manufactured using the encapsulated form of GP and FO was not significantly different from the control yogurt sample (p > .05). In conclusion of this competitive study, GP and FO as bioactive compounds could be used in the microencapsulated form in order to develop functional stirred yogurt with specific quality characteristics.

Recent advance in technological innovations of sugar-reduced products

Sugar is crucial as an essential nutrient for humans as well as for providing texture, sweetness and so on to food. But with the rise in people's pursuit of health, it is becoming increasingly clear that excessive consumption of sugar can locate a load on the body. It has been that excessive sugar is associated with many diseases, such as dental caries, obesity, diabetes, and coronary heart disease. Therefore, researchers and industries are trying to reduce or substitute sugar in food without affecting the sensory evaluation. Substituting sugar with sweeteners is alternatively becoming the most traditional way to minimize its use. So far, the sweeteners such as stevia and xylitol have been are commercially applied. Several studies have shown that technological innovation can partially compensate for the loss in sweetness as a result of sugar reduction, such as cross-modal interactions that stimulate sweetness with aroma, nanofiltration that filters disaccharides and above, enzyme-catalyzed sugar hydrolysis, and microbial fermentation that turns sugar into sugar alcohol. This review summarizes these studies to enhance the safety and quality of sugar-reduced products, and will provide some theoretical frameworks for the food industry to reduce sugar in foods, meet consumers' needs, and promote human health.

Sensorially accepted Mangifera indica and Myrciaria dubia yogurts with high ascorbic acid content

Ascorbic acid deficiency has been associated with several health conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the content of ascorbic acid and the sensorial qualities of Mangifera indica and Myrciaria dubia yogurts. Four yogurt treatments were elaborated with different concentrations of these fruits (T1: 15% and 5%; T2: 15% and 10%; T3: 20% and 5% and T4: 20% and 10%) respectively, compared with a control treatment (CT: yogurt with 15% of Fragaria vesca). The ascorbic acid contents of the different treatments were determined by spectrophotometry, with values in the following order (T1: 63.2 mg/100 g; T2:114.3 mg/100 g; T3: 57.3 mg/100 g; T4: 115.1 and the control treatment CT:11.5 mg/100 g). The sensorial evaluation consisted of the application of a hedonic scale of 5 points (1: I dislike it very much; 2: I dislike it; 3: I neither like it nor dislike it; 4: I like it; 5: I like it a lot), results show evidence that the acidity level had a significant influence during the sensory evaluation. Treatment (T3) showed the greatest preference. The use of Mangifera indica and Myrciaria dubia in the treatments studied ensured ascorbic acid concentrations compared to the control treatment. This was significantly appreciated by consumers when the percentage of Myrciaria dubia was less than 10% of the total mass of the yogurt.

The Improvement of Sensory and Bioactive Properties of Yogurt with the Introduction of Tartary Buckwheat

The incorporation of cereals in yogurt has recently gained increasing consumer approval, for its high nutritional value and health benefits, all over the world. Following this emerging trend, Tartary buckwheat (TB) was supplemented into yogurt as a natural functional ingredient in order to develop a yogurt with enhanced product characteristics and consumer acceptability. The impact of TB addition on physicochemical properties (pH, acidity, apparent viscosity, etc.) and the viability of lactic acid bacteria in yogurt was investigated. It is found that the TB introduction can reduce the pH, increase the acidity and apparent viscosity, and also greatly boost the bioactivities of yogurt. Response surface analysis demonstrated that yogurt with 8 g of TB, 10 g of sugar, and a fermentation duration of 5 h had the highest overall acceptability, and these cultural conditions were chosen as the best. Furthermore, the TB-added yogurt had not only a better sensory and aroma profile, but also good prospective health advantages when compared to regular yogurt. Our research shows that adding TB to yogurt has a significant positive impact on both overall quality and sensory characteristics, making a compelling case for using TB yogurt and developing new fermented dairy products.

Do the Colors of the Label and the Sweetening Agent Information Influence the Sensory Expectations Consumer? A Case Study with Skyr-Type Yogurt

The objective of this research was to evaluate the sensory expectation and buying intention of consumers from different Brazilian regions for skyr-type yogurt based on the colors and sweetener on its label. Ten images of skyr mango yogurt labels were created varying in color (orange, white, yellow, blue, and green) and sweetening agent (sucrose and natural sweeteners). Consumers (151 consumers) were asked to rate their expectation for the ideal of sweetness, healthiness, acceptance, and buying intention. Labels containing the information “sweetened with sucrose” had a higher percentage of expectation of sweeter than ideal. Label color and sweetening agent had a significant effect on the expectation of acceptance, with a higher percentage for yogurt sweetened with natural sweeteners. There were not statistical differences (p > 0.05) between the labels regarding expected healthiness. Results also showed that consumers had a low level of familiarity with skyr-type yogurts, but it is presented as a healthy yogurt alternative.