A review of factors influencing the quality and sensory evaluation techniques applied to Greek yogurt

Emerging Technologies for Improving Properties, Shelf Life, and Analysis of Dairy Products

Processing results in several kinds of dairy products with variable properties and shelf lives that preserve and often enhance the unique nutritional and biological value of milk [...].

Application of natural and modified additives in yogurt formulation: types, production, and rheological and nutraceutical benefits

Yogurt, a popular fermented dairy product, is of different types and known for its nutritional and nutraceutical benefits. However, incorporating additives into yogurt has been adopted to improve its functionality and nutraceutical properties. Additives incorporated in yogurt may be natural or modified. The incorporation of diverse natural additives in yogurt formulation, such as moringa, date palm, grape seeds and argel leaf extracts, cornelian cherry paste, mulberry fruit and leaf powder, lentil flour, different types of fibers, lemongrass and spearmint essential oils, and honey, has been reported. Similarly, modified additives, such as β-glucan, pectin, inulin, sodium alginate, and gelatin, are also added to enhance the physicochemical, textural, sensory, and rheological properties of yogurt. Although additives are traditionally added for their technological impact on the yogurt, studies have shown that they influence the nutritional and nutraceutical properties of yogurt, when added. Hence, yogurts enriched with functional additives, especially natural additives, have been reported to possess an improved nutritional quality and impart several health benefits to consumers. These benefits include reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, osteoporosis, oxidative stress, and hyperglycemia. This current review highlights the common types of yogurt, the production process, and the rheological and nutraceutical benefits of incorporating natural and modified additives into yogurt.

A Thorough Investigation of the Microbiological, Physicochemical, and Sensory Properties of Ewe's Yoghurt Fermented by a Selected Multi-Strain Starter Culture

This work was carried out with the aim to investigate the microbiological, physicochemical, and sensory properties of an innovative yoghurt produced from ewe's milk. Experimental yoghurt productions were performed with a commercial freeze-dried starter preparation and a natural milk starter culture (NMSC) of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii. The two yoghurts did not differ for colour parameters, showing an average value of lightness, redness, and yellowness of 94.99, -3.74, and 9.37, respectively. The yoghurt produced using the NMSC as a fermenting agent was characterised by a significantly lower fat percentage and a higher antioxidant potential than commercial starters. Microbiological analysis confirmed the safety of the final product and a level of living lactic acid bacteria of 108 CFU/g. Sensory analysis revealed some differences among yoghurts regarding unpleasant odour, homogeneity, and persistence in the mouth, but the yoghurt processed with NMSC was more appreciated. Thus, the production of ewe's yoghurt fermented by a selected multi-strain starter culture represents an interesting strategy to enlarge the functional ovine dairy product portfolio.

Design and Characterization of a Cheese Spread Incorporating Osmundea pinnatifida Extract

Marine algae have been emerging as natural sources of bioactive compounds, such as soluble dietary fibers and peptides, presenting special interest as ingredients for functional foods. This study developed a cheese spread incorporating red seaweed Osmundea pinnatifida extract and subsequently characterized it in terms of nutritional, pH, and microbiological parameters and bioactivities including prebiotic, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and antioxidant activities. This food was produced through incorporation of O. pinnatifida extract (3%), obtained via enzymatic extraction Viscozyme L in a matrix containing whey cheese (75%) and Greek-type yoghurt (22%). The product was then subjected to thermal processing and subsequently stored for 21 days at 4 °C. During storage, this food showed a high pH stability (variations lower than 0.2 units), the absence of microbial contamination and all tested bioactivities at the sampling timepoints 0 and 21 days. Indeed, it exerted prebiotic effects under Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5^® and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12^®, increasing their viability to around 4 and 0.5 log CFU/g, respectively. In addition, it displayed antidiabetic (α-glucosidase inhibition: 5-9%), antihypertensive (ACE inhibition: 50-57%), and antioxidant (ABTS: 13-15%; DPPH: 3-5%; hydroxyl radical: 60-76%) activities. In summary, the cheese spread produced may be considered an innovative food with high potential to contribute toward healthier status and well-being of populations.

New insights into perceptions of technology claims in greek-style yogurt: A view in the COVID-19 pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has strongly impacted people's lives and the food industry. In this sense, food products claiming nutritional and health-promoting benefits due to the presence of bioactive peptides and probiotics, such as Greek-style yogurt, have been in demand. The objective of this work was to investigate, through word association, the perception of the consumers regarding the seven concepts related to Greek-style yogurt (traditional, ultra-creamy, zero fat, high content proteins, zero lactose, light and with no added sugars), in the context of social isolation due to Covid-19. In this online survey, 346 participants completed a questionnaire. The participants were divided according to health concerns (increased, not changed, or decreased) and eating habits (improved, not changed, or worsened) during the Covid-19 pandemic. Chi-square and prototypical analysis were used as statistical tests. During the Covid-19 pandemic, based on self-report, around 66% of the participants had their eating habits and their concerns about health changed. The general associations were related to the categories pleasure, health, creamy, pleasant texture, food restriction, and loss of sensory quality. 'Health' and 'pleasure' were negatively associated with the conceptualization of Greek-style yogurt. For the zero-fat, light, and sugar-free Greek-style yogurts, the terms creamy and ultra-creamy are sensory appealing to the consumers. In general, the price and concerns about health are factors that strongly influence the purchase intention of Greek-style yogurts. The yogurts were associated with sensory and non-sensory characteristics, which can be useful for marketing strategies for of different product concepts.