TEXTURE PROFILE ANALYSIS - HOW IMPORTANT ARE THE PARAMETERS?

Physicochemical Features and Volatile Organic Compounds of Horse Loin Subjected to Sous-Vide Cooking

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of temperature and time of sous-vide cooking method on the characteristics of Thoroughbred horse loin. Sliced portions (200 ± 50 g) were cooked by boiling (control) and sous-vide (65 and 70 °C for 12, 18, and 24 h). The samples were analyzed for proximate composition, pH, color, texture, microstructure, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), microbiology, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nucleotide content, and fatty acids composition. The color analysis showed decreased redness at elevated temperatures. Improved tenderness, demonstrated by reduced shear force values (36.36 N at 65 °C for 24 h and 35.70 N at 70 °C for 24 h). The micrographs indicated dense fiber arrangements at 70 °C. The SDS-PAGE revealed muscle protein degradation with extended sous-vide cooking. The VOC analysis identified specific compounds, potentially distinctive markers for sous-vide cooking of horse meat including 1-octen-3-ol, decanal, n-caproic acid vinyl ester, cyclotetrasiloxane, octamethyl, and 3,3-dimethyl-1,2-epoxybutane. This study highlights the cooking time's primary role in sous vide-cooked horse meat tenderness and proposes specific VOCs as potential markers. Further research should explore the exclusivity of these VOCs to sous-vide cooking.

Effect of ultrasound on mass transfer during vacuum impregnation and selected quality parameters of products: A case study of carrots

Many unit operations in the food industry are diffusional driven. These processes are usually very slow and difficult to handle for specific groups of raw materials. Vacuum impregnation (VI) is one example. Impregnating low-porous or densely-structured materials is problematic and often requires low pressure, which can negatively affect product quality and be expensive in energy consumption. This research aimed to evaluate ultrasound (US) as a factor in intensifying mass transfer and enhancing its effectiveness in the VI process. Experiments on impregnation enhanced with ultrasound applied at different stages of the process were carried out. Carrot, a difficult-to-process raw material, was impregnated with ascorbic acid as a mass transfer marker. The process's effectiveness and selected quality parameters were then analyzed. Ultrasound was found to have a positive influence on mass transfer during VI. The effects of ultrasound enhancement were different for particular processes, and depended on the stage of the application and duration of US exposure. The greatest increase in the tissue's ascorbic acid content (60% compared to the non-ultrasound-assisted process) was observed when ultrasound was applied continuously throughout the process. Applying ultrasound only during the relaxation (at atmospheric pressure) or aeration periods resulted in a similar effect - c.a. 20% increase in the marker's content. The smallest increase (10%) was observed when ultrasound was applied only during the vacuum period. Applying US did not result in any unfavorable color change. In most cases, pH decreased, which is favorable for the semi-product's stability. The carotenoid and phenolic compounds' content did not decrease. The results unequivocally indicate that ultrasound has great potential for use as a mass transfer accelerator in the VI process for low porosity materials. The effectiveness of the US is influenced not only by pressure but also by exposure duration. The synergistic effect observed using ultrasound-enhanced impregnation throughout the process confirmed this hypothesis.

The Effects of Okara Ratio and Particle Size on the Physical Properties and Consumer Acceptance of Tofu

Okara, the solid byproduct of soymilk production, poses a sustainability concern, despite being rich in fiber and other healthful compounds. In this study, the physical properties of tofu made from soymilk fortified with differing levels of okara-either whole or fine (<180 µm)-and made with the traditional coagulant nigari were examined. The yield increased linearly with the okara concentration with values of 18.2-29.5% compared to 14.5% for the control. The initial moisture in the fortified samples was higher than the control (79.69-82.78% versus 76.78%), and both the expressible moisture and total moisture after compression were also greater in the fortified samples. With a few exceptions, the texture parameters did not differ between samples. Dynamic rheology showed that all samples had G' > G″. The storage moduli increased at different rates during each gelling step, with G' before and after gelling increasing with the fortification level, and was greater for the samples with fine particles than with whole particles. Consumer sensory panels using the hedonic scale showed traditional tofu had a slightly higher acceptability, but the panelists indicated they would be more willing to purchase okara-fortified tofu because of the health and sustainability benefits it might have. Thus, tofu could be produced with added okara with predictable but not profound changes in its physical properties.

The Effect of Sodium Bicarbonate Injection on the Physico-Chemical Quality of Post-Harvest Trout

The muscle hardness of fish is an important parameter associated with meat quality, and the post-mortem decrease in the pH of fish tissue pH affects its physical properties. We hypothesized that maintaining a high pH in fish tissue after death would prevent protein denaturation and consequent textural deterioration. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of sodium bicarbonate (SBC) injections in preventing tissue softening caused by low pH after death in trout. We injected varying molar concentrations of SBC in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss; 0 M, 0.5 M, 0.75 M, and 1 M) after harvest, and the product quality was assessed at 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h of ice storage. Quality was evaluated using proximate analyses for color, pH, water holding capacity (WHC), texture profile, and rigor index. The 0 M group had the lowest pH, and the 0.75 M group had the highest pH at all time points during storage. We observed improved tissue texture during storage in fish treated with 0.75 and 1 M SBC. The texture profile analysis showed higher hardness, frangibility, and stickiness in the tail than in the other regions. These varying results can be explained by significant differences between parts of the fish and sampling point selection. We also observed the highest pH and WHC values in the groups injected with 0.75 and 1 M SBC during storage.

Effect of 3D printing conditions and post-printing fermentation on pearl millet fortified idli

BACKGROUND

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an emerging technology with numerous applications in the development of novel foods to meet personalized and special dietary needs. Using 3D printing, foods with modified textures and consistency can be prepared conveniently. In this work, an indigenous rice-black gram batter was fortified with pearl millet flour and 3D printed in the in-house developed extrusion-based food printer, Controlled Additive-manufacturing Robotic Kit (CARK™). The impact of material supply composition was investigated along with optimization of different printing parameters and an in-depth analysis of post-printing fermentation kinetics was undertaken. The shape changes in the 3D printed constructs during fermentation were analyzed using a pixel-count-based image-processing technique that correlates with the change in surface area.

RESULTS

The addition of millet flour resulted in accelerated fermentation. At 20% w/w level, better printability with higher precision and layer definition was obtained at 800 mm min^-1 of printing speed, 360 rpm extrusion motor speed, and 1.22 mm nozzle diameter with an extrusion rate of 15.57 mm³  s^-1 . The constructs of pearl millet flour (PMF) fortified idli batter have shown good structural stability and creep recovery. Fermentation-assisted shape change was found to be significantly influenced by infill levels. Both raw and steamed constructs with 40% infill showed around 37% lower hardness than 100% infill constructs due to a porous inner structure with reduced expansion in the surface area/volume during fermentation.

CONCLUSION

The results of the study provide insights into the scope of printing fermented foods through the food-to-food fortification approach and textural modification of foods using 3D printing by varying the infill levels. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

A dynamic in vitro oral mastication system to study the oral processing behavior of soft foods

A bolus-oriented artificial oral mastication system was developed to simulate the dynamics of food mastication in the human mouth. The system consists of a chewing unit, a bolus forming unit, and provisions for the dynamic incorporation of saliva during mastication. The system performance was validated with in vivo trials (n = 25) considering time-dependent changes in particle size, textural attributes and rheological behavior of the bolus. Idli, a fermented and steamed black gram-rice-based Indian food was considered the model soft food for all trials measured in triplicates. The mastication dynamics were evaluated by analyzing bolus properties during every 3 s of mastication. Large strain shear rheology tests revealed that the viscosity of the sample decreased over time. Results of in vivo trials follow close trends in particle size and rheological behavior and have no significant change in correlation with in vitro mastication results. Similar observations were made in the half softening time of idli during mastication as determined using the relative change in hardness (hardness ratio (H_t/H₀)) values fitted to the Weibull model. Also, a model to simulate the time-dependent changes in bolus adhesiveness was developed.

Effect of sodium bicarbonate on textural properties and acceptability of gel from unwashed Asian sea bass mince

Asian sea bass mince gels having different adjusted moisture/water content (80 and 85%; w/w) were prepared with addition of sodium bicarbonate (SB) at various concentrations (0, 0.05 and 0.1%; w/w). Fish mince gels of 80% water content added with 0.05 and 0.1% SB (G80-0.05 and G80-0.1, respectively) had the highest increase (135-139%) in breaking force (BrF) than the respective control gel (G80) (P < 0.05). For gel with 85% water content, a lower increase (17-28%) in BrF was found with the addition of SB as compared to their corresponding control (G85). Whiteness of all samples was continuously decreased with increasing amount of SB, however the water holding capacity was increased drastically with augmenting levels of SB, regardless of the water content (P < 0.05). A loss in the elasticity of gel was attained with the addition of SB as indicated by decreasing storage modulus. A finer and more compact network was detected in a gel containing SB, irrespective of water content. Based on sensory scores, gel having 85% water content added with 0.05 and 0.1% SB had similar acceptability to the control gel (G80) containing 80% water content (commercial level). Therefore, SB at the appropriate level could improve the gelling properties with higher water holding ability of the mince gel with high acceptability.

Characterization of Dysphagia Thickeners Using Texture Analysis-What Information Can Be Useful?

Besides shear viscosity, other texture parameters (adhesiveness or cohesiveness) might be relevant for safe swallowing in people suffering from oropharyngeal dysphagia. Shear viscosity is assessed through protocols developed using a viscometer or a rheometer. In contrast, protocols and instruments (capillary break-up rheometer) to assess adhesiveness and cohesiveness are less common and much less developed. Other equipment such as texture analyzers can provide useful information on food properties. Here, we aimed to explore different texture analyzer settings (type of test, probe, and protocol) to characterize four commercial dysphagia thickeners at the shear viscosity levels recommended by manufacturers. Among the tests used (extrusion or penetration) with the different probes (disc, cone and shape holder, sphere, or cylinder), cone extrusion provided information about adhesivity, disc extrusion about sample cohesiveness, and sphere about penetration and sample elasticity. The test speeds used influenced the results, but only one speed is needed as the different speeds provided the same fluid information; for easiness, it is proposed to use 1 mm/s. Comparing the texture analyzer results with viscosity values obtained at different shears, the texture analyzer parameters reflected information that differ from shear viscosity. This information could be relevant for the therapeutic effect of thickening products and food characterization.

A Critical review focusing the effect of ingredients on the textural properties of plant-based meat products

Plant-based meat alternatives have been studied for decades, but have recently gained more attraction in the food industries and research communities. Concern about animal welfare, health, environment and moral beliefs acts as a driving force for the growth of plant-based meat products. The most challenging task in the development of meat analog is to imitate the texture of conventional meat products. The fabrication of plant-based meat product requires a wise selection and formulation of ingredients to perfectly mimic the fibrous structure of meat. Top-down and bottom-up approaches are the two most commonly used structuring techniques for the preparation of plant-based meat products. Development of comminuted meat product is easy as compared to the whole-muscle type plant-based meat products. Several plant-based ingredients such as texturized and non-texturized proteins, fats, binding agents, flavoring and coloring agents accompanied with different processing techniques (extrusion, shear cell, wet spinning, electrospinning, and freeze structuring) are used in the preparation of meat analogs. This paper aims to discuss the impact of ingredients on the textural properties of plant-based meat products.

Sustained transdermal delivery of human growth hormone from niosomal gel: in vitro and in vivo studies

Human growth hormone (hGH) is widely used to treat several diseases for decades. However, the current treatment regime requires frequent injections via subcutaneous route due to short in vivo half-life, which leads to pain and poor patient compliance. In this study, a novel transdermal (non-invasive) hGH loaded niosomes gel was prepared to reduce the frequency of subcutaneous injections and to improve the patient compliance. Niosomes were prepared by film hydration technique at three levels of cholesterol. The particle size and entrapment efficiency increases with an increase in the level of cholesterol. Transmission electron microscopy images confirmed the spherical shape of niosomes without aggregation. Texture profiles analysis indicates that the niosomal gel has the required mechanical properties for transdermal application. The ex vivo permeation profile showed sustain hGH release for 4 days from the niosomal gel compared to 24 h from the control gel without niosomes. A rabbit skin irritation study showed no sign of irritation after application of niosomal gel. The pharmacokinetic parameters in the rat model showed 7.22-fold higher bioavailability with niosomal gel compared to control gel. In conclusion, the study demonstrated the potential of niosomal gel as an effective long-term sustained release strategy for hGH delivery to replace traditional subcutaneous injections.

Instrumental and sensory techniques to characterize the texture of foods suitable for dysphagic people: A systematic review

The interest to characterize texture-modified foods (TMFs) intended for people with oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) has grown significantly since 2011. Several instrumental and sensory techniques have been applied in the analysis of these foods. The objective of the present systematic review was to identify the most appropriate techniques, especially for the food industry and clinical setting. The search was carried out in three online databases according to the "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses" (PRISMA). Across the multiple trials reviewed, Texture Profile Analysis and the Uniaxial Compression Test were most used as the instrumental technique for solid foods, and the Back Extrusion Test for fluid and semisolid foods. All trials used descriptive analysis as the sensory technique. However, the experimental conditions of the trials lacked standardization. Consequently, the results of the trials were not comparable. To properly characterize the texture of TMFs intended for OD by each technique, an international consensus is needed to establish standardized experimental conditions. Methods based on these techniques should also be validated by collaborative studies to verify repeatability, replicability, and reproducibility.

Influence of wall slip, thixotropy, and lubrication regime on the instrumental sensory evaluation of topical formulations

OBJECTIVE

Drawing parallels from rheo-tribology can be used to develop a robust instrumental protocol for non-subjective characterization, product development and design of topical dosage forms with desired sensory attributes. However, instrumental characterization of cosmetic products can be influenced by the measurement protocol, thixotropy, flow anomalies like shear banding or wall slip and nature of the film formed on the skin surface. In this study, we evaluated the influence of above parameters on the instrumental sensory evaluation of twelve topical formulations of different galenic forms.

METHODS

Oscillatory strain sweep measurements (SAOS and LAOS) were performed to investigate the influence of frequency and wall slip on the material parameters. The textural attributes at different consumer touch points were evaluated by accounting time dependent simulation of visco-elastic flow. Further, the influence of film thickness and sample drying on the tactile properties of the topical formulations were studied on a non-biological skin model using a sliding probe tribometer.

RESULTS

The study shows that the flow properties of the semi-solid formulations depend on the time scale of the problem. A few formulations exhibited wall slip to varying degrees in the linear visco-elastic regime where the behaviour was found not to be characteristic of a particular topical dosage form. The material functions obtained from the Lissajous plots suggest that the non-linear flow behavior of different galenic forms is least influenced by the boundary conditions imposed by the measurement geometry. The results were statistically analyzed using principal component analysis where the attributes used for discriminating skin creams during pick-up and rub out are found to be closely associated with non-linear rheology. The friction coefficient exhibited speed dependence where it formed different parametric group with rheological data depending on the lubrication regime.

CONCLUSION

The study highlights that correlations are possible among rheological, tribological, and instrumental textural analysis data, which can act an impetus for the development of models to predict attributes that drive perception at different consumer touch points. However, the choice of instrumental settings, anomalies associated with rheological measurements and friction dependence on a number of parameters can influence the model prediction.

Relationship between Food Crushing and Oral Function in Older Adults Requiring Nursing Home Care: A Pilot Study

We investigated how jelly is crushed and examined the relationship between tongue pressure and tongue food crushing ability among older adults requiring nursing home care. Seventy-two participants were instructed to freely crush the test foods soft jelly (SJ) and hard jelly (HJ). We visually evaluated the crushability of the test food and identified the intraoral tissues (active sites) used to crush the test food. The active sites were consistent for all participants for both SJ and HJ, and they included the maxillary and mandibular teeth in 41 participants, teeth and residual ridges in 15 participants, maxillary and mandibular residual ridges in 10 participants, and tongue and palate in six participants. Two participants failed to crush the SJ; the active sites in both participants were the tongue and palate. No participant using the tongue and palate as active sites could crush the HJ. Furthermore, 64 participants could crush the SJ and 23 could crush the HJ using the tongue and palate. The cutoff value of the tongue pressure for crushability of the HJ was 22.0 kPa. Assessing tongue pressure and intraoral active sites involved in food crushing could help determine an appropriate diet for older adults requiring nursing home care.

A Review on the Commonly Used Methods for Analysis of Physical Properties of Food Materials

The chemical composition of any food material can be analyzed well by employing various analytical techniques. The physical properties of food are no less important than chemical composition as results obtained from authentic measurement data are able to provide detailed information about the food. Several techniques have been used for years for this purpose but most of them are destructive in nature. The aim of this present study is to identify the emerging techniques that have been used by different researchers for the analysis of the physical characteristics of food. It is highly recommended to practice novel methods as these are non-destructive, extremely sophisticated, and provide results closer to true quantitative values. The physical properties are classified into different groups based on their characteristics. The concise view of conventional techniques mostly used to analyze food material are documented in this work.

Textural and sensory characterization of carbomeric gels with panthenol

Introduction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the carbomer concentration (used as the gelling agent, in the range 0.5 - 2.0%) on textural and sensory characteristics of gels with 3% panthenol using sensory analysis as subjective and texture analysis as an objective assessment method. An active substance in the gels was panthenol, which also acted as a neutralizing agent of the carbomer. Participants and methods. Twenty female panelists, aged between 20 and 36, participated in the sensory study and had to fulfill a questionnaire regarding product attributes before, during and after application on the skin. Texture analysis was performed on CT3 Texture Analyzer, after each week for a month, and the following parameters were calculated: hardness cycle 1, hardness cycle 2, cohesiveness, adhesiveness, resilience and springiness. Results. The results showed that gels were stable over time and the structure of the gels was preserved regardless of compression. An increase in hardness and resilience was followed by an increase in the concentration of carbomer, while adhesiveness, cohesiveness and springiness did not differ much among different gels. The same trend was noticed when gels were compared during time. Sensory analysis confirmed findings of texture analysis and showed that with the increment of carbomer concentration, stickiness and density also enhanced, while absorption rate and spreadability decreased. Gel with 1% carbomer was chosen by the majority of panelists as favorite and as a gel they would regularly use. Conclusion. The methods of textural and sensory analysis represent valuable approaches in drug/cosmetic product design because they offer insight in the compliance of patients/consumers.

Effect of microbial lipase and transglutaminase on the textural, physicochemical, and microbial parameters of fresh quark cheese

In this study, the addition of microbial transglutaminase (MTG) and lipase in quark cheese samples was studied during storage (21 d). Four types of cheese were made using 3 different levels of MTG (T1, 0.1 g/L; T2, 0.2 g/L; T3, 0.3 g/L) and lipase (T1, 0.02 g/L; T2, 0.04 g/L; T3, 0.06 g/L), and one cheese was made without any treatment as a control sample. The physicochemical, textural, microbial, and sensory properties of cheese samples were monitored at 1, 7, 14, and 21 d of storage period. The results showed that the treated samples had higher proteolysis and lipolysis activities during storage than the control sample. The textural analysis indicated an insignificant increase in the hardness value of the enzyme-treated sample. Also, the sensory analysis exhibited that the treated samples had higher texture acceptability. The higher concentration of enzymes resulted in lower color, odor, taste, and overall acceptability, and higher microbial population. Finally, the addition of microbial MTG and lipase in preparation of quark cheese samples could be recommended for a short storage time.

Textural, Sensory, and Chemical Characteristic of Threadfin Bream (Nemipterus sp.) Surimi Gel Fortified with Bio-Calcium from Bone of Asian Sea Bass (Lates calcarifer)

The effects of Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer) bio-calcium (ASBB) at different levels (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10%) (w/w) on properties of threadfin bream (Nemipterus sp.) surimi gel were investigated. ASBB addition increased breaking force and deformation, while reduced expressible moisture content (p < 0.05) of surimi gel. L* (lightness), a* (redness), and b* (yellowness) values were increased with augmenting ASBB levels; however, whiteness slightly decreased in surimi gel incorporated with ASBB (p < 0.05). Higher likeness scores were noticed in surimi gel containing ASBB, compared to that of the control. However, a slight decrease in the likeness score was noticed in surimi gel with 10% (w/w) ASBB (p < 0.05). Surimi gel added with 8% (w/w) ASBB possessed the increase in breaking force by 80% from the control and had the highest likeness score. Texture profile analysis of surimi gel added with ASBB showed the improved texture characteristics with coincidentally higher storage modulus of surimi paste. Surimi gel with 8% (w/w) ASBB had a denser and finer microstructure with higher ash, calcium, and phosphorous contents, compared to the control. Thus, incorporation of bio-calcium up to 8% (w/w) not only increased mineral content, but also improved textural, sensory, and microstructural properties of surimi gel.

Physical properties of a model set of solid, texture-modified foods

Those suffering from swallowing disorders, or dysphagia, require texture-modified foods for safe swallowing. The texture is modified according to the severity of the disorder, as maintained by the guidelines outlining classes of texture-modified foods, ranging from viscous soups to soft, solid foods. As a basis for studies of bolus rheology and oral response of solid texture-modified foods, a set of well-defined, solid foods has been identified and characterized regarding texture and physical properties. Gelled food is compared to both the firmer timbale class and to the corresponding regular food. Foods eaten at room temperature were chosen to avoid temperature effects: bread, cheese, tomato, and the combination into a sandwich. All foods were tested as gel, timbale, and regular food. The texture was determined by compression and penetration tests, thereby showing a decrease in strength (compression stress), stiffness (modulus), and penetration force for increased degree of modification. The moisture content increased with increased degree of modification. The structural change from room to oral temperature was monitored by the complex shear modulus that showed a decrease with increasing temperature. Cheese and the gelatine-based tomato gel showed a distinct melting when the temperature was increased to 37°C. The texture-modified foods were softer and moister in all aspects as compared to the regular foods, which follows the intended modification. The classes for the texture-modified foods were qualitatively comparable to other national classification systems with regard to solid foods, but there is a lack of objective, physics-based classification of texture, especially for solid, texture-modified foods.

Alkyl polyglucoside-based emulsions as vehicles for topical spironolactone: A textural analysis

Acne vulgaris is a chronic dermatological disease that affects the pilosebaceous unit; androgens play an important role in its pathogenesis. Acne therapy can be either systemic or topical, usual in the treatment of mild and moderate forms of acne. Spironolactone (SP) is an anti-androgen drug with potential to reduce the sebum secretion; in order to avoid systemic side effects, it could be used topically in acne treatment. Nowadays, more and more attention is being paid to the textural profile of dermopharmaceutical emulsions, which is normally influenced by their colloidal structure; texture analysis is performed in order to predict behavior of the emulsion systems in real-time conditions during manufacturing and application; the latter is closely related to ensuring patients' compliance and the positive outcome of the therapy. We formulated emulsions stabilized with different natural alkyl polyglucoside (APG) emulsifiers (Cetearyl glucoside and cetearyl alcohol and Arachidyl glucoside and arachidyl behenyl alcohol) as vehicles for 5% topical SP. Parameters obtained by texture analysis were firmness and cohesiveness. The study showed that SP affected the texture of APG-based emulsion; different APG-based emulsions showed satisfying textural characteristics per se after incorporation of 5% SP, which could imply their satisfying applicative characteristics on the skin with acne. APGs could be used as stabilizers of emulsion vehicles for topical SP. Dermoemulsion with Arachidyl glucoside and arachidyl behenyl alcohol, more lypophillic emulsifier, is a more acceptable carrier for 5% SP due to a better textural profile.

Implication of Sensory Evaluation and Quality Assessment in Food Product Development: A Review

The quality of food products is determined by physical properties, chemical composition, the level of contaminants (microbiological and toxic substances) and sensory attributes. Consumers around the world demand consistent supply of quality food products that reflect the value of the price they pay for them. The nature of raw materials and ingredients reflect the quality of food products in the market. Raw materials as well as packaging materials should be purchased based on the quality specifications that suppliers should adhere to. This review aimed at highlighting the importance of using objective assessment tools and consumer/sensory evaluation in determining the quality and acceptability of new food products. Objective tests are used to measure one particular attribute of a food product rather than its overall quality. They are generally rapid, reliable and repeatable. On the other hand sensory methods measure the reaction to stimuli resulting from the consumption of a product. Sensory testing is often used to determine consumer acceptability of a food product and contributes to the design of quality systems hence considered as a technical support for quality assurance during food production. Not only that but also it helps to obtain feedback for making decisions and carrying out proper modification of a particular food product. Therefore objective methods and sensory evaluation are indispensable tools for routine quality control of new food products as well as the existing ones.

Novel carbohydrate blend enhances chemical and sensory properties of lobster (Homarus americanus) after one-year frozen storage

It has previously been shown that a novel blend of carbohydrates could preserve lobster meat after 6 months of frozen storage. Increased year-round demand for high-quality lobster may make selling to the frozen seafood market an unintended option for some fishermen. Yet, the chemical and sensory changes that occur in lobster meat after one-year frozen storage in this cryoprotectant blend is not known. The objective of this study was to determine the chemical and sensory characteristics of lobster frozen in five different solutions: solution-1 (water); solution-2 (water + NaCl + STPP, sodium tripolyphosphate, 0.5%); solution-3 (water + NaCl + carbohydrate blend); solution-4 (water + NaCl + STPP, 0.25% + carbohydrate blend), and solution-5 (water + NaCl + STPP, 0.5% + carbohydrate blend). No difference (P > 0.05) existed among the treatments with regard to Malondialdehyde levels as a measure of lipid oxidation. Lobster frozen in the cryoprotectant showed increased tenderness, compared to the control which was frozen in water. The lobster meat treated with a combination of the carbohydrate blend and STPP had lower (P < 0.05) moisture content than the control. In addition, consumers preferred (P < 0.05) lobster frozen in the novel cryoprotectant blend and STPP with respect to flavour, texture, and overall acceptability compared to the control. Penalty analysis revealed that overall liking scores were positively associated with the attributes moist and sweet. In conclusion, the combination of the novel carbohydrate blend and STPP enhanced the sensory quality and the chemical properties of frozen lobster, which in turn extended the shelf-life of these products. These findings may have wide implications for the long-term preservation of frozen lobster meat.

Formulation development of paracetamol instant jelly for pediatric use

OBJECTIVE

Paracetamol is a common antipyretic and analgesic medicine used in childhood illness by parents and physicians worldwide. Paracetamol has a bitter taste that is considered as a significant barrier for drug administration. This study aimed to develop an oral dosage form that is palatable and easy to swallow by pediatric patients as well as to overcome the shortcomings of liquid formulations.

METHODS

The paracetamol was encapsulated in beads, which were prepared mainly from alginate and chitosan through electrospray technique. The paracetamol beads were sprinkled on the instant jelly prepared from glycine, ι-carrageenan and calcium lactate gluconate. The paracetamol instant jelly characteristics, in terms of physical appearance, texture, rheology, in vitro drug release and palatability were assessed on a human volunteer.

RESULTS

The paracetamol instant jelly was easily reconstituted in 20 mL of water within 2 min to form jelly with acceptable consistency and texture. The jelly must be ingested within 30 min after reconstitution to avoid the bitter taste. The palatability assessment carried out on 12 human subjects established the similar palatability and texture of the paracetamol instant jelly dosage comparable to the commercial paracetamol suspension and was found to be even better in overcoming the aftertaste of paracetamol.

CONCLUSION

Such findings indicate that paracetamol instant jelly will compensate for the use of sweetening and flavoring agents as well as develop pediatric dosage forms with limited undesired excipients.

Wet-electrospun PHBV nanofiber reinforced carboxymethyl chitosan-silk hydrogel composite scaffolds for articular cartilage repair

The objective of the study was to produce three-dimensional and porous nanofiber reinforced hydrogel scaffolds that can mimic the hydrated composite structure of the cartilage extracellular matrix. In this regard, wet-electrospun poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) nanofiber reinforced carboxymethyl chitosan-silk fibroin (PNFs/CMCht-SF) hydrogel composite scaffolds that were chemically cross-linked by poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDE) were produced. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in cartilage regeneration where a three dimensional porous spongy composite scaffold was obtained by the dispersion of wet-electrospun nanofibers within a polymer matrix. All of the produced hydrogel composite scaffolds had an interconnected microporous structure with well-integrated PHBV nanofibers on the pore walls. The scaffold comprising an equal amount of PEGDE and polymer (PNFs/CMCht-SF1:PEGDE1) demonstrated comparable water content (91.4 ± 0.7%), tan δ (0.183 at 1 Hz) and compressive strength (457 ± 85 kPa) values to that of articular cartilage. Besides, based on the histological analysis, this hydrogel composite scaffold supported the chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Consequently, this hydrogel composite scaffold presented a great promise for cartilage tissue regeneration.

Honey-mediated aggregation of soymilk proteins

Gluconic acid, the major organic acid in honey, is a partial hydrolysate of glucono-δ-lactone, typically used as a coagulant in preparing tofu. The present study aimed to examine the coagulation potential of five different types of honey at different concentrations, upon addition to soymilk. In some samples, aggregates formed in the upper layer at a higher honey concentration, while in others, aggregates precipitated at an intermediate honey concentration. Both phenomena were reproduced by adding different mixtures of glucono-δ-lactone and glucose, indicating that gluconic acid concentration and total sugar content of honey can trigger soymilk coagulation. Interestingly, honeys with a high concentration of gluconic acid showed a low total sugar content. Furthermore, in a trial product, the mixture of blended honey with soymilk was determined to be pasty. Our results indicate that honey can coagulate soymilk, which may provide a new and convenient method to prepare soymilk-based industrial products.

Clustering of instrumental methods to characterize the texture and the rheology of slimy okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) suspensions

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is one of the ingredients widely used in African gastronomy because of the unique slimy texture it gives to sauces. However, processing and formulation can affect the textural and rheological properties of these sauces, leading to unacceptable quality for the African consumer. The aim of this study was to select the instrumental measurements best enabling (a) characterization of the rheology and texture of slimy sauces prepared from okra and (b) monitoring its evolution during the preservation process. Thirty-seven slimy suspensions (sauces and purées) were measured with 16 rheological and textural parameters. A principal component analysis revealed that flow consistency index K and flow behavior index n were well correlated with visco-elastic, adhesive, and shear thinning properties, and that stringiness was well correlated with elongational, cohesive, and ductile properties. These two sets of measurement methods are sufficient to characterize their rheological and textural properties, and necessary to discriminate them according to their process and formulation.

Role of fluid cohesiveness in safe swallowing

In patients with dysphagia, it has been a practice to thicken fluid food to prevent aspiration—the transport of a bolus into the trachea instead of the oesophagus. In these patients, aspiration is a risk behaviour and is closely related to pneumonia (caused by the aspiration of oral bacteria into the lungs). Since excessive thickening of fluids can cause adverse effects, such as lowering the palatability of food, subsequent reduction of liquid intake, dehydration and malnutrition, identifying the optimum thickening level is vital. Thickening might not only increase fluid viscosity, but could also modify its cohesiveness, which is another key factor affecting aspiration. Even though cohesiveness is more of a concept than a well-defined measurable parameter, this property describes the degree of coherency provided by the internal structure of a material against its fractional breakup. In fluids, this concept is less explored than in solids, powders and granules, and during the last decade few scientists have tackled this topic. Although the role of cohesiveness in the swallowing of heterogeneous solid foods is briefly overviewed, the aim of the present paper is to introduce the concept of cohesiveness for a relatively homogeneous fluid bolus and its effect on swallowing. Cohesiveness is highly correlated with the extensibility and yield stress of the fluid, suggesting that a high cohesiveness could have an important role in preventing aspiration.

Textural, mechanical, and microstructural properties of restructured pimiento alginate-guar gels

Textural, mechanical, microstructural, and thermal properties of reconstituted pimiento alginate-guar gels subjected to thermal and mechanical stresses during pasteurization process were investigated. Alginate-guar gelling system at ratio 2:1 at different calcium chloride concentrations (2-8%) and varying acid conditions including citric and lactic acid 1% were evaluated. Textural profile analysis parameters viz. hardness, springiness, gumminess, cohesiveness, adhesiveness as well as mechanical properties, structural, thermal, and morphological characteristics of pimiento strips were examined. Gel strength and elasticity of pimiento strips were increased at higher calcium levels. Fracturability was decreased clearly revealed the gel system, regain its strength in spite of high pulp content (25%) and can maintain its own structure. Increase in hardness and reduction in springiness showed loss of elasticity, which may be attributed to the gel shrinkage during thermal processing, making it more compact and dense. Therefore, the restructured pimiento strips were completely thermo stable at pasteurization temperature. By increasing alginate and calcium level in the pimiento strip, glass transition temperature was reduced from 112 to 98°C. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies confirmed that the gel network structure at acidic conditions was stable and acid type did not has significant effect on the chemical interactions. The microstructural results showed ellipsoidal and compact structure in which can be an evidence of high elasticity and rigidity of pimiento gels. These results completely approved the high elasticity and rigidity of the pimiento strips and their ability to sustain successfully thermal and mechanical stresses with appreciable textural integrity during processing such as pasteurization. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Restructured pimiento strip for stuffing into cocktail olives is a challenging problem in binary composite hydrogels of alginate and guar gum. The strips should be designed to be strong enough to handle mechanically and cut easily without tearing. Furthermore, it had to withstand to pasteurization process and be flexible to bend like a hairpin into the pit hole of olive. In addition, it also had low syneresis and shrinkage that the strips not fall out of the olive hole during storage. In the view point of marketing and nutritional aspects, it is more advantageous to develop a restructured fruit gel systems several times higher than the limiting 10% pulp because of its weak structure. Therefore, alginate-gel systems containing 25% pimiento pulp were evaluated at different levels of calcium chloride and thermal processing.

Perception and measurement of food texture: Solid foods

There is still a gap between instrumental measurement and sensory evaluation because of the complexity of food texture in spite of many efforts. In sensory evaluation, the terms describing the texture should be well understood by panelists, which poses a problem of establishing lexicons and training panelists. In the instrumental measurement, more efforts are required to understand the large deformation and fracture behavior of foods. The texture profile analysis (TPA) proposed by Alina Szczesniak, Malcolm Bourne, and Sherman has been applied to many foods, and was useful to develop the understanding of textures. But sometimes confusion of the interpretation of TPA parameters appeared. Many new techniques have been introduced to quantify TPA parameters. Recent efforts to fill the gap between sensory evaluation and instrumental measurements, human measurements, or physiological measurements have been introduced. This endeavor is an effort of synthesizing the dentistry and biomedical approach, sensory and psychological approach, and material science approach, and therefore, the collaboration among these disciplines is necessary. This manuscript mainly discusses texture studies for solid foods.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

To fill the gap between the sensory evaluation and the instrumental measurement of texture, it is necessary to examine the physical change of foods during the oral processing. This will give us the designing principle of palatable and safe foods.

What Type of Food Can Older Adults Masticate?: Evaluation of Mastication Performance Using Color-Changeable Chewing Gum

This study determines if older adults can masticate regular foods via a simple test conducted using a color-changeable chewing gum. Seventy-nine consecutive inpatients of our clinic receiving rehabilitation and general medicine were assessed for eligibility. The inclusion criterion was >65 years. Thirty patients consented to participate. The main outcome variable was the food bolus texture at the swallowing threshold for five regular foods. The main explanatory variable was the a* value of the color-changeable chewing gum after 120 s of chewing (a* represents the degree of color between red and green, and a positive a* value indicates red). The mean age ± standard deviation of the participants was 81.6 ± 8.6 years, and 40% were men. Participants being able to prepare the food with suitable texture for swallowing was positively associated with the a* values in boiled rice, ginger-fried pork loin, boiled fish-paste, and rice cracker (Crude OR 1.18, 1.15, 1.17, and 1.50; P < 0.001, = 0.026, <0.001, and <0.001, respectively). The cut-off a* values had markedly high specificities (1.0) for boiled rice and boiled fish-paste and high sensitivities (0.86–0.94) for three foods, except boiled rice. We believe that mastication evaluation using the color-changeable chewing gum is not only useful but also extremely practical, even for older adults in a wide range of settings, including an individual’s home. This approach would lead to a reduction in unnecessary mechanically altered or pureed food for older adults who can eat pureed food and safely provide palatable food.