5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Formation in Bread as a Function of Heat Treatment Intensity: Correlations with Browning Indices

Improving fried burger quality and modulating acrylamide formation by active coating containing Rosa canina L. extract nanoemulsions

During the frying of foods, undesirable reactions such as protein denaturation, acrylamide formation, and so on occur in the product, which has confirmed carcinogenic effects. The use of antioxidants has been proposed as an effective solution to reduce the formation of these compounds during the process. The current study aimed to assess the impact of an edible coating holding within chia seed gum (CSG) and Rosa canina L. extract (RCE) nanoemulsions on the physicochemical properties, oil uptake, acrylamide formation, 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (HMF) content, and sensory characteristics of beef-turkey burgers. The RCE-loaded nanoemulsions were prepared using the ultrasonic homogenization method, and different concentrations (i.e., 10%, 20%, and 40% w/w) were added to the CSG solutions; these active coatings were used to cover the burgers. CSG-based coatings, especially coatings containing the highest concentration of nanoemulsions (40%), caused a significant decrease in the oil uptake and moisture retention, acrylamide content, and HMF content of fried burgers. The texture of coated burgers was softer than that of uncoated samples; they also had a higher color brightness and a lower browning index. Field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that RCE concentration less than 40% should be used in CSG coatings because it will cause minor cracks, which is an obvious possibility of failure of coating performance. Coating significantly (4-10 times) increased the antioxidant activity of burgers compared to the control. In conclusion, it is suggested to use the active coating produced in this study to improve fried burger quality and modulate acrylamide formation.

Acrylamide and hydroxymethylfurfural in cakes: An approach to reduce the formation of processing contaminants in sweet bakery products

In bakery products, beyond the heat treatment conditions, the type of flour and the combination with other ingredients in different ratios can increase or mitigate the formation of processing contaminants. In this study, a central composite design and a principal component analysis (PCA) were used to assess how the formulation affects the formation of acrylamide (AA) and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in wholemeal and white cakes. The HMF levels (45-138 µg/kg) were up to 13 times lower than the AA (393-970 µg/kg) in cakes. The PCA showed that the proteins increased the AA formation during the dough baking, while the reducing sugar and the browning index were related to HMF formation in the cake crust. The total daily exposure of AA + HMF when consuming wholemeal cake is 1.8 times higher than white cake consumption, in which the values of margin of exposure (MOE), below < 10,000, demonstrated that AA showed a greater risk of exposure than HMF (MOE values > 10,000). Therefore, a good strategy to avoid high AA levels in cakes is to use of refined wheat flour and water in the formulation. In contrast, the advantage of wholemeal cake about their nutritional value should not be disregarded, thus, the use of water in its preparation and moderate consumption are strategies that could be adopted to reduce the risk of exposure to AA.

Coconut Sugar: Chemical Analysis and Nutritional Profile; Health Impacts; Safety and Quality Control; Food Industry Applications

Consumers often wish to substitute refined sugar with alternative sweeteners, such as coconut sugar, given growing interest in healthy eating and the public's negative perception of excess sugar intake. Coconut sugar is a healthier, sweetener option than the majority of other sugars that are commercially available. Sap is collected from trees to be transported, stored, and evaporated during processing, which are labor- and resource-intensive operations. Consequently, the cost of production is higher than it is for cane sugar. Given its high nutritional value and low glycemic index, people are willing to pay higher prices for it. However, one barrier is ignorance of its health benefits. This review examines and deals in-depth with the most significant features of coconut sugar chemical analyses to focus on several analytical methodologies given the increasing demand for naturally derived sweeteners in the last 10 years. A deeper understanding of the quality control, safety, health effects, nutritional profile, and sustainability issues corresponding to coconut sugar is necessary to effectively implement them in the food industry.

Turbo-Treatment of Rice Flour to Improve Technological Functionality

Turbo-technology (i.e., a heat/shear treatment) potential in modifying rice flour technological properties (i.e., damaged starch, pasting properties, apparent cold viscosities, and color) depending on cooking temperature (120–200 °C), added water (30–40%), and drying temperature (160–200 °C) was evaluated. Applying a Box–Behnken design, highly significant (p < 0.001) models were found for moisture, damaged starch, pasting properties, and cold viscosities. The most important factor was the added water, significantly (p < 0.001) affecting all treated flour characteristics. The optimization resulted in 200 °C as cooking and drying temperature and 40% added water, but values of damaged starch and cold viscosities in the treated flour were still low. Thus, flour was overnight wetted (40% water) before cooking and drying at 200 °C, obtaining high values of damaged starch (49.5 ± 1.5 g/100 g db) and cold viscosities (from 6213 to 21,436 cP). The study represents a guide for the application of turbo-technology to design flour with tailored technological properties.

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) Powder Production and Application in Gluten-Free Bread: Effect of Particle Size

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) has interesting nutritional and technological properties and is naturally gluten-free (GF). This study investigated the physicochemical properties of okra powder obtained by a low-temperature drying process and its impact on GF bread. Its potential synergy with other hydrocolloids (i.e., hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) and Psyllium fibre (Psy)) was also studied. As the importance of powder particle size in food design is well known, whole okra powder (WOP; ≤ 1000 µm) and fine okra powder (FOP; ≤ 250 µm) were produced. Compared to the standard formulation, WOP and FOP doughs required less water to reach the desired dough consistency (200 ± 20 Brabender unit) and generally showed higher stability during mixing. Dough development was affected by HPMC more than okra powder particle size. Breads containing WOP or FOP in combination with HPMC exhibited high specific volume and soft texture, while the combination with Psy resulted in a less-developed, harder and darker bread. The combination with HPMC also guaranteed a longer shelf-life, regardless of okra powder particle size. These results may prove useful for the agri-food industry, as they demonstrate that okra can be used as an innovative natural hydrocolloid.