Food emulsions as delivery systems for flavor compounds: A review.

Food flavor is an important attribute of quality food, and it largely determines consumer food preference. Many food products exist as emulsions or experience emulsification during processing, and therefore, a good understanding of flavor release from emulsions is essential to design food with desirable flavor characteristics. Emulsions are biphasic systems, where flavor compounds are partitioning into different phases, and the releases can be modulated through different ways. Emulsion ingredients, such as oils, emulsifiers, thickening agents, can interact with flavor compounds, thus modifying the thermodynamic behavior of flavor compounds. Emulsion structures, including droplet size and size distribution, viscosity, interface thickness, etc., can influence flavor component partition and their diffusion in the emulsions, resulting in different release kinetics. When emulsions are consumed in the mouth, both emulsion ingredients and structures undergo significant changes, resulting in different flavor perception. Special design of emulsion structures in the water phase, oil phase, and interface provides emulsions with great potential as delivery systems to control flavor release in wider applications. This review provides an overview of the current understanding of flavor release from emulsions, and how emulsions can behave as delivery systems for flavor compounds to better design novel food products with enhanced sensorial and nutritional attributes.

Comparative study of interfacial properties and thermal behaviour of milk fat globules and membrane prepared from ultrasonicated bovine milk.

Milk fat globules or milk fat globule membranes (MFGs/MFGM) have been added to the infant formula to fortify the phospholipids and narrow the nutritional gap from breast milk. The main aim of this study was to profile the interfacial and thermal properties of MFGs/MFGM prepared from ultrasonicated bovine milk. Bovine milk was sonicated at ultrasonic intensities of 20 kHz and 40 kHz independently or synchronously with the duration time of 0 min (control), 5 min, 10 min, and 15 min (work/rest cycles = 5 s: 3 s). Ultrasonic treatments at 20 kHz/ 5 min and 20 + 40 kHz/ 5 min improved the volume density (%) of smaller particles (1-10 µm) while significantly decreasing the surface hydrophobicity (H0) (p < 0.05). 40 kHz/5 min samples showed significantly higher ζ- potential than the other samples (p < 0.05), which might be because more negative charges were detected. In comparison with control samples, ultrasonic treatments decreased the interfacial tension (π) between the air and MFGs/MFGM liquid phase. 20 kHz ultra-sonicated treatments decreased the diffusion rate (k diff) of MFGs/MFGM interfacial compositions significantly as the duration prolonged from 5 min to 15 min (p < 0.05) but did not affect the adsorption or penetration rate (k a) (p > 0.05). X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that α-crystal peaks only existed in control and ultrasonicated 5 min samples but disappeared in all 15 min samples. According to the different scanning calorimetry (DSC), one or two new exothermic events (in the range of 17.29 - 18.81 â„ƒ and 22.14 - 25.21 â„ƒ) appeared after ultrasonic treatments, which, however, were not found in control samples. Ultrasonic treatments resulted in the low-melting fractions (LMF) (TM1) peaks undetectable in MFGs/MFGM samples in which only peaks of medium-melting fractions (MMF) (TM2) and high-melting fractions (HMF) (TM3) were detected. Compared with the control, both enthalpies of crystallisation (ΔHC) and melting (ΔHM) decreased in ultrasonicated samples. In conclusion, ultrasonic treatment affects the interfacial and thermal properties of MFGs/MFGM.

Double interface formulation for improved α-tocopherol stabilisation in dehydration of emulsions.

BACKGROUND: Encapsulation of hydrophobic nutrients can be achieved by freezing and freeze-drying of oil-in-water emulsions containing glass-forming materials. The addition of a polyelectrolyte layer on the protein-stabilised oil droplets may provide better protection to the oil phase against external stresses. RESULTS: Soy protein-trehalose and whey protein-trehalose emulsions with (layer-by-layer, LBL) and without (single-layer, SL) ι-carrageenan were used as the delivery systems for olive oil with dissolved α-tocopherol. Emulsions containing 0.125 g kg(-1) protein, 0.42 g kg(-1) oil and 150 g kg(-1) trehalose with (LBL) or without (SL) 0.25 g kg(-1) ι-carrageenan at pH 3 were frozen and freeze-dried and their state transitions were studied. The stability of α-tocopherol in freeze-dried systems at 0 and 0.33 water activity (aw ) during storage at 55 °C was followed. Loss of α-tocopherol was found in soy protein-stabilised SL systems at 0.33 aw , and this loss coincided with trehalose crystallisation. The stability of α-tocopherol was retained in soy protein-stabilised LBL and whey protein-stabilised LBL and SL systems at all conditions. Trehalose crystallisation-induced loss of structure was confirmed from changes in emulsion properties and visual appearance. CONCLUSION: Component sugar crystallisation contributed to the loss of sensitive compounds, but the stability of these compounds can be improved by the use of LBL formulations.

Plant Protein versus Dairy Proteins: A pH-Dependency Investigation on Their Structure and Functional Properties.

Plant proteins are constantly gaining attention as potential substitutes for dairy proteins, due to their suitable functionality and nutritional value. This study was designed to compare the structural and functional responses of different plant protein isolates (soy, pea, lentil, and chickpea) with two commonly used dairy protein (whey protein isolates and sodium caseinate) under different pH treatments (pH 3.0, 5.0, 7.0, and 9.0). The results showed that pH had a different alteration on the structural, surface properties and functional properties of plant and dairy proteins. Plant protein generally possessed a darker color, lower solubility, emulsifying properties, and foaming capacity, whereas their foaming stability and water holding capacity were higher than those of dairy proteins. Soy protein isolates were characterized by its comparable proportion of ß-turn and random coils, zeta-potential, emulsifying (30.37 m2/g), and water-holding capacity (9.03 g/g) at alkaline conditions and chickpea protein isolates showed good oil-holding capacity (3.33 g/g at pH 9) among plant proteins. Further analysis confirmed that pH had a greater influence on the structural and functional properties of proteins as compared to protein sources, particularly at acidic conditions. Overall, this study might help processors select the appropriate plant protein as dairy alternatives for their target application in plant-based food products.

Tremella fuciform Polysaccharides: Extraction, Physicochemical, and Emulsion Properties at Different pHs.

The chemical composition, macromolecular characteristics, and structure of four types of Tremella fuciform polysaccharides (TPS) were analyzed, including one TPS that was extracted in the laboratory (L-TPS) and three commercial TPS. The effects of pH on the properties of TPS emulsions were investigated by analyzing their zeta potential, particle size, apparent viscosity, and stability. The results showed that L-TPS presented a higher percentage content of protein (2.33%) than commercial TPS (0.73-0.87%), and a lower molecular mass (17.54 × 106 g/mol). Thus, L-TPS exhibited the best emulsifying activity but gave poor emulsion stability. The droplet sizes and apparent viscosity of commercial TPS-stabilized emulsions were larger or higher in acidic environments. At pH 2, the apparent viscosity was the lowest for L-TPS. Commercial TPS emulsions were most stable at pH 6, while the L-TPS-stabilized emulsion was most stable at pH 2. The obtained results revealed that the emulsifying properties of TPS varied and the effects of pH on emulsion characteristics differed, as determined from the molecular mass, macromolecular characteristics, and structure. This research is useful for expanding the application of TPS as a novel food ingredient in emulsions.

Plant-Based Alternatives to Cheese Formulated Using Blends of Zein and Chickpea Protein Ingredients.

In this study, zein protein isolate (ZPI) and chickpea protein concentrate (CPC) ingredients were used to formulate five plant-based cheese alternatives. Ingredient ratios based on protein contributions of 0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25 and 100:0 from ZPI and CPC, respectively, were used. Formulations were developed at pH ~4.5, with a moisture target of 59%. Shea butter was used to target 15% fat, while tapioca starch was added to target the same carbohydrate content for all samples. Microstructural analysis showed differences among samples, with samples containing ZPI displaying a protein-rich layer surrounding the fat globules. Schreiber meltability and dynamic low amplitude oscillatory shear rheological analyses showed that increasing the proportion of ZPI was associated with increasing meltability and greater ability to flow at high temperatures. In addition, the sample containing only CPC showed the highest adhesiveness, springiness and cohesiveness values from the texture profile analysis, while the sample containing only ZPI exhibited the highest hardness. Furthermore, stretchability increased with increasing ZPI proportions. This work will help understanding of the role and potential of promising plant-protein-ingredient blends in formulating plant-based alternatives to cheese with desirable functional properties.

Changes in Milk Fat Globules and Membrane Proteins Prepared from pH-Adjusted Bovine Raw Milk.

Milk fat globules (MFGs) have tri-layer biological membrane structures, and their compositions are gaining more interest for their physiological benefits. In this study, the changes in MFGs and milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) proteins after cream separation from different pH bovine raw milk were investigated. Raw milk samples were adjusted to pH 5.30 and 6.30 using citric acid at 25 °C. The effect of pH and centrifugation on the structure of MFGs was evaluated by means of particle size, zeta potential and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was used to analyze the proteins in the obtained fractions. It was found that both pH and centrifugation could affect the particle size of all samples. As the volume distribution (Dv; Dv (10), Dv(50)and Dv (90)) decreased, the corresponding specific surface area (SSA) increased, and span and uniformity values showed the same trend. The decrease in the zeta potential of MFG correlated with the Dv(50), which was further confirmed by CLSM observation. More butyrophilin (BTN) and periodic acid Schiff 6/7 (PAS 6/7) were lost in cream samples at pH 5.30. The findings could provide valuable knowledge for the application of MFGs ingredient in the food industry since their structures and compositions could affect their potential functional and physiological properties.

Mechanical α-relaxations and stickiness of milk solids/maltodextrin systems around glass transition.

BACKGROUND: Stickiness correlates with changes in mechanical α-relaxation properties and often results from glass transition and plasticisation of amorphous food components. In this study, milk solids with maltodextrins with different dextrose equivalents (DE9 and DE17) were analysed for glass transition (T(g) ), α-relaxation (T(α) ) and sticky point (SPT) temperatures using differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis and a sticky point test respectively. RESULTS: At the same maltodextrin contents, T(g) and T(α) were lower for milk solids with the higher-DE maltodextrin. Increasing maltodextrin contents gave T(g) , T(α) and SPT at higher temperatures, and the magnitudes of α-relaxations with high maltodextrin (DE9 and DE17) contents were less pronounced. CONCLUSION: Stickiness was governed by glass transition and affected by skim milk/maltodextrin composition. Stickiness was reduced with increasing maltodextrin content as a result of maltodextrin miscibility with skim milk solids, particularly lactose, which changed the relaxation behaviour above the glass transition. The mixes of milk solids with low-DE maltodextrin may show improved dehydration characteristics and powder stability resulting from increased T(g) , T(α) and SPT.

Glass Transition and Re-Crystallization Phenomena of Frozen Materials and Their Effect on Frozen Food Quality.

Noncrystalline, freeze-concentrated structures are formed during food freezing. Such freeze-concentrated food materials often exhibit crystallization and recrystallization phenomena which can be related to the state of solutes and water. State diagrams are important tools in mapping the physical state and time-dependent properties of frozen materials at various storage temperatures. Transition of simple solutions, such as sucrose, can be used to describe vitrification and ice melting in freeze-concentrated materials. A maximally freeze-concentrated material often shows glass transition at Tg'. Ice melting occurs at temperatures above Tm' These transitions at temperatures above Tm' can be used to estimate crystallization and recrystallization phenomena and their rates in frozen foods. Furthermore, frozen food deterioration accelerates above Tm' and particularly as a result of temperature fluctuations during frozen food distribution and storage.

Powder and Reconstituted Properties of Commercial Infant and Follow-On Formulas.

The physical properties of 15 commercially available infant formulas (IF) and follow-on (FO) formulas were analysed. Powders made with intact milk proteins were classified into two groups; Type I-homogenous mixtures of milk powder particles (n = 6); and Type II-heterogeneous mixtures of milk powder particles and tomahawk-shaped α-lactose monohydrate crystals (n = 6). Powders made using hydrolysed proteins were classified as Type III powders (n = 3). Type II powders exhibited similar flow characteristics to Type I powders despite having significantly (p < 0.05) smaller particle size, lower circularity, and greater elongation. Type III powders exhibited lowest particles size, highest surface free fat, and poorest flow properties (p < 0.05 for all). Upon reconstitution of powders (12.5% w/w), no significant difference (p < 0.05) in apparent viscosity was observed between Type I and II powders. Reconstituted Type III powders had relatively poor stability to separation compared to Type I and II powders, caused by large starch granules and/or poor emulsification by hydrolysed proteins. Overall, this study illustrated the range of physical behaviour and structures present in commercial IF powders. In particular, the effect of dry addition of lactose and the hydrolysis of protein were found to have major effects on physical properties.

Physicochemical properties, structural transformation, and relaxation time in strength analysis for honey powder models.

Present study developed a strength analysis for relaxation time (τ) in characterizing physicochemical properties and structural transformation of freeze-dried honey/whey protein isolate (H/WPI) and honey/maltodextrin (H/MD) models based on water sorption, time-dependent crystallization, glass transition, and α-relaxation at various water activities (0.11aw to 0.76aw) and 25 °C. Water sorption data of two models explained WPI was a more effectiveness drying stabilizer than MD as H/WPI model owned higher monolayer water content. Crystallization was observed in prepared models with drying-aids content below 50% of mass ratios at water activity above 0.44aw and 25 °C, whereas the extent of crystallization and structural collapse were inhibited by WPI and MD addition based on sorption isotherms. Glass transition temperature, α-relaxation temperature, and τ for two models were composition-dependent and altered by water, WPI, and MD at water activity below 0.44aw. According to strength analysis of τ, the S for H/WPI and H/MD models was affected by drying-aids and could give a quantitative measure to estimate compositional effects on τ. Moreover, a S-involved state diagram was established to determine the critical parameters (water content and S) for controlling structural transformation of honey powder models during production and storage, i.e., collapse and stickiness.

Gelatinization and freeze-concentration effects on recrystallization in corn and potato starch gels.

Freeze-concentration of starch gels was controlled by temperature and gelatinization with glucose and lactose. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of freezing temperature and gel composition on starch recrystallization behaviour of corn and potato starch gels (water content 70%, w/w) in water or glucose or lactose (10%, w/w) solutions. Starch gels were obtained by heating in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Samples of starch gels were frozen at -10 degrees C, -20 degrees C and -30 degrees C for 24h and, after thawing, stored at +2 degrees C for 0, 1, 2, 4 and 8 days. The extent of starch recrystallization was taken from the enthalpy of melting of the recrystallized starch by DSC. Freezing temperatures, glucose, lactose and the origin of the starch affected the recrystallization behaviour greatly. The recrystallization of amorphous starch during storage was enhanced by freeze-concentration of gels at temperatures above T'(m). Molecular mobility was enhanced by unfrozen water and consequently molecular rearrangements for nucleation could take place. Further storage at a higher temperature enhanced the growth and the maturation of crystals. In particular, glucose decreased the T'(m) of the gels and consequently lower freezing temperatures were needed to reduce enhanced recrystallization during storage. Freeze-concentration temperatures also showed a significant effect on the size and the perfection of crystals formed in starch recrystallization.

Characterization of Physical and Mechanical Properties of Miscible Lactose-Sugars Systems.

Lactose-sugars systems were produced by spray drying. They were lactose, lactose-glucose (4:1) mixtures, lactose-maltose (4:1) mixtures, lactose-sucrose (4:1) mixtures, lactose-trehalose (4:1) mixtures, and lactose-corn syrup solids (CSS) (4:1) mixtures. The physical characteristics, water sorption behavior, glass transition, and mechanical properties of miscible lactose-sugars systems were investigated. Lactose-glucose mixtures had larger particle size than other lactose-sugars systems after spray drying. The presence of glucose or sucrose in lactose-sugars mixtures decreased the glass transition temperatures of amorphous systems, while the presence of maltose and trehalose had only minor impact on the glass transition temperatures. Moreover, glucose accelerated the crystallization of amorphous system at 0.44 aw , but its presence delayed the loss of sorbed water at higher water activities (≥0.54 aw ). Mechanical property study indicated that glucose and sucrose in amorphous system could result in an increase of molecular mobility, while the presence of CSS could decrease the free volume and maintain the stiffness of the miscible systems.

Crystallization and X-ray diffraction of spray-dried and freeze-dried amorphous lactose.

Crystallization of spray-dried and freeze-dried amorphous lactose over different relative vapor pressures (RVP) and storage times was studied. Crystallization was observed from increasing peak intensities in X-ray diffraction patterns. Lactose was crystallized in the samples stored at RVP of 44.1% and above in both types of dehydrated powders. The rate of crystallization increased with increasing RVP and storage time. Similar crystallization behavior of both spray-dried and freeze-dried lactose was observed. Lactose crystallized as alpha-lactose monohydrate, anhydrous beta-lactose, and the anhydrous form of alpha- and beta-lactose in a molar ratio of 5:3 and 4:1 in both spray-dried and freeze-dried forms. Peak intensities of X-ray diffraction patterns for anhydrous beta-lactose were decreased, and for alpha-lactose monohydrate increased with increasing storage RVP and time. The crystallization data were successfully modeled using Avrami equation at RVP of 54.5% and above. The crystallization data obtained is helpful in understanding and predicting storage stability of lactose-containing food and pharmaceutical products.

Solid-state characterization of spray-dried ice cream mixes.

The main physicochemical properties of spray-dried ice cream mixes (i.e. surface composition, wettability, flowability and microstructure) were analyzed. Emulsions contained 19-44% milk fat on a dry basis and included mixes with no added emulsifier and/or sucrose. The time necessary for complete wetting of the powders correlated with the amount of surface free-fat measured by means of solvent extraction. Non-micellar casein (sodium caseinate) showed to be a better co-encapsulant than micellar casein (skim milk) as demonstrated by surface fat coverage measured by electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA). Emulsifiers influenced the fat surface composition of the powders by reducing the amount of surface protein due to their lower interfacial tension. Surface fat caused an initial overestimation of the particle size of the powders due to fat-related caking. Powders showed no flow before and after surface fat extraction which was attributed to fat-related caking and very small particle size (<80 microm), respectively.

Quantification of Protein Hydration, Glass Transitions, and Structural Relaxations of Aqueous Protein and Carbohydrate-Protein Systems.

Water distribution and miscibility of carbohydrate and protein components in biological materials and their structural contributions in concentrated solids are poorly understood. In the present study, structural relaxations and a glass transition of protein hydration water and antiplasticization of the hydration water at low temperatures were measured using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for bovine whey protein (BWP), aqueous glucose-fructose (GF), and their mixture. Thermal transitions of α-lactalbumin and ß-lactoglobulin components of BWP included water-content-dependent endothermic but reversible dehydration and denaturation, and exothermic and irreversible aggregation. An α-relaxation assigned to hydration water in BWP appeared at water-content-dependent temperatures and increased to over the range of 150-200 K at decreasing water content and in the presence of GF. Two separate glass transitions and individual fractions of unfrozen water of ternary GF-BWP-water systems contributed to uncoupled α-relaxations, suggesting different roles of protein hydration water and carbohydrate vitrification in concentrated solids during freezing and dehydration. Hydration water in the BWP fraction of GF-BWP systems was derived from equilibrium water sorption and glass transition data of the GF fraction, which gave a significant universal method to quantify (i) protein hydration water and (ii) the unfrozen water in protein-carbohydrate systems for such applications as cryopreservation, freezing, lyophilization, and dehydration of biological materials. A ternary supplemented phase diagram (state diagram) established for the GF-BWP-water system can be used for the analysis of the water distribution across carbohydrate and protein components in such applications.

Stability of flocculated particles in concentrated and high hydrophilic solid layer-by-layer (LBL) emulsions formed using whey proteins and gum Arabic.

The objective of the present study was to investigate flocculation in layer-by-layer (LBL) emulsion systems with high total solids content and deflocculation at various pH conditions, and the effects of whey protein isolate (WPI) concentration and total solids content on the stability of LBL emulsions. WPI (1.96% (1WPI) or 10.71% (10WPI), w/w in water) was prepared in water and high-pressure homogenized with sunflower oil (10%, w/w, of total emulsion). Gum Arabic (0.15%, w/w, in total emulsion) was added to assemble electrostatically on WPI at oil particle interfaces at pH3.5 using aqueous citric acid (10% w/w) forming LBL emulsion. The ζ-potential measurements showed charge reversal upon addition of gum Arabic solution into single layer (SL) emulsion confirming the formation of LBL interface. Trehalose:maltodextrin mixture (1:1, w/w, total emulsion, 28.57% (28) or 57.14% (57), w/w, in water) was used in the continuous phase. The high total solids content of the system results in depletion flocculation of the particles leading to bridging flocculation without coalescence as deflocculation into individual particles occurred with increasing pH from pH3.5 to pH6.5 in 10WPI systems. Deflocculation was evident in 10WPI-28 and 10WPI-57 as found from a decreased ζ-average diameter and visually under microscope. Coalescence was observed in 1WPI systems. Viscosity of the systems was significantly (P<0.05) increased with higher total solids content. Accelerated destabilization test showed that systems at higher WPI and total solids contents exhibited the highest stability against creaming. Deflocculation in LBL systems can be controlled by pH while high solids in the aqueous phase provide stability against creaming.

Dissolution of sucrose crystals in the anhydrous sorbitol melt.

The dissolution of a sugar (sucrose as a model) with higher melting point was studied in a molten food polyol (sorbitol as a model) with lower melting point, both in anhydrous state. A DSC and optical examination revealed the dissolution of anhydrous sucrose crystals (mp 192 degrees C) in anhydrous sorbitol (mp 99 degrees C) liquid melt. The sucrose-sorbitol crystal mixtures at the proportions of 10, 30, 60, 100 and 150 g of sucrose per 100 g of sorbitol were heat scanned in a DSC to above melting endotherm of sorbitol but well below the onset temperature of melting of sucrose at three different temperatures 110, 130 and 150 degrees C. The heat scanning modes used were with or without isothermal holding. The dissolution of sucrose in the sorbitol liquid melt was manifested by an increase in the glass transition temperature of the melt and corresponding decrease in endothermic melting enthalpy of sucrose. At given experimental conditions, as high as 25 and 85% of sucrose dissolved in the sorbitol melt during 1 h of isothermal holding at 110 and 150 degrees C, respectively. Optical microscopic observation also clearly showed the reduction in the size of sucrose crystals in sorbitol melt during the isothermal holding at those temperatures.

Nonenzymatic browning kinetics of a carbohydrate-based low-moisture food system at temperatures applicable to spray drying.

Effects of water contents on nonenzymatic browning (NEB) rates of amorphous, carbohydrate-based food model systems containing L-lysine and D-xylose as reactants were studied at different temperatures (40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90 degrees C) applicable to spray drying conditions. Water sorption was determined gravimetrically, and data were modeled using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller and Guggenheim-Anderson-deBoer equations. Glass transition, Tg was measured by DSC. NEB was followed spectrophotometrically. The rate of browning increased with water content and temperature, but a lower T-Tg was needed for browning at decreasing water content. Water content seemed to affect the activation energy of NEB, and higher water contents decreased the temperature dependence of the NEB. At higher temperatures, the NEB became less water content dependent and enhanced browning in spray-drying. The temperature dependence of nonenzymatic browning could also be modeled using the Williams-Landel-Ferry (WLF) equation, but the WLF constants were dependent on the water content.

Nonenzymatic browning in food models in the vicinity of the glass transition: effects of fructose, glucose, and xylose as reducing sugar.

Effects of a reducing sugar, fructose, glucose, or xylose, and glass transition on the nonenzymatic browning (NEB) rate in maltodextrin (MD), poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), and water systems were studied. Glass transition temperatures (T(g)) were determined using DSC. Water contents were determined gravimetrically, and NEB rates were followed at several temperatures spectrophotometrically at 280 and 420 nm. Reducing sugar did not affect water contents, but xylose reduced the T(g) of the solid models. Sugars showed decreasing NEB reactivity in the order xylose > fructose > glucose in every matrix material. The NEB reactivity and temperature dependence of the single sugars varied in different matrices. The NEB rates of the solid models increased at temperatures 10-20 degrees C above the T(g), and nonlinearity was observed in Arrhenius plots in the vicinity of T(g). The temperature dependence of nonenzymatic browning could also be modeled using the WLF equation.