Young bamboo flour as a substitute for emulsifying salts in requeijão cremoso processed cheese and the effect on the quality parameters.

The effect of the substitution of emulsifying salt by the young bamboo flour (BF) (0, 25, 50, 75, 100 % w/w) on requeijão cremoso processed cheese [REQ, REQ 25, REQ 75 REQ 100]) processing was investigated. Gross composition, calcium and sodium values, functional properties (melting rate), color parameters (L, a*, b*, C*, and Whiteness Index, WI), texture profile, fatty acid profile, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and sensory profiling were evaluated. No effect was observed on the gross composition; however, sodium and melting rate values were decreased, and calcium values presented the opposite behavior. BF could modify the optical parameters, observing an increase in WI values. Higher BF addition increased hardness and lowered elasticity, and regarding the fatty acid profile, there is no significant difference. Different volatile compounds were noted in a proportional form with the BF addition, which was reflected in similar sensory acceptance for REQ 25 and control samples. Although some aspects require further in-depth studies, using BF as a substitute for emulsifying salt in requeijão cremoso processed cheese appears to be a viable option, especially when considering partial replacements.

Thermosonication as an effective substitution for fusion in Brazilian cheese spread (Requeijão Cremoso) manufacturing: The effect of ultrasonic power on technological properties.

In this initial study, the impact of thermosonication as an alternative to the traditional fusion in Brazilian cheese spread (Requeijão Cremoso) manufacture was investigated. The effect of ultrasound (US) power was evaluated considering various aspects such as gross composition, microstructure, texture, rheology, color, fatty acid composition, and volatile compounds. A 13 mm US probe operating at 20 kHz was used. The experiment involved different US power levels (200, 400, and 600 W) at 85 °C for 1 min, and results were compared to the conventional process in the same conditions (85 °C for 1 min, control treatment). The texture became softer as ultrasound power increased from 200 to 600 W, which was attributed to structural changes within the protein and lipid matrix. The color of the cheese spread also underwent noticeable changes for all US treatments, and treatment at 600 W resulted in increased lightness but reduced color intensity. Moreover, the fatty acid composition of the cheese spread showed variations with different US power, with samples treated at 600 W showing lower concentrations of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, as well as lower atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indexes, indicating a potentially healthier product. Volatile compounds were also influenced by US, with less compounds being identified at higher powers, especially at 600 W. This could indicate possible degradation, which should be evaluated in further studies regarding US treatment effects on consumer perception. Hence, this initial work demonstrated that thermosonication might be interesting in the manufacture of Brazilian cheese spread, since it can be used to manipulate the texture, color and aroma of the product in order to improve its quality parameters.

Impact of animal origin of milk, processing technology, type of product, and price on the Boursin cheese choice process: Insights of a discrete choice experiment and eye tracking.

Boursin is a versatile semisoft cheese that can be made with different types of milk. While widely distributed in the European and North American markets, Boursin is produced to a limited extent in Brazil despite its commercial potential. This scenario encourages consumer-oriented product development studies by facilitating data collection with less bias and fewer product preconceptions, thus favoring the investigation of technological aspects of commercial interest. This study evaluates Brazilians' perceptions regarding different versions of Boursin cheese, with the aim of gaining a better understanding of the factors related to choosing cheese. Four attributes related to cheese production were evaluated at three different levels using two discrete choice experiments: one with eye tracking (n = 20) and another without (n = 312). These attributes included "type of processing" (evaluating pasteurization, ohmic heating, and preparation with raw milk), "animal origin of milk" (cow, goat, or buffalo milk), "type of product" (traditional, light, and lactose-free versions), and "price" (10.99, 13.99, and 16.99 BRL). Information regarding processing with ohmic heating did not affect the probability of Boursin being chosen, suggesting that consumers are open to using this emerging technology in Boursin cheese. However, information on being made with goat, buffalo, and raw milk negatively impacted the probability of choice, along with the price of 16.99 BRL. The frequency of cheese consumption and the level of health concerns also affected the probability of choosing the product. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Identifying the relationship between extrinsic attributes presented on the Boursin cheese label and the consumer's choice process can aid the communication process with the target audience and reveal how some technological issues of interest to manufacturers are perceived. This study indicates how information regarding the animal origin of the milk (cow, goat, and buffalo), the type of processing (pasteurization, ohmic heating, and raw milk), the version of the product (traditional, light, and lactose-free), and the price affect the consumer choice process. The results provide insights that can be applied to product processing and designing labels.

Heavy metals and health risk assessment of Brazilian artisanal cheeses.

Dairy products stand out as a food matrix susceptible to the contamination of heavy metals via cattle feed and environmental or processing conditions. Specifically, in the case of cheese, the concentrations can be further increased depending on the production process. The artisanal cheese market has been standing out, especially in Brazil, due to cultural and gastronomic reasons. Eight types of Brazilian artisanal cheese were analyzed for metal concentrations (chromium, copper, cadmium, lead, arsenic, and mercury, n = 80, 10 samples of each cheese) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Based on the results, a health risk assessment was carried out, based on the determination of estimated daily intake, target hazard quotient (THQ), and hazard index (HI). Variable concentrations were observed between the types of cheese, but in all cases the THQ and HI values were less than 1, indicating an absence of potential risk in the consumption of artisanal cheeses in relation to the intake of heavy metals.

Impact of adding xylooligosaccharides encapsulated in butter: Microstructural, optical, rheological and sensory aspects.

This study investigated the microstructure, rheological properties, and sensory characteristics of butters produced with free and encapsulated xylooligosaccharides (XOS). Four formulations of butter were processed: BCONT: 0 % w/w XOS (control); BXOS: 20% w/w free XOS; BXOS-ALG: 20% w/w XOS microencapsulated with alginate (XOS-alginate ratio of 3:1 w/w); and BXOS-GEL: 20% w/w XOS microencapsulated with alginate-gelatin (XOS-alginate-gelatin ratio of 3:1:1.5 w/w). The microparticles showed a bimodal distribution, low size and low span values, demonstrating physical stability to be included in emulsions. The XOS-ALG presented surface weighted mean diameter (D3.2) of 90.24 µm, volume-weighted mean diameter (D4.3) of 131.8 µm, and Span of 2.14. In contrast, the XOS-GEL presented D3.2 of 82.80 µm, D4.3 of 141.0 µm, and a Span of 2.46. Products with XOS were characterized by higher creaminess, sweet taste, and lower salty taste than the control. However, the addition form significantly impacted the other evaluated parameters. The utilization of XOS in a free form (BXOS) resulted in smaller droplet sizes (1.26 µm) than encapsulated XOS and control (XOS-ALG = 1.32 µm / XOS-GEL = 1.58 µm, / BCONT = 1.59 µm), and changes in the rheological parameters (higher values of shear stress, viscosity, consistency index, rigidity (J0), and Newtonian viscosity (ηN) and lower elasticity (τ)). Furthermore, it changed the color parameters (more yellow and dark color, lower L* and higher b* values). On the other hand, the utilization of micropaticles of XOS (BXOS-ALG and BXOS-GEL) kept shear stress, viscosity, consistency index, rigidity (J0), and elasticity (τ) more similar to control. The products had a less intense yellow color (lower b* values) and was perceived with more consistency and butter taste. However, the presence of particles was perceived by consumers. The results suggest that consumers were more attentive to reporting flavor-related attributes than texture. In conclusion, adding microparticles of XOS could improve butter's rheological and sensory properties. In conclusion, adding microparticles of XOS could improve butter's rheological and sensory properties.

Consumers' attitudes of high-intensity ultrasound in Minas Frescal cheese processing: An innovative approach with text highlighting technique.

Due to the intense competition in the sector, the dairy market maintains a constant search for innovations. Thus, new technologies are incorporated, and new products are constantly launched, increasing the range of consumer options. In this way, the understanding of consumers' motivations, attitudes, and behaviors in the moments of choice, purchase, and consumption are important for the academic public and food industries. This study used the Text Highlighting methodology to assess Brazilian consumers' explicit attitudes towards using high-intensity ultrasound technology in Minas Frescal cheese processing. In the task, consumers were asked to highlight in a text the terms they "liked" or "disliked" about using high-intensity ultrasound in the Minas Frescal cheese processing. A seven-point Likert scale was also used to assess consumers' attitudinal statements. A high engagement of consumers with the Text Highlighting methodology could be observed (43.8-92.3% of text highlighting), which suggests good intuitiveness of the technique. Including information about the benefits of the emerging technology in the product, mainly on sensory and nutritional properties, may increase positive consumer perception, as it promotes the consumers to express their value judgment in the form of "liked". At the same time, the harms of the traditional processing technique prompted consumers to express their value judgment in the "disliked" highlights. It was observed that information should be in a simple and direct language, as technical terminology in the text did not have a positive effect. The categorizing of consumers according to the sentimental score showed that consumers are still reticent to use emerging technologies in Minas Frescal cheese processing. Consumers' attitudinal statements demonstrated that consumers perceive high-intensity ultrasound as a positive idea and safety technology for Minas Frescal cheese processing. Still, they are not willing to pay premium prices. In conclusion, Text Highlighting produced valuable insights that can be used in communication strategies with Minas Frescal cheese consumers.

Free comment as a valuable approach to characterize and identify the drivers of liking of high-protein flavored milk drink submitted to ohmic heating.

Flavored milk drink is a popular dairy product traditionally processed by pasteurization, which is a safe and robust process. Still, it can imply a greater energy expenditure and a more significant sensorial alteration. Ohmic heating (OH) has been proposed as an alternative to dairy processing, including flavored milk drink. However, its impact on sensory characteristics needs to be evidenced. This study used Free Comment, an underexplored methodology in sensory studies, to characterize five samples of high-protein vanilla-flavored milk drink: PAST (conventional pasteurization 72 °C/15 s); OH6 (ohmic heating at 5.22 V/cm); OH8 (ohmic heating at 6.96 V/cm); OH10 (ohmic heating at 8.70 V/cm), and OH12 (ohmic heating at 10.43 V/cm). Free Comment raised similar descriptors to those found in studies that used more consolidated descriptive methods. The employed statistical approach allowed observation that pasteurization and OH treatment have different effects on the sensory profile of products, and the electrical field strength of OH also has a significant impact. PAST was slightly to moderately negatively associated with "acid taste," "fresh milk taste," "smoothness," "sweet taste," "vanilla flavor," "vanilla aroma," "viscous," and "white color." On the other hand, OH processing with more intense electric fields (OH10 and OH12) produced flavored milk drinks strongly associated with the "in natura" milk descriptors ("fresh milk aroma" and "fresh milk taste"). Furthermore, the products were characterized by the descriptors "homogeneous," "sweet aroma," "sweet taste," "vanilla aroma," "white color," "vanilla taste," and "smoothness." In parallel, less intense electric fields (OH6 and OH8) produced samples more associated with a bitter taste, viscosity, and lumps presence. Sweet taste and fresh milk taste were the drivers of liking. In conclusion, OH with more intense electric fields (OH10 and OH12) was promising in flavored milk drink processing. Furthermore, the free comment was a valuable approach to characterize and identify the drivers of liking of high-protein flavored milk drink submitted to OH.

Probiotic fermented whey-milk beverages: Effect of different probiotic strains on the physicochemical characteristics, biological activity, and bioactive peptides.

The effect of probiotic strains (Lactobacillus acidophilus La-03 (La-03); Lactobacillus acidophilus La-05 (La-05); Bifidobacterium Bb-12 (Bb-12) or Lacticaseibacillus casei-01 (L. casei-01)) on the characteristics of fermented whey-milk beverages during storage (4 °C, 30 days) was evaluated. The products were assessed for biological and antioxidant activities, physicochemical characteristics, and bioactive peptides. Probiotic addition increased α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition and antioxidant activities, mainly at 15 days of storage. L. casei-01 showed higher metabolic activity (higher titratable acidity and lower pH values) and the presence of anti-hypertensive peptides, while La-5 and Bb-12 showed higher α-glucosidase inhibition, improvements in the high saturated hypercholesterolemic index, and peptides with ACE-inhibitory, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant activities. Our findings suggest that probiotic fermented whey-milk beverages may exert antidiabetic and antioxidant properties, being suggested La-5 or Bb-12 as probiotics and 15 days of storage.

Thermosonication as a pretreatment of raw milk for Minas frescal cheese production.

Minas frescal cheese is extremely popular in Brazil, with high perishability and acceptability. Among emerging technologies, ultrasound stands out for its satisfactory results regarding microbiological safety and technological and sensory aspects. The combined mild temperature application, called thermosonication, can generate even more promising results. In this study, a high-intensity ultrasound system combined with thermal heating (TS, thermosonication) was applied for the treatment of raw milk to produce Minas Frescal cheese. US energy was delivered to raw milk samples using a probe operating at a 20 kHz of frequency and nominal power of 160, 400, and 640 W. The TS system was compared with conventional pasteurization (HTST, high-temperature short-time pasteurization) at 72 to 75 °C and 15 s. Soft cheeses were prepared with different samples: (a) raw milk (control), b)conventionally pasteurized milk (HTST), and c) TS treat milk in different nominal power (TS160, TS400, and TS640). The produced cheeses were evaluated for microbiological behavior, rheology, color parameters, and bioactive compounds. TS treatment in milk resulted in higher microbial inactivation and stability during storage, improved color parameters (higher lightness (L*), and whiteness index (WI). TS treatment also showed a higher generation of bioactive compounds (higher antioxidant, and inhibitory activities of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and angiotensin-converting enzymes) than HTST. The impact of TS on rheological properties was similar to HTST, resulting in more brittle and less firm products than the cheese produced with raw milk. The positive effects were more prominent using a nominal power of 400 W (TS400). Therefore, TS proved to be a promising process for processing milk for Minas Frescal cheese production.

Ohmic heating treatment in high-protein vanilla flavored milk: Quality, processing factors, and biological activity.

The processing of high-protein vanilla-flavored milk was performed under different electric field strengths of ohmic heating (5.22 V/cm, OH6; 6.96 V/cm, OH8; 8.70 V/cm, OH10; 10.43 V/cm, OH12) to evaluate the energy consumption, processing parameters, and microbiological, rheological, and biological aspects, compared with the sample submitted to conventional pasteurization (PAST, 72 °C/15 s). All samples showed higher than 12 g/100 mL of protein, consisting of high-protein content products. In addition, Ohmic Heating (OH) generated lower energy expenditure and more significant microbial inactivation of lactic acid bacteria, molds and yeasts, total mesophiles, and psychotropics. Furthermore, OH at lower electric field strengths, mainly OH8, improved anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, and anti-hypertensive activities and rheological properties, and resulted in lower hydroxymethylfurfural contents, and higher whey protein nitrogen index. The results suggest that OH is a technology that can be used in flavored milk with high-protein content, being recommended an electric field strength of 6.96 V/cm. However, more studies are necessary to evaluate the effect of OH on high-protein dairy products, mainly by studying other OH processing parameters.

What are the challenges for ohmic heating in the food industry? Insights of a bibliometric analysis.

The trends related to ohmic heating technology in food processing were evaluated using bibliometric analysis based on the scientific literature published in the last decade. Publications from Turkey, Brazil, and Iran represent 32% of all publications. Most studies have targeted the definition of the best combinations of operational parameters for application in different food matrices and their possible effects on the food properties. In addition, a tendency to use ohmic heating as an alternative technology for pasteurization was observed. Future studies should develop mathematical models that evaluate process parameters and food characteristics in the inactivation of microorganisms and enzymes and maintenance of bioactive compounds, the study of the non-thermal effect of electromagnetic waves on the food quality, the evaluation of the processing conditions and food physicochemical properties in the electrode corrosion and migration of metal ions to the treated food, and improvements of homogeneity during processing. This study was the first to perform a bibliometric analysis based on scientific literature concerning ohmic heating in food processing and presented the challenges, future trends, and evolution of scientific research.

Positive effects of thermosonication in Jamun fruit dairy dessert processing.

The effects of thermosonication processing (TS, 90 °C, ultrasound powers of 200, 400, and 600 W) on the quality parameters of Jamun fruit dairy dessert compared to conventional heating processing (high-temperature short time, (HTST), 90 °C/20 s) were evaluated. Microbiological inactivation and stability, rheological parameters, physical properties, volatile and fatty acid profiles, and bioactive compounds were assessed. TS provided more significant microbial inactivation (1 log CFU mL-1) and higher microbial stability during storage (21 days) than HTST, with 3, 2, and 2.8 log CFU mL-1 lower counts for yeasts and molds, aerobic mesophilic bacteria, and lactic acid bacteria, respectively. In addition, TS-treated samples showed higher anti-hypertensive (>39%), antioxidant (>33%), and anti-diabetic (>27%) activities, a higher concentration of phenolic compounds (>22%), preservation of anthocyanins, and better digestibility due to the smaller fat droplet size (observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy). Furthermore, lower TS powers (200 W) improved the fatty acid (higher monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid contents, 52.78 and 132.24%) and volatile (higher number of terpenes, n = 5) profiles and decreased the atherogenic index. On the other hand, higher TS powers (600 W) maintained the rheological parameters of the control product and contributed more significantly to the functional properties of the products (antioxidant, anti-hypertensive, and anti-diabetic). In conclusion, TS proved to be efficient in treating Jamun fruit dairy dessert, opening space for new studies to define process parameters and expand TS application in other food matrices.

Fat replacement by green banana biomass: Impact on the technological, nutritional and dynamic sensory profiling of chicken mortadella.

Reducing the fat content of processed meat products has become necessary due to consumer-driven demand for healthier foods. In this sense, this study aimed to characterize chicken mortadella with total and partial replacement of chicken skin by green banana biomass (GBB). Five treatments (with two repetitions each and weighing 400 g) were prepared: F0 (control treatment formulated with 100% chicken skin), F1, F2, F3, and F4 (25, 50, 75, and 100% of chicken skin replacement by GBB, respectively). Samples were characterized according to physicochemical composition - approximate composition, energy value, pH, water activity (Aw), emulsion stability (ES), water-holding capacity (WHC), instrumental color (L*, a* and b*), instrumental texture, fatty acid profile, and microstructure) - nutritional quality and sensory properties (dynamic profiling by Temporal Check-all-that-apply and acceptance). The replacement of 100% chicken skin by GBB increased the WHC of mortadella and did not affect the ES in all formulations. The addition of GBB did not affect the typical mortadella flavor of the samples, and the dominance of the flavor was directed towards the fibrous and fat flavor attributes. In addition, all formulations had acceptance scores above 6.5. Based on the results, replacement up to 100% of chicken skin with GBB is possible and obtains a healthier emulsified meat product with good sensory acceptance.

The impact of packaging design on the perceived quality of honey by Brazilian consumers.

This study aimed to construct and validate a scale to evaluate the honey consumer perception. Furthermore, the impact of packaging design on honey's perceived quality and purchase intention was evaluated. Brazilian consumers (n = 343) answered the 21 self-descriptive statements of the scale using 7-point Likert scales. Furthermore, six different packages were presented, and the consumer perception (health, origin, safety, and taste) and purchase intention were evaluated using 5-point and 7-point Likert scales, respectively. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and PLS path modeling were employed. The validated scale had 13 self-descriptive statements (indicators with factor loading higher than 0.4) and showed discriminant (heterotrait-monotrait ratio values < 0.85) and convergent validity (average variance extracted > 0.4) and adequate reliability (composite reliability > 0.70). The consumers associated honey with health properties and a safe product. Furthermore, they preferred honey purchased directly from producers due to its perceived quality (natural and pure). Honey packaged in glass jars with or without dipper was perceived as healthier, tastier, higher quality, and from trusted origin. Furthermore, glass jars were considered more practical and sustainable packages.

Impact of food choice and consumption profile on the perception of food coloring on kefir labels: Insights of the projective technique of Product Personality Profiling.

As consumer awareness of food expands, as does the understanding of the correlation between nutrition and health benefits, consumers are increasingly looking for healthier foods. One of these aspects can be observed in the search for foods with clean labels and with the removal/replacement of artificial additives, such as coloring. However, there are still no studies on the perception of foods with a positive reputation, such as fermented dairy. The present work aimed to evaluate the consumers' perception (n = 121) of kefir labels with the addition of food dyes from different origins (KN = natural kefir / no dye; KCA = kefir added with artificial coloring; KCN = kefir added with natural coloring; KCR = kefir added with coloring from fruit residues), associating data obtained through Product Personality Profile (PPP) and the Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ). Based on FCQ's data, consumers were subdivided into three distinct clusters with specific profiles - Conscious, Balanced, and Flexible - and had their perceptions of each of the kefir labels described by PPP and Multidimensional Alignment Analysis (MDA). By consensus, the groups associated the KN label with individuals concerned about healthy eating and diets, reaffirming the positive commercial positioning of kefir. At the same time, for KCA, a contrasting association was observed. The Conscious group noted the samples better, emphasizing the correlation of KCR (with added fruit residue dye) with an adult female, married and engaged in physical activity. KCN was correlated with a young, single, student and gym or running target group stands out for the Balanced group. The Flexible one also associated the consumption of KCA with a young audience, ranging from athletic to overweight, with a normal to unbalanced diet. In summary, different impacts on the perception of kefir labels could be elicited with the correlation of FCQ, PPP, and MDA, emphasizing the importance of exploring market segments and design strategies for the target audience.

Lyophilized Symbiotic Mitigates Mucositis Induced by 5-Fluorouracil.

Mucositis is an adverse effect of cancer chemotherapies using 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU). It is characterized by mucosal inflammation, pain, diarrhea, and weight loss. Some studies reported promising healing effects of probiotic strains, when associated with prebiotics, as adjuvant treatment of mucositis. We developed a lyophilized symbiotic product, containing skimmed milk, supplemented with whey protein isolate (WPI) and with fructooligosaccharides (FOS), and fermented by Lactobacillus casei BL23, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum B7, and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus B1. In a mice 5-FU mucositis model, this symbiotic lyophilized formulation was able to reduce weight loss and intestinal permeability. This last was determined in vivo by quantifying blood radioactivity after oral administration of 99mTc-DTPA. Finally, histological damages caused by 5-FU-induced mucositis were monitored. Consumption of the symbiotic formulation caused a reduced score of inflammation in the duodenum, ileum, and colon. In addition, it decreased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α in the mice ileum. The symbiotic product developed in this work thus represents a promising adjuvant treatment of mucositis.

Influence of different levels of ethnocentrism of the Brazilian consumer on the choice of dulce de leche from different countries of origin.

Dulce de leche, a concentrated dairy product with high added value, is an essential product of Brazilian culture. However, with a competitive market among economic blocks, it is important to know if the country of origin influences the perception of consumers and the intention to purchase a product, aiming to boost production in the domestic market. This study aimed to assess the impact of different levels of ethnocentrism on the consumer perception and buying behavior toward dulce de leche (DL) from other countries (Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil). Through an online survey, participants' demographic data (n = 224) was collected. Then they were encouraged to identify the purchase motivation using the Hard Laddering (HL) methodology and to assess the consumer's level of ethnocentrism (CE) with CESTSCALE. Three distinct groups were identified: high, moderate, and low ethnocentric. Consumers with high CE declared themselves conservative, with a more significant number of self-employed workers, and prefer and always buy national products. This group had a robust dominant chain only for the national product, highlighting the flavor and quality, and values ​​of nationalism and solidarity with local producers. On the other hand, consumers with low CE were self-declared liberal and had a higher level of education. They demonstrated significantly more favorable attitudes and intentions towards purchasing imported products due to improved quality, although patriotic behavior was also evident. We conclude that with CETSCALE, it was possible to identify that the sample of the Brazilian population studied has different levels of CE, which strongly impact the purchase attitude of products, especially the imported ones. However, it was only through the HL technique that it was noticed that, in addition to its intrinsic characteristics, patriotism is an important factor for the product and can be used as a sales motivator. This study demonstrated the importance of promoting the development of DL in the domestic market and encourage aspects of the origin, as they are fundamental in the choice of this product by the consumer, which helps local industries.

How buyer-focused projective techniques can help to gain insights into consumer perceptions about different types of eggs.

This study aimed to analyze the consumer perception (n = 840) about different types of eggs using Product Personality Profiling and Shopping List tasks. White egg, brown egg, organic egg, free-range egg, and eggs enriched with omega 3 and vitamins were evaluated. The consumers associated the white egg with unhealthy, sedentary, and overweight individuals in the Product Personality Profiling task and people that are not concerned with health in the Shopping List task. The brown egg was associated with a person who does physical activity and has a healthy diet in the Product Personality Profiling task. The omega 3 egg was associated with a person concerned with health in the Shopping List task, which does physical exercises and follows a healthy diet in the Product Personality Profiling task. The vitamin-enriched egg was associated with people with health disorders in the Shopping List task and following a vegetarian/vegan diet in the Product Personality Profiling task. The free-range egg was associated with a man with a rugged personality, a healthy diet, and animal welfare concern. Finally, the organic egg was associated with a person concerned with animal welfare and a vegetarian/vegan diet. Shopping list and Product Personality Profiling projective techniques proved to be useful tools for understanding consumer perceptions and beliefs about eggs, providing similar or complementary results. The Shopping List was more appropriate in eliciting egg buyers' profile, while the Product Personality Profile shows the "target buyer".

Probiotic fermented milks: Children's emotional responses using a product-specific emoji list.

This study aimed to develop and validate a product-specific emoji list and use this list to analyse children's emotional responses associated with the consumption of probiotic fermented milks prepared with different probiotic strains. Furthermore, the overall liking of the products was studied during a sensory test. Six formulations were studied: Bifidobacterium BB12 (BB), Lactobacillus acidophilus L3 (LA3), Lactobacillus acidophilus LA 05 (LA5), Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis (LL), Lacticaseibacillus casei 01 (LC), and Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (CONV). A total of 132 children (7-14 years old) participated in two study phases: development (n = 32) and validation (n = 100) of the list. Fifteen emoji were selected to be included in the product-specific list, which had a high frequency of citations in the first phase. The formulations with the highest overall liking (LL, BB, LC and CONV) were correlated with positive emoji, while the least-liked formulations (LA3 and LA5) were associated with negative emoji. Furthermore, the utilisation of emoji enabled the differentiation among formulations with similar overall liking. Therefore, this study developed and validated an emoji list to be used in the evaluation of fermented milks by children. The results suggest that the type of probiotic culture impacted the sensory characteristics of fermented milks, supporting the use of Bifidobacterium, L. lactis or L. casei in these products.

Synbiotic sheep milk ice cream reduces chemically induced mouse colon carcinogenesis.

Sheep dairy products containing prebiotic and probiotic ingredients may have health-promoting properties. Thus, this study evaluated the effects of sheep milk ice cream [conventional full-fat (CONV), full-fat enriched with probiotic (PROB, 100 mg % wt/wt of Lacticaseibacillus casei 01), or nonfat synbiotic (SYNB, Lacticaseibacillus casei 01 and inulin, 10% wt/wt)] on carcinogen-induced colonic crypt cytotoxicity and premalignant lesion development. Male Swiss mice received 2 doses of colon carcinogen azoxymethane (AOM, 15 mg/kg of body weight) at wk 3 and 4. Two weeks before and during AOM administrations (4 wk) mice were treated with CONV, PROB, or SYNB by gavage (10 mL/kg). Mice were euthanized at wk 4 or 25 (n = 5 or 10 mice/group, respectively). At wk 4, a significant reduction in micronucleated colonocytes was observed in PROB and SYNB groups, and a significant decrease in both p53 expression and apoptosis indexes in colonic crypts was observed in SYNB group. At wk 25, both PROB and SYNB interventions reduced the mean number of colonic premalignant lesions. However, only SYNB group showed lower incidence and number of high-grade premalignant lesions in the colonic mucosa. These findings indicate that PROB or SYNB sheep milk ice cream, especially SYNB intervention, can reduce chemically induced mouse colon carcinogenesis.