The Effect of a 14-Day gymnema sylvestre Intervention to Reduce Sugar Cravings in Adults.

Gymnemic-acids (GA) block lingual sweet taste receptors, thereby reducing pleasantness and intake of sweet food. Objective: To examine whether a 14-day gymnema-based intervention can reduce sweet foods and discretionary sugar intake in free-living adults. Healthy adults (n = 58) were randomly allocated to either the intervention group (INT) or control group (CON). The intervention comprised of consuming 4 mg of Gymnema sylvestre containing 75% gymnema acids, a fibre and vitamin supplement, and an associated healthy-eating guide for 14 days; participants in the CON group followed the same protocol, replacing the GA with a placebo mint. Amount of chocolate bars eaten and sensory testing were conducted before and after the 14-day intervention (post-GA or placebo dosing on days zero and 15, respectively). Food frequency questionnaires were conducted on days zero, 15 and after a 28-day maintenance period to examine any changes in intake of sweet foods. A range of statistical procedures were used to analyse the data including Chi square, t-test and two-way analysis of variance. Post dosing, INT consumed fewer chocolates (2.65 ± 0.21 bars) at day zero than CON (3.15 ± 0.24 bars; p = 0.02); there were no differences between groups at day 15 (INT = 2.77 ± 0.22 bars; CON = 2.78 ± 0.22 bars; p = 0.81). At both visits, a small substantive effect (r < 0.3) was observed in the change in pleasantness and desire ratings, with INT showing a slight increase while CON showed a small decrease over the 14-day period. No differences were found in the intake of 9 food categories between groups at any timepoint. There were no differences in consumption of low sugar healthy foods between visits, or by group. The 14-day behavioural intervention reduced pleasantness and intake of chocolate in a laboratory setting. There was no habituation to the mint over the 14-day period. This study is the first to investigate the effect of longer-term gymnema acid consumption on sweet food consumption outside of a laboratory setting; further research is needed to assess how long the effect of the 14-day intervention persists.

Investigating the relative merits of using a mixed reality context for measuring affective response and predicting tea break snack choice.

Sensory evaluation for the investigation of food consumption is often conducted in a controlled laboratory environment, which does not reflect consumption behaviour in real world. Here, we compared the effect of consumption setting (traditional sensory booth, mixed reality projection café, and a café) on consumer affective responses, and to investigate the effectiveness of using Microsoft HoloLens technology, an Augmented Mixed Reality device, as an ecologically valid alternative to natural consumption eating for sensory evaluation. Participant [(n = 120): 86 females/34 males, aged 18-65 years] affective response (overall liking, attribute liking, emotional response, and snack choice) towards two commercially available tea break snacks (caramel slice and chocolate digestive biscuit) was assessed in three different consumption settings using a balanced crossover design. There were no significant differences for most affective ratings between data obtained from the HoloLens evoked café and real café (p ≥ 0.10), suggesting that mixed reality could provide an ecologically valid context for consumer research. However, response differences were observed between these two contexts and the sensory booths. For example, interested, joy, enthusiastic emotion terms were rated slightly higher in the evoked café in comparison to the booth context and slightly higher emotional engagement was observed for joy in the café compared to the booths (all p < .10). This study highlights key considerations for deciding where consumer testing should be conducted and the importance of using a combination of overall liking, attribute liking and emotional response to obtain data representative of real-world environments in consumer studies.

Sensory Perception of an Oral Rehydration Solution during Exercise in the Heat.

Prolonged exercise in the heat elicits a number of physiological changes as glycogen stores are low and water and electrolytes are lost through sweat. However, it is unclear whether these changes provoke an increase in liking of saltiness and, therefore, palatability of an oral rehydration solution (ORS). Twenty-seven recreationally active participants (n = 13 males; n = 14 females) completed sensory analysis of an ORS, a traditional sports drink (TS), and a flavored water placebo (PL) at rest and during 60 min (3 × 20-min bouts) of cycling exercise at 70% age-predicted maximum heart rate (HRmax) at 35.3 ± 1.4 °C and 41 ± 6% relative humidity. Before and after every 20 min of exercise, drinks were rated (using 20-mL beverage samples) based on liking of sweetness, liking of saltiness, thirst-quenching ability, and overall liking on a nine-point hedonic scale. Hydration status was assessed by changes in semi-nude body mass, saliva osmolality (SOsm), and saliva total protein concentration (SPC). After 60 min of exercise, participants lost 1.36 ± 0.39% (mean ± SD) of body mass and there were increases in SOsm and SPC. At all time points, liking of sweetness, saltiness, thirst-quenching ability, and overall liking was higher for the TS and PL compared to the ORS (p < 0.05). However, the saltiness liking and thirst-quenching ability of the ORS increased after 60 min of exercise compared to before exercise (p < 0.05). There was also a change in predictors of overall liking with pre-exercise ratings mostly determined by liking of sweetness, saltiness, and thirst-quenching ability (p < 0.001), whereas only liking of saltiness predicted overall liking post-exercise (R2 = 0.751; p < 0.001). There appears to be a hedonic shift during exercise in which the perception of saltiness becomes the most important predictor of overall liking. This finding supports the potential use of an ORS as a valuable means of hydration during the latter stages of prolonged and/or intense exercise in the heat.

Nutrient Composition and Physical Properties of Two Orange Seed Varieties.

Orange is mainly consumed as fresh fruit, concentrated juice, or thin dried slices, while the seeds are usually discarded by consumers and orange juice processing companies. This study was carried out to determine the physical, frictional, nutritional, and antinutritional properties of the Late Valencia and Red Blood orange seeds. The proximate composition, mineral profile, antinutrient content, and physical and frictional properties of two orange seed varieties were determined using standard methods. The mean length, width, thickness, geometric, and arithmetic mean diameter of the Late Valencia and Red Blood seeds were 14.66, 8.45, 5.05, 8.47, and 9.39 and 13.74, 7.51, 4.99, 7.97, and 8.75 mm, respectively. An angle of repose 39.62° and 38.62°, coefficient of friction of 0.63 and 0.61 on wood, 0.33 each on mild steel, and 0.41 and 0.43 on Teflon were recorded, respectively, for the Late Valencia and Red Blood orange seed varieties. Seeds from Late Valencia and Red Blood orange variety contained 547.39 mg/100 g and 693.87 mg/100 g of oxalate, respectively. Proximate and vitamin C of the orange seeds analyzed indicated that the protein (4.18%), fat (57.45%), fiber (6.06%), energy (640.66 kcal/100 g), and vitamin C (63 mg/100 g) content in the Late Valencia were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the Red Blood orange (3.61%, 55.77%, 5.49%, 85 kcal/100 g, and 54 mg/100 g) correspondingly. The high fat content of the orange seeds makes them potential source of oil for both food and nonfood product applications. Ca, P, and K were predominantly found in the two orange seed varieties. Physical and frictional properties obtained from this work could aid in the design of equipment for harvesting, processing, transporting, separating, packaging, and storage of orange seeds from Late Valencia and Red Blood orange varieties. Further research is required to determine the suitability of orange seed flours for value-added products.

Consuming Gymnema sylvestre Reduces the Desire for High-Sugar Sweet Foods.

Background. Gymnemic acids, from the plant Gymnema sylvestre (GS), selectively suppress taste responses to sweet compounds without affecting the perception of other taste elements. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of consuming a GS-containing mint on the desire to consume high-sugar sweet foods directly thereafter. Methods. This study utilized a single-blind, crossover design comparing the consumption of a mint (dissolving tablet) containing 4 mg of gymnemic acids with an isocaloric placebo in 56 healthy young men and women. Participants were given samples of their favourite chocolate (varied between 14-18 g; energy varied between 292-370 kJ) and were directed to rate on their hunger on 100-mm visual analogue scales 30 s prior to consuming high-sugar sweet food (chocolate). They then consumed the GS mint or placebo mint and rated their perceived pleasantness and desire for more chocolate on separate visual analogue scales immediately following consumption of the high-sugar sweet food before being offered up to five additional servings (and asked to rate hunger, pleasantness and desire to eat more chocolate between each ingestion period). Results. The number of chocolate bars eaten decreased by 0.48 bars (21.3%) within a 15-min period of consumption of the GS mint (p = 0.006). Desire to eat more of the high-sugar sweet food (p = 0.011) and pleasantness of the high-sugar sweet food (p < 0.001) was reduced after GS mint intake. Those who reported having a 'sweet tooth' had a greater reduction in the pleasantness of chocolate (p = 0.037) and desire to eat more (p = 0.004) after consuming the GS mint for the first serving of a high-sugar sweet food following the mint. Conclusion. Consuming gymnema-containing mints compared to placebo significantly reduced the quantity of chocolate eaten mainly due to a decrease in the desire and pleasantness of consuming it.

Influence of storage time and elevated ripening temperature on the chemical and sensory properties of white Cheddar cheese.

Aged cheese is an increasingly popular dairy product. One approach to reduce Cheddar cheese maturation time is by utilizing elevated temperature, despite potential problems including development of imbalanced or off-flavors and negative changes in texture. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of elevated ripening temperature on chemical and sensory properties of aged white Cheddar cheese. White Cheddar cheese was aged at 7.2, 10, or 12.8 °C for 12 months, with samples evaluated at 2, 5, 8, 10, 11, and 12 months by a trained sensory panel (n = 10). Two consumer sensory panels (n = 120) assessed 8- and 12-month aged cheese for comparison to a commercially available reference sample of the same cheese, aged for 12 months. An electronic tongue methodology was developed for analysis of nonvolatile compounds. Trained panel results showed that 2-month cheeses were described by milkfat flavor and sweet taste, 5-month cheeses were described by nutty aroma and white color, and 8-, 10-, 11-, and 12-month cheeses developed aged characteristics, such as umami and bitter tastes, brothy aroma, and aged flavor. Consumer panel results showed similar overall liking scores for the reference cheese and cheeses aged at 10 or 12.8 °C for both evaluations. The electronic tongue could classify samples according to aging month with a validity value of 92.59%. In conclusion, the electronic tongue served as a valid method of instrumental analysis for Cheddar cheese samples throughout maturation. This study demonstrated that aging white Cheddar cheese for 8 months at an elevated storage temperature of 10 °C produced cheese similar in consumer acceptance to that aged at 7 °C for 12 months. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study showed that aged white Cheddar storage at a higher temperature was perceived similarly by consumers as one stored for 1 year at a slightly lower temperature. This may be useful to those in the dairy industry exploring ways to accelerate aging, reducing devoted resources, while still producing an acceptable product. Also, the electronic tongue was effective at distinguishing among aged white Cheddar cheese samples showing another application for this technology.

Preference for and sensitivity to flavanol mean degree of polymerization in model wines is correlated with body composition.

Bitterness and astringency (dryness) are characteristic sensory attributes of flavanol-rich foods. The degree of polymerization (DP) of flavanols influences their bitter and astringent sensations. Smaller DP compounds can enter the papillae on the tongue, eliciting a bitter response. Larger DP compounds are sterically inhibited from entering papillae and instead interact with oral proteins, cause precipitation, and elicit astringent sensations. Previous research has indicated that bitterness preference is related to health status, density of fungiform papillae on the tongue, and sensitivity to bitter compounds such as 6-n-propyl-thiouracil (PROP). The purpose of this study was to examine trends in liking, bitterness intensity, and astringency intensity of wine-like products with flavanols of different DP using a consumer sensory panel. Participants (n = 102) were segmented by phenotypes: body fat percentage (BF%), body mass index (BMI), PROP sensitivity, and stated bitter food preference. Differences in wine liking, perceived bitterness intensity, and astringency intensity were observed between three model wine samples of varying flavanol mean degrees of polymerization (mDP, i.e. the average size (polymer length) of flavanol compounds in a mixture). Specifically, with increased mDP, overall liking and bitterness liking decreased, with concurrent increased perception of bitterness and astringency intensity. Greater differences between phenotypes were observed when participants were segmented by BF% and BMI classification, than when segmented by PROP sensitivity classification. Reduced ability to detect differences in bitterness and astringency were noted in participants of higher weight status. Overall, these data suggest that weight status in adults is a greater predictor of liking of flavanol-rich foods than bitterness sensitivity (as determined by PROP classification), and that reduced perception of bitterness and astringency associated with weight gain may impact selection and preference for these foods.

Detection of Spicy Compounds Using the Electronic Tongue.

The consumption of spicy food products has increased, resulting in an increased demand for these products. The sensory evaluation of foods containing spicy compounds provides challenges due to their trigeminal innervation and associated sensory fatigue. Thus, for the routine evaluation of spices, a need exists for rapid and objective methods of analysis; the electronic tongue (e-tongue) provides a potential solution. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of the e-tongue to distinguish among spicy compounds at varying concentrations. Due to the diversity of spicy compounds, seven spicy compounds were selected: capsaicin, thymol, piperine, zingerone, p-cymene, menthol, and eugenol. For each of these compounds, a low concentration (1.427 × 10-5 to 0.85 mg/L), medium concentration (2.854 × 10-5 to 1.49 mg/L), and high concentration (0.0133 to 30.5 mg/L) were analyzed by the e-tongue. For each compound, the e-tongue discriminated among the concentrations with discrimination indices between 72% to 84%. Based on the responses of the e-tongue sensors, the samples formed three clusters. Cluster 1 contained menthol, eugenol, and p-cymene, cluster 2 contained capsaicin and thymol, and cluster 3 contained piperine and zingerone. Same-different sensory testing was completed on a representative sample from each cluster. Untrained consumers (n = 80) distinguished among the three clusters, verifying the clusters identified by the e-tongue. These results demonstrated that the e-tongue could be applicable in product development and the routine evaluation of spicy products. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: As the e-tongue differentiated among spicy compounds in an effective manner, it could be used instead of or alongside sensory evaluation when evaluating spicy compounds to reduce sensory fatigue associated with routine testing. Utilizing the e-tongue for spicy products will be an important area of research as the market for such products continues to grow.

Influence of wine composition on consumer perception and acceptance of Brettanomyces metabolites using temporal check-all-that-apply methodology.

Brettanomyces spoilage in wine is due to the production of metabolites, which together create the distinctive 'Bretty' aroma and flavor profile associated with wine. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of three wine flavor matrices on consumer acceptance and the temporal sensory properties of wines containing high and low concentrations of Brettanomyces-metabolites. A commercial Shiraz red wine was altered through additions of whiskey lactone (oaky) and 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine (green). The Shiraz wines (unaltered, oak and green) were spiked with either low or high concentrations of 4-ethylphenol (4-EP), 4-ethylguaiacol (4-EG), and isovaleric acid (IA). All wines were evaluated by consumers (n = 105) using check-all-that-apply (CATA) for wine aroma. In-mouth flavor and mouthfeel perceptions were evaluated with temporal check-all-that-apply (TCATA) and a ranking evaluation where the top three most prominent attributes were reported. Lastly, consumers evaluated each sample on overall liking. Consumers were classified as having low, medium, or high wine knowledge level, in addition to wine industry experience. Differences in flavor and aroma attribute citation across all wine samples were described by consumers. In comparing oak and green treatments, the presence of whiskey lactone in the oak wine more strongly masked Brettanomyces associated aromas than did a 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine in the green wine. Brettanomyces metabolite-associated flavor terms commonly increased in citations by consumers when concentrations of 4-EP, 4-EG, and IA were increased from the low to high Brett levels (p < .05). At the high Brett treatments, citations of Band-Aid®, smoky, and leather flavor attributes were all significantly lower when oak was present. Consumers identified as having wine industry experience had lower liking ratings for the wine samples as compared to those without experience (p < .05). Results demonstrated the influence of wine composition on the perception of Brettanomyces metabolites, and provided valuable information to the wine industry as to how composition, or further wine style may influence the perception of wine spoilage aroma and flavors.

Identification of a Salt Blend: Application of the Electronic Tongue, Consumer Evaluation, and Mixture Design Methodology.

Replacement of NaCl with other salts is becoming increasingly common as part of a salt reduction strategy, but these salts may confer unwanted sensory changes. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the relationship between consumer perception and electronic tongue detection of different salts and their mixtures currently used in salt reduction. NaCl and replacement salts (KCl and CaCl2 ) were identified, and using mixture design methodology, mixtures (n = 10) were prepared in aqueous solutions and validated in tomato soup. A potentiometric electronic tongue, panelists with orientation (n = 30), and a consumer panel (n = 94 - solutions; n = 100 - soups) were used to evaluate the samples. Significant differences were found between salt mixtures in solutions and soups by both panelists and consumers (P < 0.05). Electronic tongue analysis showed a high discrimination index (D.I. = 96%) indicating distinct differences among the salt mixtures, and strong positive correlations (R2 > 0.90) were found between sensory and electronic tongue data. Upon application of contour plots and desirability function analysis, an optimal replacement value was identified as one containing 96.4% NaCl, 1.6% KCl, and 2.0% CaCl2 . Additional salt blends could be created to continue to reduce NaCl and increase the other two salts, for further potential health benefits, without significantly impacting predicted acceptance scores. Results from this study indicate the potential for the electronic tongue, sensory evaluation, and mixture design methodology to work together during product reformulations to achieve salt reduction targets. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The results show that salt mixtures vary in perception and acceptance in different matrices, and thus should be evaluated on a product by product basis. With its ability to discriminate among various salts, the application of the electronic tongue could be useful for industry in the development of products with different salt formulations to reduce NaCl within processed foods. Additionally, mixture design can help find a predicted optimum mixture for the product under investigation.

Discriminating aging and protein-to-fat ratio in Cheddar cheese using sensory analysis and a potentiometric electronic tongue.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the flavor and taste attributes of full-fat Cheddar cheeses with different protein-to-fat ratios (PFR) over aging time using a descriptive sensory analysis panel and a consumer panel, and to correlate these attributes with instrumental parameters obtained by the potentiometric electronic tongue. Three Cheddar cheese formulations (PFR of 0.74, 0.85, and 1.01) were produced in triplicate and composition was verified. Cheese was aged at 7.2°C and evaluated at 2, 5, 8, 10, 11, and 12 mo by a trained panel (n = 10) for 8 flavor and 5 taste attributes and using an electronic tongue for 7 nonvolatile taste attributes. Cheese aged for 12 mo was also evaluated by a consumer sensory panel for liking and intensity attributes. Principal component analysis was performed to discriminate cheese based on aging time and PFR, whereas correlation between sensory and instrumental attributes was assessed using partial least squares regression. Descriptive sensory analysis of flavor and taste attributes differentiated Cheddar cheeses over aging time, but not among PFR formulations. The electronic tongue distinguished changes among cheese samples due to PFR formulation and aging time. The electronic tongue proved successful in characterizing the nonvolatile flavor components in Cheddar cheese and correlated with taste perceptions measured by descriptive sensory analysis. Consumer evaluations showed distinctive attribute profiles for the 3 PFR Cheddar cheese formulations. Overall, higher fat content was associated with increased flavor intensities in Cheddar cheese and drove consumer acceptability and purchase intent ratings. The electronic tongue detected smaller changes in tastes (bitter, metallic, salty, sour, spicy, sweet, and umami) of the 3 PFR formulations over time when compared with the trained panelists, who detected no differences, suggesting that the electronic tongue may be more sensitive to tastants than humans and may have the capability for early detection or identification of problems in a batch of cheese during aging. Results suggest taste quality of cheese may be monitored using the electronic tongue with greater sensitivity than a trained panel, and may be more objective, rapid, and cost effective than human panelists.

Trained and consumer panel evaluation of sparkling wines sweetened to brut or demi sec residual sugar levels with three different sugars.

The dosage liquid, added at the final stage of sparkling wine production, imparts residual sweetness to the wine. No study has yet analyzed the influence of dosage composition on the final wine's sensory profile or consumer acceptance. In this study, dosage composition was altered through the addition of different sugar types (ST; fructose, glucose, or sucrose) to produce seven sparkling wines of varying residual sugar levels (RSL), including no sugar added, brut (5.3-8.4gST/L) or demi sec (34.9-37.8gST/L). As evaluated by a trained panel (n=9), the interaction between ST and RSL influenced the perception of caramelized/vanilla/honey (CVH) flavor, sweet taste, and sour taste attributes (p<0.05). Demi sec wines displayed lower intensities of green flavor, yeasty flavor, and sour taste compared to the no sugar added wine (p<0.05). Consumers (n=126) also evaluated the sparkling wines and ST, RSL, and their interaction influenced consumer acceptance of different attributes, as well as the perception of the "refreshing" aspect of the wine (p<0.05). Overall consumer acceptance of sparkling wines was highly correlated (r2≤0.88) to CVH, floral, and fruity flavors, as well as sweet taste and creamy mouthfeel. External preference mapping revealed two clusters of consumers. Both consumer clusters liked wines sweetened with fructose, but Cluster 1 liked the demi sec sparkling wine sweetened with fructose (32.8g/L fructose) while Cluster 2 preferred the brut wine sweetened with fructose (8.4g/L fructose). These results suggest that consumer preference for sparkling wine was segmented based on sweetness preference. The results of this study offer winemakers knowledge about the influence of dosage composition on the sensory profile of sparkling wine.

Development of a Rapidly Dissolvable Oral Pediatric Formulation for Mefloquine Using Liposomes.

Mefloquine (Mef), a poorly soluble and highly bitter drug, has been used for malaria prophylaxis and treatment. The dosage form for Mef is mostly available as adult tablets, and thus children under the age of 5 suffer from poor medication adherence. We have developed a stable, rapidly dissolvable, and palatable pediatric formulation for Mef using liposomes composed of 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC) and cholesterol with a mean diameter of ∼110 nm. Mef was actively loaded into the liposomes via an ammonium sulfate gradient using the solvent-assisted loading technology (SALT) developed in our lab. Complete loading of Mef inside the liposomal core was achieved at a high drug-to-lipid ratio (D/L) of 0.1-0.2 (w/w), and the final drug content in the formulation was ∼8 mg/mL, well above the solubility of Mef (<0.6 mg/mL in simulated fluids). The strong bitterness of Mef was masked by the liposomal encapsulation as measured by an electronic tongue. Incubating the Mef-liposomes (Mef-Lipo) in the simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.2) and the simulated intestinal fluid containing 3 mM sodium taurocholate (pH 6.8) induced changes in liposome size and the polydispersity, resulting in drug release (∼40% in 2 h). However, no drug release from the Mef-Lipo was measured in the bile salt-free intestinal fluid or simulated saliva (0% in 3 h). These data suggest that drug release from the Mef-Lipo was mediated by a low pH and the presence of a surfactant. Pancreatic lipase did not degrade DSPC in the Mef-Lipo after 8 h of incubation nor induce Mef release from the liposomes, indicating that lipid digestion played a minor role for drug release from the Mef-Lipo. In order to improve long-term room temperature storage, the Mef-Lipo was lyophilized to obtain a solid formulation, which was completely dissolvable in water in 10 s and displayed similar in vitro profiles of release as the liquid form. The lyophilized Mef-Lipo was stable at room temperature for >3 months. In mice, orally delivered liquid and lyophilized Mef-Lipo displayed comparable absorption with bioavailability (BA) of 81-86%, while the absorption of the standard Mef suspension was significantly lower with BA of 70% and 20% decreased maximal plasma concentration and area under the curve. Our data suggest that the Mef-Lipo was a stable, palatable, and bioavailable formulation that might be suitable for pediatric use.

Consumer Acceptance of a Polyphenolic Coffee Beverage.

The objective of this study was to determine if Chardonnay grape seed pomace (GSP), a waste stream of wine production, could be used as a functional ingredient in brewed coffee. Two consumer panels were conducted to assess the acceptance of coffee at coffee replacement (w/w) values of 0% (control), 6.25%, 12.50%, 18.75%, or 25% GSP. The 1st consumer panel (n = 80) assessed the coffee samples served "black." The 2nd panel (n = 67) assessed the coffee samples with adjustment (that is, sweeteners, milk, and cream) options available. Consumer sensory evaluation involved evaluating the 5 treatments individually for acceptance of appearance, aroma, taste/flavor, and overall acceptance using a 9-point hedonic scale. A check-all-that-apply questionnaire surveyed the sensory attributes describing aroma, appearance, and taste/flavor of the samples. Oxygen radical absorbance capacity was used to measure the effects of antioxidant levels in GSP coffee samples. Results showed that GSP could be added at 6.25% replacement without significantly affecting the overall consumer acceptance of coffee compared to the control (0% GSP). Above 6.25% GSP supplementation, the coffee beverage was described as more tan, milky, watery/dilute, and mild, and was generally less accepted by the consumers. GSP also increased the antioxidant capacity of the coffee compared to the control (0% GSP), with no significant differences among replacement values. Therefore, 6.25% GSP replacement is recommended for creating coffee beverages acceptable to consumers. Further in vivo investigation may substantiate the free-radical scavenging capacity of GSP coffee and its potential health benefits.

Alcohol, Tannins, and Mannoprotein and their Interactions Influence the Sensory Properties of Selected Commercial Merlot Wines: A Preliminary Study.

The objective of this study was to assess the influence of the interaction among alcohol, tannins, and mannoproteins on the aroma, flavor, taste, and mouthfeel characteristics of selected commercial Merlot wines. Merlot wines (n = 61) were characterized for wine chemistry parameters, including pH, titratable acidity, alcohol, glucose, fructose, tannin profile, total proteins, and mannoprotein content. Agglomerative clustering of these physicochemical characteristics revealed 6 groups of wines. Two wines were selected from each group (n = 12) and profiled by a trained sensory evaluation panel. One wine from each group was evaluated using the electronic tongue (e-tongue). Sensory evaluation results showed complex effects among tannins, alcohol, and mannoproteins on the perception of most aromas, flavors, tastes, and mouthfeel attributes (P < 0.05). The e-tongue showed distinct differences among the taste attributes of the 6 groups of wines as indicated by a high discrimination index (DI = 95). Strong correlations (r(2) > 0.930) were reported between the e-tongue and sensory perception of sweet, sour, bitter, burning, astringent, and metallic. This study showed that interactions among wine matrix components influence the resulting sensory perceptions. The strong correlation between the e-tongue and trained panel evaluations indicated the e-tongue can complement sensory evaluations to improve wine quality assessment.

Quality characteristics and safety of smoke-flavoured water.

Smoke-flavoured water is produced in Ghana by filling a previously smoked container with potable water and allowing the water to condition with the smoke to attain a characteristic rain water flavour. Owing to the current knowledge on the toxicity, carcinogenicity and other safety issues of some smoke-constituents, the commercial production of the product is becoming a public health concern. This study sought to determine the effects of the smoke-flavouring process on the quality characteristics of smoke-flavoured water to predict the safety of the product. A traditional and a commercial protocol for the production of smoke-flavoured water were simulated in the laboratory and at the site of a company which used to produce the product, respectively. Samples of the flavoured water produced were analyzed for pH, colour, turbidity, conductivity, total hardness, dissolved oxygen content (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon constituents (PAHs), coliform count, and flavour acceptability. Data obtained were evaluated in reference to data on control samples prepared during the investigations. The results obtained suggested that the smoke-flavouring process may not significantly change most of the physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of the water processed, and thus not affect the drinking quality characteristics of the water. The process however has the potential of adding some organic compounds, which could include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), the group that may have the toxicity and carcinogenic effects. The types of PAHs and their concentrations are expected to vary with the process characteristics, but could be insignificantly low to affect the safety of the water. The results suggest a need for some standardization of the process.

Effect of boiling and roasting on the fermentation of soybeans into dawadawa (soy-dawadawa).

Soybeans which had initially been dehulled by either boiling (boiled/dehulled) or roasting (roasted/dehulled) before peeling, were cooked and fermented into dawadawa, a traditional food condiment. The micropopulation, enzymatic activities, proximate composition, amino acid, and aroma profiles of the two types of soybean dawadawa were evaluated during fermentation. Only minor differences were found in the microbial profiles of the two types of soy-dawadawa. Although boiled/dehulled soy-dawadawa initially had lower microbial counts, it recorded higher counts at the advanced stages of fermentation. Proteolytic and amylolytic Bacillus species including Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus cereus, and Bacillus firmus dominated the micropopulation of the two types of soy-dawadawa with Bacillus subtilis accounting for about 50% of the Bacillus species in all samples. Lactic acid bacteria and yeasts occurred in low numbers in the two types of soy-dawadawa. The proximate composition of the two types of soy-dawadawa were similar, and their contents of moisture and protein increased whilst fat and ash decreased during fermentation. Both types of fermenting soy-dawadawa recorded similar levels of alpha-amylase activity, but boiled/dehulled soy-dawadawa showed slightly higher protease activity. The levels of isoleucine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, arginine and proline increased significantly with fermentation time in both types of soy-dawadawa. With respect to differences in their aroma profiles, hexanodecanol, octadecyl acetate, 1,2-dimethyl benzene, tetradecene, (E)-5-eicosene, cyclohexadecane, and hexacosane were found only in the roasted/dehulled samples, whilst 1,2-ethanediol, ethyl acetate, dimethyl disulfide, cyclotetradecane, decene, indole , 2 butyl-octenal, acetophenone, and toluene were found only in the boiled/dehulled samples. A market focus group showed preference for roasted/dehulled soy-dawadawa over boiled/dehulled soy-dawadawa. Apart from the volatile aroma compounds, the biochemical and microbiological profiles of the two types of soy-dawadawa showed only minor differences and were also similar to the profiles reported for African locust bean dawadawa.