Effects of Filtration Processes on the Quality of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil-Literature Update.

Filtration is a process that eliminates solid sediments and moisture in olive oil to maintain its shelf life during storage. The influence of filtration on the oil characteristics is linked to many parameters such as chemical and sensory traits, cultivars and filtration systems. After assessing the literature on filtration research, we observed that there are contrasting findings and it is complicated to answer the question of whether to filter or not. An analysis of the influence of different filtration technologies used in extra-virgin olive oil production on the phenolic compounds, volatile fractions, antioxidant activity and sensory characteristics is given in this review. The information compiled could help olive oil producers to enhance extra-virgin olive oil quality and maintain it during storage.

Hazelnut Skin Waste as a Functional Ingredient to Nutritionally Improve a Classic Shortbread Cookie Recipe.

Hazelnut skin (HS) is a byproduct of hazelnut processing (2.5% of total kernel) and becomes a food waste despite its high content of antioxidants, unsaturated fats, and fibers. Classic shortbread cookies have a large worldwide market, even if their nutritional composition does not meet nutritional guidelines due to the high content of saturated fats. In the present study, after the nutritional evaluation of four different HS varieties, 5% and 10% ratios of HS of the Tonda Gentile Romana variety were integrated into a classic shortbread cookie recipe, proportionally replacing the butter amount with the unsaturated fats naturally present in HS. The 10% HS addition determined a 20% increase in the monounsaturated oleic acid and a 15.7% decrease in the saturated palmitic acid, in addition to a significant ash increase. The sensory analysis revealed higher consumer acceptance of the 5% formulation, with scores comparable to the control. Although the 10% formulation obtained lower scores for consumer acceptance, 35% of the interviewed population said they would purchase it, indicating that this product, beyond the ethical dimension of using a food waste matrix to promote the circular economy, can attract the commercial interest of part of the population.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Destoned Fruits to Improve the Quality of the Oil and Environmental Sustainability.

The world production of olive oil represented 3.1 million tons in 2021 and the choice aimed at high quality extra virgin olive oils is increasingly appearing (IOC, 2022). Moreover, the production of a product of quality with environmental respect is grown in demand. Consequently, the so-called "ecological" processes mostly interest the production market of extra virgin olive oils. Despite the current processing and extraction technologies, the characteristics of olive oil can still be optimized. In this regard, interesting technology to produce olive oil remains the stone removal of the olives before the extraction of the oil. Recently, the destoners preserved a less low oil yield. In light of recent progress, the review focuses on the influence of destoning on the quality of extra virgin olive oil, using a systematic approach. Interest in this technology is increasing and many researchers report that destoned olive oils show superior characteristics confronting with those obtained by the traditional method. These data indicate that destoning is one of the most significant advantages for the improvement of the oil qualitative traits and the system's sustainability.

Chestnut Cultivar Identification through the Data Fusion of Sensory Quality and FT-NIR Spectral Data.

The world production of chestnuts has significantly grown in recent decades. Consumer attitudes, increasingly turned towards healthy foods, show a greater interest in chestnuts due to their health benefits. Consequently, it is important to develop reliable methods for the selection of high-quality products, both from a qualitative and sensory point of view. In this study, Castanea spp. fruits from Italy, namely Sweet chestnut cultivar and the Marrone cultivar, were evaluated by an official panel, and the responses for sensory attributes were used to verify the correlation to the near-infrared spectra. Data fusion strategies have been applied to take advantage of the synergistic effect of the information obtained from NIR and sensory analysis. Large nuts, easy pellicle removal, chestnut aroma, and aromatic intensity render Marrone cv fruits suitable for both the fresh market and candying, i.e., marron glacé. Whereas, sweet chestnut samples, due to their characteristics, have the potential to be used for secondary food products, such as jam, mash chestnut, and flour. The research lays the foundations for a superior data fusion approach for chestnut identification in terms of classification sensitivity and specificity, in which sensory and spectral approaches compensate each other's drawbacks, synergistically contributing to an excellent result.

Improvement of the Sensory Characteristics of Goat Milk Yogurt.

The sensory characteristics of goat yogurt could be greatly improved by integrating to a culture typical of yogurt starters, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii spp. bulgaricus, with cultures of Leuconostoc lactis. The addition of L. lactis requires the use of the definition of  "fermented milk" to the product, although it is prepared according to the same technology. The experimental plan has designed the use of inoculation with a bacterial concentration of at least 109 , for each microbial species considered, with the aim of increasing the probiotic effect of yogurt and fermented milk. Descriptive analysis of the samples was conducted using the profile sheet obtained applying the consensus profiling method (UNI EN ISO 13299:2010) by a trained panel. The acceptability of our products was evaluated by 62 consumers through 7-points hedonic scale. The results of this study indicated that the addition of L. lactis to the traditional yogurt starter produced a noticeable improvement to the sensory characteristics of fermented goat milk. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: To improve the sensory characteristics of goat's yogurt to make it more acceptable to the consumer and increase market demand we tested the integration of Leuconostoc lactis to typical starter cultures. The experimentation carried out tested different combinations of fermenting microorganisms with the aim of developing a better flavor as compared to that of traditional yogurt, which is often unpleasant to consumers. The addition of L. lactis to the starter culture of the goat's milk results in less aggressive aromatic notes and greater appreciation as confirmed by consumers who tested the product.

Biotechnologies in sparkling wine production. Interesting approaches for quality improvement: A review.

Sparkling wines are produced by a secondary fermentation of a base wine followed by a prolonged ageing in contact with lees. In the traditional method, the refermentation takes place in the same bottle used for market distribution. The autolysis of yeasts occurs during the ageing of sparkling wines, thus causing the release of many parietal and cytoplasmic compounds which have a great influence on sparkling wine's quality. The modern technologies for the production of sparkling wine are very different from the one developed by Abbot Dom Pierre Pérignon in the 17th century. Over the years, many advances have been made, this paper aims at reviewing the recent knowledge in the application of biotechnologies for the improvement of sparkling wine's quality, in particular the factors affecting foaming properties and sensory qualities. Future perspectives and trends are also considered.