Field Cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) and Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) Powders as Environmentally Friendly Protein Enrichment Ingredients in Corn Snacks.

Unconventional protein sources are currently extensively studied as food ingredients. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of 1.5% and 3% field cricket powder (GB) and 2-8% of its mixture (1:1) with spirulina powder (S) on the nutritional value, physicochemical properties, and sensory characteristics of corn extrudates. Additionally, 2% baking powder (BP) was added to assess its impact on the properties of the enriched extrudates. The results showed that both GB and GB + S improved nutritional value, with protein content increasing by up to 46% and higher levels of essential amino acids, particularly leucine and valine. However, these ingredients decreased the expansion ratio (by up to 15%), colour lightness (by up to 30%), and yellowness (by up to 47%) and increased the hardness (by up to 25%) of the corn extrudates. The S addition positively influenced product storage stability but decreased its sensory acceptance, especially aroma and taste. The BP addition mitigated the negative effects of higher GB and GB + S concentrations, particularly on sensory characteristics. In conclusion, incorporating up to 6% of the GB + S mixture provides a higher protein content with only minor changes to the product's characteristics compared to GB. Ratings exceeding 4.2 points indicate the good acceptability of these snacks.

Textured soy protein with meat odor as an ingredient for improving the sensory quality of meat analog and soy burger.

Even with the growing consumption of plant-based products, the consumption of soy-based products is still a limitation due to the off-flavor of soy. Thus, two studies were performed using textured soy protein (TSP) with meat odor as meat analog and as soy burger. TSP with meat odor was produced by adding thiamine (aroma precursor) to soy protein concentrate (SPC) before extrusion. Three TSP were used in each study: one without thiamine and two with thiamine but with different moisture contents of the SPC. TSP with thiamine did not affect technological or physical properties of the products. For meat analogs, the samples with thiamine showed greater odor acceptance and greater intensities of meat odor, burnt aftertaste, and aromatic in relation to the sample without thiamine, as well as lower intensity of soy odor. For soy burgers, the samples with thiamine had higher acceptances of odor and flavor and overall acceptance, and higher intensities of chicken odor and aromatic in comparison to the sample without thiamine, as well as lower intensity of soy/vegetable odor. The use of TSP with thiamine raises the sensory quality of meat analogue and soy burger, being an interesting alternative in obtaining soy-based products with lower soy odor. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-023-05875-0.

Structural behavior, FTIR spectra of five Algerian honeys, and sensory acceptance of margarine enriched with honey.

This study examined the textural and rheological properties of Algerian honeys and margarines formulated with honey and their sensory acceptance. Textural analysis shows that all honeys and margarines enriched with honey are spreadable, easy to swallow by the consumer and to adhere to a surface (bread, teeth, tongue, etc.), and have suitable adhesiveness. The hardness and elasticity values reveal that H5 honey and its M5 margarine are less hard and regain their height more quickly. The rheological analysis reveals that all honeys and formulated margarines non-Newtonian behavior at 25 and 45°C with a G' > G″ for each type of honey except for H1 and all margarines elaborated with honey presenting a structure of a gel. Statistical analysis shows no significant differences (p > 0.05) in mean values of activation energy, suggesting that honeys and margarines need the same energy to flow. Chemometric analysis reveals strong similarities between (H3 and H5) and (M3 and M5). Sensory acceptance of margarines enriched with honey shows that M4 and M5 margarines are the most preferred by consumers with a satisfaction rate between 60% and 80%. In conclusion, margarine formulated with honey should be introduced to the market due to their good structural properties and high acceptance.

Study of the Oxidative and Microbiological Stability of Nitrite-Reduced, Vacuum-Packed, Refrigerated Lamb Sausages Supplemented with Red Propolis Extract.

Vacuum-packed lamb sausages with or without red propolis extract and a reduced sodium nitrite content were evaluated for oxidative and microbiological stability during storage for 21 days at 2 °C. The following treatments were evaluated: EN150 (control, base formulation (BF) + 500 mg/kg sodium erythorbate and 150 mg/kg sodium nitrite); EN75 (BF + 500 mg/kg sodium erythorbate and 75 mg/kg sodium nitrite); P1N75 (without the addition of erythorbate, BF + 1800 mg/kg propolis extract and 75 mg/kg sodium nitrite); and P2N75 (without the addition of erythorbate, BF + 3600 mg/kg propolis extract and 75 mg/kg sodium nitrite). Analyses were conducted to characterize the samples on day 0 with respect to the proximate composition (moisture, protein, fat, and ash) and sensory acceptance. Stability during refrigerated storage was evaluated on days 0, 7, 14 and 21 for the parameters pH, color profile (L*, a*, and b*), TBARs index (oxidative stability) and microbiological count of aerobic psychrotrophic microorganisms. Texture profile, cooking weight loss (WLC), peroxide index and free fatty acids were evaluated on days 0 and 21. The treatments with propolis and reduced nitrite (EN150 and P1N75) showed a red color intensity (a*) similar to the treatment with erythorbate and the same nitrite content (EN75) at the end of storage, maintaining the characteristic reddish color of the sausages. The extract slowed down lipid oxidation during storage, especially P2N75, which showed the lowest level of TBARS (0.39 mg MDA/kg) and the peroxide index (2.13 mEq g O2) on day 21. The residual nitrite value in EN75 was the lowest (p < 0.05) on day 21, showing that synthetic antioxidants are more efficient than the extract in nitrite reduction reactions. The results for the counts of psychrotrophic microorganisms showed that the extract did not have the expected antimicrobial effect on the growth of this microorganisms, and leveling the results revealed no differences (p < 0.05) between the treatments. Despite the red propolis extract not showing a significant antimicrobial improvement in lamb sausages, it can be considered a healthy option with good prospects for replacing synthetic antioxidants with a natural product.

Use of sensory and physico-chemical parameters to understand consumer perception of attiéké, a fermented cassava product.

BACKGROUND: Cassava breeding research programs focused initially on agronomic performance but in recent years they have considered the processability and the organoleptic properties of the final product, to increase the adoption of new varieties. One important cassava foodstuff is attiéké, a fermented and granular product, so it is necessary to determine criteria used by attiéké processors to select raw cassava and the characteristics leading consumers to like this product. This study assessed the attiéké production process, the criteria associated with the quality of attiéké, the sensory drivers of consumer acceptance, and their thresholds. RESULTS: The total processing yield of attiéké varied according to the cassava variety and depended primarily on the fermentation-pressing yield. However, it was not correlated either with the peeling yield or with morphological characteristics of cassava roots. The production of a ton of attiéké required about 150 h. Dry matter, organic acids, soluble sugars, total pectin, and the pH of raw material and attiéké varied depending on the cassava variety. Ten discriminating sensory attributes of attiéké were identified. Consumer testing showed that overall liking for attiéké was associated with sourness, texture, and brightness. Acceptable sensory score thresholds were 1.67-2.18 for sour odor, 4.75 to 6.3 for cohesiveness, and 5.4 to 6.3 for 'mouthfeel sensation'. Attiéké dry matter correlated positively with cohesiveness and moldability. CONCLUSIONS: Several potential solutions are discussed to improve the adoption of cassava varieties for attiéké production. However, further studies need to be carried out to translate the sensory thresholds of texture attributes into robust instrumental methods because texture is an important attribute of attiéké in addition to sourness. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Sensory characterization, acceptance, and stability studies on low calories fruit jelly candies.

The objective of this work was to characterize and evaluate the sensory acceptance and stability of jelly candies with flavor of orange (OJC) or raspberry (RJC), and alternative sweeteners (isomalt, maltitol syrup, and stevia). A qualitative sensory study showed that among potential buyers (70% of 200 participants), the main associations were related to taste, sensations/feelings, health, and appearance. A sensory panel (80 participants) performed the rating of liking, and the sensory intensity assays, which showed that both candies were rated within liking categories by more than 70% of consumers, and that the taste attributes were categorized at the right point. Color and gumminess were rated in the just point for RJC, while for OJC, these variables deviated from the expected. Regarding sensory stability, a penalty study advised that bitterness/sweetness ratio, and color attributes should be improved in order to extend the candies´ sensory shelf life. Additionally, a trained sensory panel evaluated the textural changes during storage of the jelly candies. The sensory studies carried out on the novel jelly candies showed substantial interest from consumers, therefore, they could be considered an alternative to replace traditional sweets, offering a nutritional contribution from fruits, without artificial preservatives and added free sugars. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-023-05747-7.

Physicochemical, Rheological, and Nutritional Quality of Artisanal Fermented Milk Beverages with Cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum) Pulp and Flour.

The use of fruits and their by-products in food has dramatically impacted the food industry due to the nutritional benefits and the technological and sensory effects of food matrices. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate the effects of adding cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum) pulp and flour on fermented milk beverages' physicochemical, microbial, and sensory properties during refrigerated storage (0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days). Twelve formulations were realized with different percentages of cupuassu pulp (0, 5, 7.5, and 10% w/v) and flour (0, 1.5, and 3% w/v). The treatments with 3% cupuassu flour presented the highest percentages of protein, fat, fiber, and carbohydrates, compared with the samples containing pulp. On the other hand, the addition of pulp increased water retention capacity and color parameters (L*, a*, b*, and C*) and decreased pH and syneresis on day 0 of storage. During storage, the samples with pulp showed increases in pH values, consistency index, and apparent viscosity. In comparison, cupuassu flour addition decreased syneresis values and increased L* and b* during storage, as did pulp. In addition, sample HPHF (10% pulp and 3% cupuassu flour), based on just-about-right, penalty, and check-all-that-apply analyses, improved some sensory attributes of the fermented milk beverage, such as brown color, acid taste, bitter taste, cupuassu flavor, and firm texture. It can be concluded that cupuassu pulp and flour addition improves the physicochemical and sensory quality of fermented milk beverages and can provide nutritional value to the product.

Development of the dairy products incorporated with co-product bioactive compounds-rich as an alternative ingredient in the food industry.

The objective was to optimize the phenolic compounds extraction from cocoa shells using the simplex-centroid design with a mixture of solvents (water, methanol, and acetone) as its components, to prove the presence of these compounds and antioxidant activity. Also, the development of dairy products, such as milk beverages and dairy desserts, with bioactive compounds, through the replacement of cocoa powder by cocoa shell was studied and evaluated sensorially. The extraction optimization indicated that a solvent with 56.44% water, 23.77% methanol, and 19.80% acetone are ideal for maximizing the phenolic compounds. In addition, the cocoa shell showed a high antioxidant activity by the methods ß-carotene/linoleic acid, FRAP, and phosphomolybdenum complex. The Check-All-That-Apply, Cochran's Q test, contingency analysis, and hierarchical cluster analysis allowed description characteristics of the dairy products and showed sensory differences between formulations with 100% cocoa shell and others. Both dairy products had good sensory acceptance in all attributes evaluated (appearance, flavor, texture, and overall impression), and their scores did not differ statistically by Tukey's test (p > 0.05). Thus, the cocoa shell is shown as an alternative substitute ingredient to be used in the dairy industry.

Evaluation of Pediococcus acidilacticiAS185 as an adjunct culture in probiotic cheddar cheese manufacture.

A novel probiotic Pediococcus acidilactici AS185, isolated from traditional Chinese fermented foods, was used as an adjunct culture for probiotic cheddar cheese production. The physicochemical composition, textural, free amino acids (FAAs), short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) profiles, sensory properties, and microbial survival, was evaluated during the 90-day ripening period. The addition of P. acidilactici AS185 did not influence the physicochemical composition of cheddar cheese but significantly decreased the hardness without affecting its textural profile. During ripening, P. acidilactici AS185 was able to grow and promote the generation of FAAs and SCFAs, but did not alter the overall sensory properties; it rather improved the flavor and taste of cheese. In addition, the cheese matrix protected strain P. acidilactici AS185 during transit throughout the simulated gastrointestinal system. These results demonstrated that P. acidilactici AS185 adjunct cultures might be useful for producing high-quality probiotic cheddar cheese.

Antioxidants and Quality Changes of Thermally Processed Purple Corn (Zea mays L.) Milk Fortified with Low Sucrose Content during Cold Storage.

Purple corn kernels were subjected to boiling and steaming times of 5-15 min to extract purple corn milk (PCM). Pasteurized and unpasteurized PCM samples were investigated for changes in anthocyanins, antioxidants, and physicochemical properties. Anthocyanins, total phenolics, antioxidant activity, color and viscosity values showed promising results in pasteurized PCM samples extracted from kernels steamed for 5 min (PPCM-S5) compared to other samples (p ≤ 0.05). Changes in L*, a* and b* values, total phenolics and DPPH activity were lowered in PPCM-S5 samples with higher retention of anthocyanins compared to the PCM extracted from boiled kernels (p ≤ 0.05). PCM extracted from 5 min steamed kernels fortified with 4% sucrose (PCM5-S4) after pasteurization revealed the lowest changes in color, pH, total soluble solid and viscosity during 12 days of storage at 4 °C compared to the unpasteurized PCM without sucrose and pasteurized PCM fortified with 6% sucrose. Additionally, pasteurized PCM5-S4 samples marked the highest anthocyanins, total phenolics and antioxidant activity during storage. Microbial load was lowest in pasteurized PCM5-S4 samples stored at 4 °C for 12 days. However, coliforms, yeast or mold and Escherichia coli were not present in the thermally processed PCM samples. The highest sensory scores were obtained in PCM5-S4 at day 12 of storage compared to PCM without any treatment. Therefore, pasteurized PCM extracted from 5 min steamed purple corn kernels retained bioactivity along with 4% sucrose fortification resulted in higher sensory acceptability. As a consequence the shelf-life of PCM5-S4 sample was extended up to 12 days at 4 °C.

The Addition of Pinto Bean Flour and Margarine in the Development of Red Rice-Based Novel Gluten-Free Cookies to Improve the Technological, Sensory and Physicochemical Properties.

This study aimed to understand how the addition of pinto bean flour (PBF) and margarine affected the technological, sensory, and physicochemical properties of red rice-based gluten-free cookies. PBF addition (25-75 g/100 g) and margarine content (13.3-19.3 g/100 g dough) were varied according to a central composite rotatable design. Cookies selection was performed by overlaid contour and principal component analysis (PCA) for technological properties and sensory evaluation, respectively. Chemical composition analyses, bioactive compounds, and microstructure were carried out in the selected formulations. In addition, other physicochemical analyses were carried out during storage time. PBF addition affected the technological properties and increased the nutritional content of proteins (up to 13%), fibers (8.28%), iron (2.13%), zinc (1.54%), and phenolic compounds (139.46 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g), but it negatively affected sensory acceptance. However, margarine's addition improved all the sensory attributes in all the trials, showing an acceptance greater than 70%. Cookies with 50 g PBF, 50 g red rice flour, and 16.3 g margarine/100 g dough showed better technological, nutritional characteristics, and physicochemical quality up to 60 days of storage. This work contributed to the incorporation of mixtures of red rice and pinto bean for developing more nutritious cookies for celiac patients or even those who wish to consume gluten-free products.

Microencapsulated Healthy Oil Mixtures to Enhance the Quality of Foal Pâtés.

This study aimed to evaluate the use of microencapsulated oil mixtures as partial animal fat replacers and their effects on the physicochemical, nutritional and sensory qualities of foal pâtés. Three different batches were manufactured: a control (CON) formulation, with foal dorsal subcutaneous fat (30 g/100 g), and treatments 1 and 2 (T1 and T2), with 50% of the animal fat replaced by microcapsules containing algal oil mixed with walnut oil (T1) or pistachio oil (T2). The reformulated samples presented significant (p < 0.001) diminutions of fat contents, which achieved reductions of 34.22% ("reduced fat content") and 28.17% in the T1 and T2 samples, respectively, and the lipid reformulation did not affect (p > 0.05) the texture or lipid oxidation of the samples. Furthermore, both microencapsulated oil mixtures significantly (p < 0.001) reduced (11−15%) saturated fatty acid (SFA) concentrations and increased (p < 0.001) mono- (T2) and polyunsaturated (T1) fatty acid contents (8% and 68%, respectively), contributing to the obtainment of nutritional indices in line with health recommendations. Additionally, consumer acceptability did not display significant (p > 0.05) differences among samples. Hence, the outcomes indicated that the incorporation of these microencapsulated oil mixtures as partial animal fat replacers, especially the T1 mixture, represents a promising strategy to obtain healthier foal pâtés, without compromising consumer approval.

Chocolates with Brazilian cocoa: Tracking volatile compounds according to consumers' preference.

This study aimed to evaluate the volatile compounds of chocolates made of Brazilian cocoas and statistically track them according to the products' sensorial profile in order to relate them to consumers' acceptance by preference map methodology. The intensity of the chocolate, acidity, woody, smoked, green, floral, burned, musty, and cocoa notes from chocolates produced with cocoa from different Brazilian states were analyzed by a trained panel and by 128 consumers. Samples from Côte d'Ivoire, which is known for its high-quality chocolate, were evaluated for comparison. Solid-phase microextraction headspace sampling/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was employed to evaluate the samples' volatile compounds. One hundred volatile compounds were identified within the samples. The results from the preference maps showed that the maximum preference was found for chocolate made of cocoa from Rondônia, Bahia, and Espírito Santo and Côte d'Ivoire and organic samples from Pará. The ideal sample point was characterized by intense chocolate, floral, and woody notes and mild green and burned notes. The presence of furfural, 3-methyl butanal, phenethyl acetate, 2-phenyl-5-methyl-2-hexenal, methyl pyrazine, phenethyl acetate, 2-phenyl-5-methyl-2-hexenal, and tetramethyl pyrazine were shown to be important for consumer acceptance in the ideal product, whereas the presence of (Z)-2-heptenal and 2-pentyl furan may increase consumer rejection. 2,3-Methyl pyrazine, methyl pyrazine, and 2,3-butanediol, which are important volatile compounds previously reported in the literature, were statistically tracked to both positive and negative sample attributes and must be better explored concerning consumers' acceptance of chocolates.

The Effect of Different Freshness of Raw Material on Lipid Quality and Sensory Acceptance of Canned Sardines.

We studied how storing fresh sardines (Sardina pilchardus) on ice for 0−15 days would affect lipid quality and sensory acceptance after the sardines were later canned. Average moisture and diacylglycerol contents showed a decreasing trend during storage time for sardines stored for to 0−10 days and an increasing trend for samples stored for 13−15 days. Total lipid and triacylglycerol average values increased with storage time of 0−10 days. In contrast, sardines stored for 13−15 days showed decreased values of lipids and triacylglycerols. Increased storage times also led to increased average saturated fatty acid (STFA) content and browning and decreased polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) values and PUFA/STFA and ω3/ω6 ratios. Notably, the effect of storage time on PUFA/STFA and ω3/ω6 ratios and browning development was found significant (p < 0.05). Sensory descriptors revealed only slight quality differences with previous storage on ice for 0-10 days. In contrast, a substantial (p < 0.05) decrease (appearance and texture) was detected in samples corresponding to a 13−15-day period, such samples being considered unacceptable. Storage on ice not exceeding 10 days is recommended for sardines before being shipped to canneries for further processing. Furthermore, the use of efficient storage including preserving technologies would be desirable.

Characterization of a fermented coconut milk product with and without strawberry pulp.

The development of plant-based milks for use as functional foods is relatively new and challenging. The objective of this work was to develop and characterize two coconut milk products fermented by Lactobacillus reuteri LR 92. The best proportion of gums to promote greater viscosity and absence of syneresis of the beverage was 0.15% xanthan gum (w/v) and 0.05% guar gum (w/v). Two products were formulated: fermented coconut milk (FC) and fermented coconut milk with strawberry pulp (FCS). After gastrointestinal simulation, a high survival rate of L. reuteri was found for the products, with 81.63 ± 0.58% for FC and 74.17 ± 1.65% for FCS. In the hedonic acceptance sensory test (total 9 points), the products obtained global scores above 7.5. In the attitude scale test (total 7 points), 5.10 ± 1.28 for FC and 5.48 ± 1.30 for FCS. Among the fatty acids detected, the products had a higher percentage of lauric acid, with values ranging from 37.89 ± 0.89% to 44.45 ± 3.16%. The FC and FCS products showed promising results, indicating that fermented coconut milk beverages are suitable for the development of new functional products with high acceptability by the consumer. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-021-05303-1.

Rheological, Physical and Sensory Evaluation of Low-Fat Cupuassu Goat Milk Yogurts Supplemented with Fat Replacer.

The use of skim milk is a strategy to increase goat milk yogurt acceptability. However, it can negatively affect yogurt rheology because fat plays a vital role in dairy structural integrity. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of fat replacers on the rheological, physical, and sensory parameters of low-fat cupuassu goat milk yogurts during refrigerated storage (28 days). Five goat milk yogurts formulations were carried out: whole yogurt (WY), skim yogurt (SY), skim yogurt with inulin (SIY), skim yogurt with maltodextrin (SMY), and skim yogurt with whey protein (SWY). Treatments were subjected to bacterial counts, chemical composition, pH, water holding capacity, instrumental color and texture, rheological and sensory analyses. All samples showed reducing pH values, water holding capacity, and L* and b* value during storage. Regarding texture, the firmness and consistency decreased during storage. On the other hand, the viscosity index significantly increased during refrigerated storage time. Moreover, all treatments exhibited viscoelastic behaviour. In addition, SIY and SMY showed the highest apparent viscosity. Furthermore, SIY, SMY, and SWY formulations exhibited positive sensory scores for appearance, color, aroma, texture, and viscosity. However, the overall acceptability and purchase intention did not differ statistically between WY and the fat-replacement treatments (SIY, SMY, and SWY). These results indicate that fat substitutes improved the quality of skimmed formulations. Thus, inulin and maltodextrin have the potential as functional fat replaces to produce low-fat goat milk yogurts.

Agro-Industrial Fruit Byproducts as Health-Promoting Ingredients Used to Supplement Baked Food Products.

One of the biggest problems faced by food industries is the generation of large amounts of agro-industrial byproducts, such as those derived from fruit processing, as well as the negative effects of their inadequate management. Approximately 1/3 of the food produced worldwide is unused or is otherwise wasted along the chain, which represents a burden on the environment and an inefficiency of the system. Thus, there is growing interest in reintroducing agro-industrial byproducts (both from fruits and other sources) into the processing chain, either by adding them as such or utilizing them as sources of health-promoting bioactive compounds. The present work discusses recent scientific studies on the nutritional and bioactive composition of some agro-industrial byproducts derived from fruit processing, their applications as ingredients to supplement baked foods, and their main biological activities on the consumer's health. Research shows that agro-industrial fruit byproducts can be incorporated into various baked foods, increasing their fiber content, bioactive profile, and antioxidant capacity, in addition to other positive effects such as reducing their glycemic impact and inducing satiety, all while maintaining good sensory acceptance. Using agro-industrial fruit byproducts as food ingredients avoids discarding them; it can promote some bioactivities and maintain or even improve sensory acceptance. This contributes to incorporating edible material back into the processing chain as part of a circular bioeconomy, which can significantly benefit primary producers, processing industries (particularly smaller ones), and the final consumer.

Perception and sensory acceptance of sweet taste by individuals that who work/study on different shifts / Percepção e aceitação sensorial do gosto doce por indivíduos que trabalham/estudam em diferentes turnos

ABSTRACT Objective This study aimed to evaluate the perception and sensory acceptance of sweet taste by individuals who work/study on different shifts. Methods Three groups of individuals were recruited: the Control group (individuals that study during the day and do not work at night), Group 1 (individuals that study in the evening) and Group 2 (individuals that work overnight). The individuals were submitted to a detection threshold test using sucrose solutions and a sensory acceptance test using a structured hedonic scale and a Just-About-Right scale for sweet taste in blancmange. Results The detection thresholds were significantly higher for Groups 1 and 2. Individuals of Group 2 had a preference by blancmanges when having high sucrose concentrations, as well as had an ideal concentration of 10.50% sucrose against 5.95% sucrose for the Control group. Conclusion Our study shows a relationship between changes in the circadian cycle and the sensory perception and acceptance of sweet taste. More studies need to be performed to understand such relationships and their repercussions better.

RESUMO Objetivo O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a percepção e a aceitação sensorial do gosto doce por indivíduos que trabalham/estudam em diferentes turnos. Métodos Foram recrutados três grupos de indivíduos: Grupo Controle (indivíduos que estudam durante o dia e não trabalham à noite), Grupo 1 (indivíduos que estudam à noite) e Grupo 2 (indivíduos que trabalham de madrugada). Os indivíduos foram submetidos ao teste de limiar de detecção utilizando soluções de sacarose e aos testes de aceitação sensorial utilizando escala hedônica estruturada e escala do ideal para o gosto doce em manjar branco. Resultados Os limiares de detecção foram significativamente maiores para os Grupos 1 e 2, sendo certo que os indivíduos do Grupo 2 tiveram preferência pelos manjares com altas concentrações de sacarose, assim como apresentaram uma concentração ideal de 10,50% de sacarose contra 5,95% de sacarose para o grupo Controle. Conclusão Este estudo mostra uma relação entre mudanças no ciclo circadiano e a percepção e a aceitação sensorial do gosto doce, mostrando que estudos mais aprofundados precisam ser realizados para entender melhor tais relações e suas repercussões.

Storage Stability of Durum Wheat Pasta Enriched with Seaweeds Flours.

The enrichment of semolina pasta with nutritionally rich ingredients has been targeted as a health strategy in recent years. In this work, the storage stability of seaweed-enriched pasta was assessed at different combinations of temperature and relative humidity. After six months of storage, pasta samples did not present variations in their sensory properties. The enrichment of durum wheat pasta with 1% of macroalgae Fucus vesiculosus and Ulva rigida flours, or flours of its extracts, was found to be adequate without influencing or modifying the sensory characteristics of pasta samples during the storage period. Water activity was shown to be the main criteria influencing the quality parameters of pasta during shelf life. A higher water activity during storage will lead to higher cooking losses and a lower firmness of cooked pasta, which will damage pasta quality over time.

Employment of Flake Ice Systems Including Natural Preservative Compounds for the Quality Enhancement of Chilled Seafood-A Review.

Marine species deteriorate rapidly post-mortem as a consequence of a variety of biochemical and microbial breakdown mechanisms. Due to the increasing demand for high-quality fresh seafood, different strategies are now available to retard spoilage for as long as possible. The present study provides an overview of a recently proposed strategy based on the addition of natural compounds to marine species. In this strategy, different kinds of natural preservative compounds are included in the flake-ice medium that is commonly used for chilled storage. Natural sources tested for this purpose include low-molecular-weight organic acids and different kinds of extracts of plants, macroalgae, and by-products resulting from marine species commercialization. The preservative action of such treatments is analyzed according to the effect on different deteriorative mechanisms (i.e., lipid hydrolysis, oxidation, and microbial activity development), as well as on the resulting sensory acceptability and shelf-life time. The basic objective of this review is to provide an overview concerning the positive effect that the presence in an icing system of natural preserving compounds may have on the quality of chilled marine species. Furthermore, various potential avenues are proposed to develop the practical and commercial employment of this technological strategy.