Targeted precursor addition to increase baked flavour in a low-acrylamide potato-based matrix.

The aim of this study was to increase the baked flavour of low-acrylamide potato products. Strecker aldehydes and pyrazines make an important contribution to the flavour of potato products and are formed alongside acrylamide in the Maillard reaction. However, the Maillard reaction can be directed in favour of aroma formation by selecting appropriate precursors and intermediates based on the fundamental chemistry involved. Selected precursors were added to potato dough prior to baking. Addition of glycine and alanine together doubled high impact pyrazines and addition of 2,3-pentanedione or 3,4-hexanedione also promoted the formation of key trisubstituted pyrazines. Quantitative descriptive profiling of sensory attributes indicated that baked flavour was increased most when both Strecker aldehydes and pyrazines were increased together. This work shows that it is possible to enhance baked flavour in low-acrylamide products by adding a specifically targeted combination of amino acids and key intermediates, without increasing acrylamide concentration.

Effect of beta-cyclodextrin on aroma release and flavor perception.

Binding and release of volatile compounds to and from beta-cyclodextrin were measured in model aqueous systems using static equilibrium headspace and dynamic headspace dilution. Beta-cyclodextrin decreased the static equilibrium headspace for some volatiles (e.g., ethyl octanoate and decanone) due to binding, but dilution studies demonstrated that binding was readily reversible. Dynamic release of hydrophobic volatile compounds was similar to that observed from emulsions. When beta-cyclodextrin was added to fat free yogurt, the release of a commercial lemon flavoring was modified and was similar to release from a regular fat yogurt. Sensory difference testing confirmed the release results. The data demonstrate that beta-cyclodextrin can be used to modify flavor delivery in both model and real systems; the effects in the latter are sensorially significant.

Optimising aroma quality in curry sauce products using in vivo aroma release measurements.

Reducing fat content in foods to meet consumers' preferences and to address the obesity issue is a key task for food manufacturers but simply reducing fat content affects aroma quality adversely. Measuring the aroma release from regular and low-fat samples during eating to rebalance the aroma release has proved successful in model systems. Here, the reformulation of the spice content in a low fat curry sauce is described. Volatile markers of the key spices (coriander, cumin and turmeric) were selected and used to measure aroma release in regular (10 g oil/100 g) and low (2.5 or 5 g oil/100 g) fat sauces. Regression models were used to adjust the ingredient formulation so that the aroma release profiles in vivo were the same for the regular and reduced oil curry sauces and sensory analysis showed no significant difference between these samples. Despite the complexity of spice aromas, rebalancing was successful.

Identification and quantification of the antimicrobial components of a citrus essential oil vapor.

The anti-bacterial components of a citrus essential oil vapor were identified as linalool, citral and beta-pinene using a bioautography method and quantified by GC-MS. Essential oil vapor release, monitored in real-time with Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization - MS (APCI-MS), showed differences in the vapor release profile oflimonene, beta-pinene and linalool over 24 hours, while Solid Phase Micro-extraction (SPME) GC-MS demonstrated changes in composition of the vapor at 35 degrees C. Fourteen isolates were tested in vitro for their susceptibility to the EO vapor and to linalool, citral and beta-pinene vapors, both separately and in a mixture containing the three components in the amounts at which they occur in the EO vapor. All eleven Gram-positive strains tested were susceptible to the EO vapor, linalool, citral and beta-pinene vapors separately and the mixture with zones of inhibition of 4.34 cm, 5.32 cm, 5.58 cm, 4.86 cm and 4.68 cm, respectively. Of the three Gram-negative strains tested, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 10145 was resistant to all the vapors. When bacteria inoculated onto stainless steel surfaces were exposed to either the EO vapor or a linalool/citral/beta-pinene vapor mixture there was no significant difference in reduction for the Gram-positive isolates, while the Gram-negative isolates were resistant to both EO vapor and the linalool/citral/beta-pinene mixture.