International Journal of Food Science最新文献

A home dehydrator allows obtaining dried apples that are beneficial to human health, but its operations will affect the chemical and organoleptic quality of this fruit. In this study, the effect of the drying temperature and mass load of sliced fresh "Fuji" apples in a home dehydrator was evaluated with regard to moisture content, electric energy consumption, ascorbic acid, total polyphenol content, and color of the dried fruit. Fresh "Fuji" apples were cut to obtain a uniform slice with a thickness of 4 mm and diameter from 60 to 75 mm. A home dehydrator was operated at 50 and 70°C (nominal temperatures), with a total sliced apple load of 250 and 500 g, uniformly distributed in five trays. Drying was carried out for 7 hours, and every hour, the trays were rotated, changing their position from the top to the bottom. Only the middle tray was always kept in the same position. As result, the level of nominal temperature (50/70°C) was not reached for any of the trays, regardless of the mass load (250/500 g) in the home dehydrator. The temperature average for fruits dried in trays of the home dehydrator that were rotated (top and bottom) and kept in the same position (middle) did not differ (p > 0.05) among them. At the end of drying, the apple treatment at 50°C/250 g, 50°C/500 g, 70°C/250 g, and 70°C/500 g reached 23.1, 26.2, 4.3, and 4.5% (w.b.), respectively. The drying conditions at nominal 50°C favored the quality of the dried sliced apples with regard to ascorbic acid and total polyphenol content; however, the treatment at nominal 70°C produced less variation in color with respect to the fresh fruit. The home dehydrator allowed obtaining sliced dried "Fuji" apples that adequately preserve the ascorbic acid, total polyphenol, and color with respect to the fresh fruit.

Several scientific investigations have revealed that the leaching of metals from packaging material into the packed food is an unavoidable process. Hence, this study is aimed at investigating the effect of leached heavy metals from food packing materials on normal human gut flora. We analysed the effect of vanadium, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury present in digested packaging materials (DPM) on standard strains of Escherichia coli ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 70063, and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of laboratory-grade heavy metal salts and heavy metals present in DPM was determined by the agar dilution method. For all four bacteria, the MIC of cadmium and arsenic in the DPM was 7 μg/ml and 1.6 μg/ml, respectively. The MIC of mercury in DPM was 1.6 μg/ml for E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and E. faecalis and 1.4 μg/ml for P. aeruginosa. MIC of vanadium for E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and E. faecalis was 2.2 μg/ml, and for K. pneumoniae was 2.0 μg/ml. The difference in MICs of heavy metals in DPMs and heavy metal salts was not statistically significant. MICs were within CODEX-specified permissible levels. Though heavy metals in packaging material have not shown a deleterious effect on representative human gut flora, there is scope to study their effect on the gut microbiome. Thus, understanding the risk of heavy metal ingestion through unknown sources and avoiding any possible ingestion is crucial to preventing chronic diseases.

Warm temperatures and drought conditions in the United States (US) Corn Belt in 2012 raised concern for widespread aflatoxin (AFL) contamination in Iowa corn. To identify the prevalence of AFL in the 2012 corn crop, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) conducted a sample of Iowa corn to assess the incidence and severity of AFL contamination. Samples were obtained from grain elevators in all of Iowa's 99 counties, representing nine crop reporting districts (CRD), and 396 samples were analyzed by IDALS using rapid test methods. The statewide mean for AFL in parts per billion (ppb) was 5.57 ppb. Regions of Iowa differed in their incidence levels, with AFL levels significantly higher in the Southwest (SW; mean 15.13 ppb) and South Central (SC; mean 10.86 ppb) CRD (p < 0.05) regions of Iowa. This sampling demonstrated high variability among samples collected within CRD and across the entire state of Iowa in an extreme weather event year. In years when Iowa has AFL contamination in corn, there is a need for a proactive and preventive strategy to minimize hazards in domestic and export markets.

The significance of conducting research for its application has been noted as a result of the rising global food production and waste generation. As a result, there is increasing interest in fruits and vegetable seeds that contain bioactive chemicals, such as those that are obtained from orange seeds. In the current work, orange seed powder replaced wheat flour at 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10% levels, to observe changes in physicochemical features of developed biscuits. Proximate analysis of orange seed powder and wheat flour revealed that orange seed powder has high fat, fiber, protein, and ash contents as compared to wheat flour, whereas moisture contents in wheat flour were high. In developed biscuits, the highest values (percentage) of ash (9.68 ± 0.04), fiber (6.79 ± 0.12), protein (10.42 ± 0.25), and fat (36.90 ± 0.55) were found in biscuits developed with 10% orange seed powder. Orange seed powder was a comparatively good source of both macro and micro minerals, as compared to wheat flour. High contents of selenium (5.32 ± 0.03), iron (2.12 ± 0.05), zinc (3.88 ± 0.12), and manganese (2.25 ± 0.04) mg/100 g, present in orange seed powder, were the prominent findings of this research work, as wheat flours were observed to be deficient in these trace minerals. Contents of calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, manganese, zinc, and selenium in control biscuits were found 20.51 ± 0.08, 17.29 ± 0.04, 46.12 ± 0.05, 1.06 ± 0.01, 1.97 ± 0.01, 0.12 ± 0.01, and 0.11 ± 0.01 mg/100 g, respectively, and replacement of wheat flour with 10% orange seed powder increased values of these minerals to 103.90 ± 0.35, 44.35 ± 0.50, 71.29 ± 0.32, 2.59 ± 0.4, 2.75 ± 0.02, 1.31 ± 0.01, and 2.02 ± 0.05 mg/100 g, respectively. Vitamins E and K, which were not detected in wheat flour, were present in orange powder in high amount, whereas B group vitamins, which were also present in wheat flour, were observed in significantly high quantities in orange seed powder. Increment in vitamin A, D, E, K, and B complexes was significant as a result of orange seed powder supplementation, except for vitamins B1 and B2, which were slightly decreased. Sensory evaluation revealed that a 5% replacement of orange seed powder provided good quality biscuits with acceptable colour, flavor, taste, texture, and overall acceptability. Orange seed powder could prove an important ingredient in the baking industry with the potential of promoting the nutritional value of foods.

Purple rice, locally known as "Cẩm" rice, is cultivated in the southern region of Vietnam. The bran of "Cẩm" rice is often disregarded and underutilized; nevertheless, it harbours substantial nutritive value, particularly in terms of antioxidant compounds. Additionally, sonication, an emerging and "green" technological approach, has been employed to augment the extraction efficiency of these antioxidants. This research is aimed at optimizing and maximizing the antioxidant recovery capacity including phenolic and total flavonoid compounds, along with their antioxidant activities, through the assistance of ultrasound waves. The effect of the extract on the starch digestion process was also investigated. The study employed the Box-Behnken experimental design, encompassing three variables: extraction time (20-40 minutes), temperature (60-80°C), and solvent-to-material ratio (8 : 1 to 12 : 1). Analysis was conducted on total phenolic compounds, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant activities. Results demonstrated that the peak yield of antioxidant compounds and their corresponding activities were attained at an extraction duration of 29.38 minutes, a temperature of 69°C, and a solvent-to-material ratio of 9.92. Under these optimal conditions, the yields were as follows: total phenolic compounds at 60.821 mg GAE/g, total flavonoid compounds at 3.2696 mg QE/g, percentage inhibition of DPPH at 74.778%, and FRAP value at 54.112 μmol Fe (II)/g. The established models were validated and exhibited a strong alignment between predicted and actual values, with disparities of less than 3% under optimal conditions. Furthermore, the extract was codigested with cooked corn starch, revealing a dose-dependent effect on starch digestibility. The sluggishness of digestion rate was observed when 20 mg of the extract was supplemented to 200 mg of cooked corn starch. This suggests that rice bran extract holds promise as an effective ingredient for mitigating starch digestion, particularly beneficial for individuals dealing with diabetes.

Drying is a common technique in the agrifood industry, but insufficient control in the drying process can result in changes to the fruit's appearance due to physiological damage during processing. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of pretreatment and drying process parameters on Moroccan raisins' quality and safety. The experimental levels of pretreatment factors (blanching, browning agents) and drying temperature were defined at the beginning. Subsequently, a 2⁴-factorial design was employed to provide a simple and reliable model capable of relating directly the response factor (drying time, color intensity change (E^∗), chromaticity (C^∗), and browning rate) to the variables (NaOH concentration, antibrowning agent concentration, temperature, and relative humidity). All four parameters had a statistically considerable effect on studied responses. Blanching for 5 minutes at 1% of NaOH solution, using an appropriate concentration of antibrowning agent (5% Na₂S₂O₅), and drying at 70°C with 30% of relative moisture can lead to better preservation of grapes' appearance and quality (chromaticity (C^∗) and color change (E^∗)). Also, in these conditions, a lower browning rate (14.48%), a lower 5-hydroxymethylfurfural content (12.40 mg/100 g DW), and a higher level of polyphenols (135.79 ± 13.17 mg GAE/100 g DW) and flavonoid content (57.81 ± 3.08 mg Qeq/100 g DW) have been recorded while meeting international standards for SO₂ content and microbial quality.

The seeds of baobab were found to have both industrial and domestic uses due to their essential oil qualities for topical medication. However, the seeds found in this study area in Ghana are underutilised and sometimes thrown away after being taken off the pulp. The present study is aimed at examining the impact of the two predominant techniques used for oil extraction from nonoily seeds, namely, mechanical extraction and Soxhlet (n-hexane) extraction, on both the oil yield and physicochemical properties of crude oil derived from baobab seeds. The study looked at the iodine value, peroxide value, acid value, colour, density, and other variables. Refractometers, chroma meters, and titration techniques were used for the determination of specific properties using standard methods. The Soxhlet method of oil extraction was superior in terms of maximum oil recovery, recording a value of 27.75%, in contrast to the mechanical method, which yielded a significantly lower recovery rate of 5.422%. The peroxide and iodine values were found to be 15.09 and 11.89 mEq/g and 85.89 and 88.45 g/100 g for the mechanical and Soxhlet extraction methods, respectively. Statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were observed between the two oil extraction methods in some of the properties measured. The study discussed the impact of these oil properties on the application of both food and nonfood products. Finally, the study has provided an essential set of data and information to enable product initiators in the cosmetic, food, and other industries to make informed decisions regarding the utilisation of baobab oil as a constituent in the formulation of products.

Anemia is a public health problem that affects about 50% of adolescent females in sub-Saharan Africa. Anemia can negatively affect the overall growth, cognitive performance, and productivity of school-going adolescents. This pilot study assessed the impact of Solanum torvum-fortified biscuits on hemoglobin levels and cognitive performance of school-going adolescent females. A cluster randomized controlled, open labeled trial was undertaken among four basic schools in the Ahafo Region of Ghana. Out of the 169 participants, 151 (intervention = 83, control = 68) adolescent females completed the trial. The intervention and control groups were made up of two schools each. The participants in the intervention and control groups received a total of 30 turkey berry-fortified biscuit supplementation or 30 placebos for a period of six weeks, respectively. The hemoglobin levels and cognitive test scores were obtained before and after the intervention. The number of anemic cases and low cognitive performance among the female adolescents in the intervention group reduced by 23.8% and 8.7%, respectively. There was a positive impact on the hemoglobin levels and cognitive performance of the intervention group. For every unit of turkey berry-fortified biscuit consumed by the intervention group, there was a 0.945 unit increase in hemoglobin level (p = 0.001) and a 2.796 unit increase in cognitive performance (p = 0.005). The turkey berry-fortified biscuit significantly reduced anemia prevalence and improved cognitive performance among the adolescent girls. Therefore, its potential in the management of anemia and improvement of cognition could be explored.

Rubus alceifolius Poir (R.A. Poir) leaves are rich in phenolic compounds, offering many health benefits due to their incredible antioxidant potential. In this study, conditions for the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity from R.A. Poir leaves were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). This methodology assessed the effects of ultrasound power (X₁: 100-500 W), extraction temperature (X₂: 30-60°C), and extraction time (X₃: 5-55 min). The optimized UAE conditions were then compared with conventional extraction methods (Soxhlet extraction: SE and maceration extraction: ME) for extracting total phenolics. A phenolic profile using GC-MS and antioxidant activity (ABTS) was also compared. According to the RSM, the best conditions for UAE to extract the highest total polyphenol content and ABTS radical scavenging activity were 320 W ultrasound power, 40°C extraction temperature, and 35.5 min sonication duration. Under these optimal conditions, the TPC and antioxidant activity reached 16.68 mg GAE/g dm and 21.9 mg TE/g, respectively, closely aligning with the predicted values. The UAE extraction technique proved to be more efficient in extracting phenolics and antioxidant capacity (ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)) radical scavenging activity, and enzyme inhibition) compared to the conventional extraction methods (SE and ME). A GC-MS analysis identified 12 components, including 5 phenolics and 3 flavonoids, which likely contribute to the antioxidant activity. Consequently, the UAE method improved extraction efficiency within a shorter time frame, suggesting that UAE is a promising, efficient, and ecofriendly technology for extracting bioactive compounds from R.A. Poir leaves.