Stability of the Stevia‐Derived Sweetener Rebaudioside A in Solution as Affected by Ultraviolet Light Exposure

Rebaudioside A is a natural noncaloric high‐potency sweetener extracted from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana. With rebaudioside A use increasing in foods, understanding the factors affecting its stability is necessary. This project evaluated the degradation rate constants of rebaudioside A in water, 0.1 M phosphate buffer, and 0.1 M citrate buffer at pH 3 and 7 as a function of ultraviolet (UV) light intensity (365 nm, 0 μW/cm² for dark conditions, 27 μW/cm² for low intensity, and 190 μW/cm² for high intensity) at 32.5 °C. Rebaudioside A stability was adversely affected by light exposure. The pseudo‐1st‐order degradation rate constants increased significantly (P < 0.05) with increasing light intensity in all solutions. Under dark conditions, rebaudioside A in phosphate buffers was more susceptible to breakdown than in water and citrate buffers at both pH levels. However, exposure to UV light resulted in rebaudioside A degradation occurring approximately 10 times faster in citrate than in phosphate buffers at both pH levels. The sensitivity of rebaudioside A to UV light was greater in citrate buffers than in water or phosphate buffers. The use of light‐protective packaging for beverages containing rebaudioside A will improve its stability.     

Kinetics of Thiamin Degradation in Solutions under Ambient Storage Conditions

Thiamin is being incorporated into a variety of nutritionally enhanced beverages. Although thiamin degradation during thermal processing has been extensively studied, minimal data exist regarding its stability in solution during ambient storage. This study collected kinetic data for thiamin degradation in solutions as a function of pH, buffer type, and buffer concentration at 25 °C. Thiamin was incorporated into sodium phosphate and citrate buffer solutions, each prepared at 0.02 and 0.1 M and pH 4, 5, 6, and 7. Experimental solutions were stored in an incubator at 25 °C. Thiamin concentrations were analyzed at 9 time points over a 42‐wk period. Thiamin degradation data were modeled using pseudo‐1st‐order kinetics. Thiamin stability generally decreased as pH and buffer concentration increased in both phosphate and citrate buffers. In 0.1 M phosphate buffer, the time for a 10% loss of thiamin decreased from 79 wk at pH 4 to 3 wk at pH 7. At pH 6 and 7, thiamin stability was greater in citrate buffer than in phosphate buffer. However, at pH 4 and 5, thiamin stability was greater in phosphate buffer than citrate buffer. To optimize thiamin stability in low pH beverages, phosphate buffer would be more appropriate to use than citrate buffer, whereas citrate buffer should be used for better thiamin stability in high pH beverages.     

Storage stability of tagatose in buffer solutions of various compositions

Tagatose is a minimally absorbed monosaccharide that has prebiotic properties. For this prebiotic effect to be achieved, tagatose should remain stable and not degrade during food processing and storage. This study evaluated the storage stability of tagatose in solutions as affected by buffer type, buffer concentration, pH, and temperature. Tagatose does degrade during storage. Minimal tagatose loss and browning were observed in 0.02 M phosphate and citrate buffers at pH 3. In 0.1 M buffers at pH 3 and 40 °C, approximately 5% tagatose was lost over 6 months and slight browning occurred. Tagatose degradation was enhanced at pH 7, especially in phosphate buffer, where it occurred faster than in citrate buffer. Higher buffer concentrations also enhanced tagatose loss. In phosphate buffers at pH 7, browning accompanied the tagatose degradation, increasing to a maximum and then decreasing. To deliver the prebiotic effect from tagatose, shelf-stable beverages should be formulated to the lowest buffer concentration and pH possible to optimize tagatose’s stability.     

Determination of Amoxicillin Stability in Chicken Meat by Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry

An amoxicillin stability study was performed under different pH (1, 3 and 5) and temperature (4 °C, 22 °C, 37 °C and 55 °C) conditions and for incurred samples stored at −20 °C with the goals of better understanding amoxicillin degradation and characterising its main degradation products (amoxicilloic acid and amoxicillin diketopiperazine). The analytical methodology used consisted of a simple extraction using phosphate buffer (pH 8) with sodium chloride followed by a sample clean-up using OASIS? HLB cartridges and a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric analysis. Amoxicillin was found to be greatly unstable at temperatures above 22 °C for all pH values studied, so it was recommended that biological samples should be frozen at temperatures below −70 °C until analysis of the amoxicillin residues.     

Thermal Stability of Tagatose in Solution

ABSTRACT: Tagatose, a monosaccharide similar to fructose, has been shown to behave as a prebiotic. To deliver this prebiotic benefit, tagatose must not degrade during the processing of foods and beverages. The objective of this study was to evaluate the thermal stability of tagatose in solutions. Tagatose solutions were prepared in 0.02 and 0.1 M phosphate and citrate buffers at pHs 3 and 7, which were then held at 60, 70, and 80 °C. Pseudo-1st-order rate constants for tagatose degradation were determined. In citrate and phosphate buffers at pH 3, minimal tagatose was lost and slight browning was observed. At pH 7, tagatose degradation rates were enhanced. Degradation was faster in phosphate buffer than citrate buffer. Higher buffer concentrations also increased the degradation rate constants. Enhanced browning accompanied tagatose degradation in all buffer solutions at pH 7. Using the activation energies for tagatose degradation, less than 0.5% and 0.02% tagatose would be lost under basic vat and HTST pasteurization conditions, respectively. Although tagatose does breakdown at elevated temperatures, the amount of tagatose lost during typical thermal processing conditions would be virtually negligible. Practical Application: Tagatose degradation occurs minimally during pasteurization, which may allow for its incorporation into beverages as a prebiotic.     

Residual gas and storage conditions affect sensory quality of diced pears in flexible retortable pouches

Diced pears packed in flexible retortable pouches were manufactured to obtain packages with 10, 15, 20 and 30 cm³ residual gas, then stored at 4.4, 26.7 and 37.8 °C for six months. The 2-furaldehyde and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde values increased and pears turned darker, softer, more homogeneous in shape/size, less fruity in flavor and aroma, and less acceptable to consumers over time. Elevated temperatures and high residual gas levels were particularly detrimental to pear quality. Highest quality was maintained for 6 months when pears packaged at any residual gas level were stored at 4.4 °C. Acceptable quality was maintained for 6 months in pears packaged with less than 30 cm³ residual gas, stored at 26.7 °C. Pear quality declined most rapidly at 37.8 °C, 30 cm³ residual gas. Residual gas volume of 15 cm³ should not be exceeded to maintain highest quality and acceptability of diced pears packed in flexible retortable pouches.     

Storage and lyophilization effects of extracts of Cynara cardunculus on the degradation of ovine and caprine caseins

Clotting and proteolytic activities are important parameters when evaluating rennets for cheesemaking. Both these activities were determined for extracts of the plant Cynara cardunculus in fresh form and after lyophilization followed by reconstitution, either in water or in citrate buffer (pH 5.4) and stored for up to 4 weeks at 4°C. The patterns of degradation of ovine and caprine caseins were followed by urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in attempts to qualitatively differentiate the activity of the enzyme extracts as storage time elapsed. Storage at 4°C significantly decreased the clotting power of the extracts but lyophilization retarded this decrease; β- and α_s-casein breakdown generally increased with storage time, via patterns that depend on caseinate type and extract used, but lyophilized extracts reconstituted in citrate buffer were significantly less proteolytic than the other extracts. Therefore, it is suggested that lyophilized extracts (reconstituted with citrate buffer) of flowers of C. cardunculus be used rather than fresh extracts.     

Maillard Reaction in Glassy Low-Moisture Solids as Affected by Buffer Type and Concentration

This study's objectives were to investigate the effects of buffer type and concentration on the kinetics of the Maillard reaction in low-moisture solids. Glucose loss and brown pigment formation were evaluated in low-moisture glassy systems obtained by lyophilizing solutions containing various concentrations of phosphate or citrate buffer at pH 7 and 25°C. Rate constants for glucose loss decreased as buffer concentration increased, suggesting that a change in the system pH had occurred. Rate constants for browning increased with increasing phosphate buffer concentration and decreased with increasing citrate concentration. Phosphate buffer appeared to catalyze later pathways of the Maillard reaction.     

Effects of Calcium Addition on Stability and Sensory Properties of Soy Beverage

Pasteurized or thermally processed soy beverages (6% soy solids) were fortified to a comparable level of cow's milk with 25 mM (or 30 mM) calcium using mixtures of calcium citrate and tricalcium phosphate. These fortified pasteurized products had acceptable sensory properties. Addition of these calcium salts did not adversely affect protein stability of the beverage. Calcium citrate addition caused a decrease in beverage pH and viscosity. Thermally processed (still retort and agitort) canned beverages containing calcium salts were stable for 6 months when stored at 1°C or at room temperature.     

Accelerated Kinetic Study of Aspartame Degradation in the Neutral pH Range

The degradation of aspartame in solution as a function of temperature (70–100°C), buffer concentration (0.01–0.1M phosphate), and pH (6–7) was studied in order to estimate losses during thermal processing and storage of aseptic milk-based drinks. Prior data have been mostly on acid carbonated beverages. First order rate constants were obtained in all the conditions with activation energies in the range 14–20 kcal/ mole. An increase in both pH and buffer concentration caused an increase in rate of loss. These data were used to predict losses that would occur during pasteurization and sterilization conditions. Experiments at 4 and 30°C showed significant losses would occur during 4 and 30°C temperature storage and extrapolation from high temperatures predicted faster degradation rates than those found.     

Nutritional changes in maize (Zea mays) during storage at three temperatures

Nutritional changes in maize grains stored at 10, 25 and 45 °C for 6 months were studied. Significant decrease in pH and increase in titratable acidity was observed during storage of maize grains at 25 and 45 °C. Moisture contents of maize grains decreased by 25% at 25 °C and 38% at 45 °C after six months of storage. Total soluble sugars increased by 10.7% at 10 °C and 17.3% at 25 °C, whereas a 39.5% decrease was observed after 6 months storage at 45 °C. Total available lysine and thiamine contents in maize grains decreased by 13 and 9.26% at 25 °C, 16 and 20.4% at 45 °C, respectively, after 6 months of storage. Protein digestibility decreased by 5.19 and 9.0% at 25 and 45 °C, respectively, whereas decrease in starch digestibility was 9.86% at 25 °C and 15.1% at 45 °C on storage of maize grains for 6 months. However, no significant nutritional changes occurred during storage of maize grains at 10 °C.     

Influence of Dairy Proteins on Aspartame Stability in the pH 6–7 Range

The effect of three commercial milk protein products on aspartame degradation was studied as a function of temperature (4, 30, 70, 80°C), pH (6 and 7), phosphate buffer concentration (0.01 M/L, 0.1 M/L) and protein (0–3%). Caseinates significantly decreased the pseudo-first order loss rate at low buffer concentration and higher temperature (70–80°C), whereas the rate was faster in the presence of a casein/ whey mixture. At high buffer concentration, the loss rate was not affected by protein. The protective effect may have been due to either a buffering capacity decrease caused by a protein/aspartame interaction that lowered pH or some unknown protein interaction. At 4 and 30°C, the loss rate was not affected by calcium caseinate.     

Aspartame Degradation Kinetics as Affected by pH in Intermediate and Low Moisture Food Systems

Kinetics of aspartame degradation in low to intermediate moisture systems were evaluated by incorporating aspartame into agar/micro-crystalline cellulose model systems. They were prepared at pH 3, 5, and 7, equilibrated after freeze-drying to three water activities (0.34, 0.56, and 0.66), and stored at 25 to 45°C. Aspartame in such systems was most stable at pH 5 and became less stable as pH decreased or increased. As the molar buffer salt concentration increased, the rate of aspartame degradation increased. The activation energy ranged from 23 to 36 kcal/mole.     

Changes during storage of dried Moringa oleifera leaves prepared by heat pump‐assisted dehumidified air drying

Moringa oleifera leaves contain phytochemicals that are retained during heat pump‐assisted dehumidified air drying. Changes in phytochemicals, antioxidant capacity and colour were evaluated at 15–35 °C, during storage of dried leaves in polypropylene (PP) or high barrier (PET/Al/PE) packaging for up to 6 months. The a_w of samples in PP increased from 0.373 to 0.669. Decreases in total phenolics were greatest at 35 °C in PP (48%) and least at 15 °C in PET/Al/PE (19%). There were few significant changes in DPPH inhibition after 2 months storage. There was little change in kaempferol and some increase in quercetin. During storage, samples became less green, suggesting breakdown in chlorophyll had occurred. The degradation of flavonoids followed first‐order kinetics. The half‐life for total flavonoids ranged from 2.13 to 1.47 months for samples stored in PP and from 2.59 to 1.83 months for samples stored in PET/Al/PE.     

The influence of storage temperature and storage time on color stability,retail properties and case-life of retail-ready beef

Steaks from three different muscles were either vacuum or carbon dioxide packed and stored for up to 24 weeks at three different storage temperatures (−1.5, 2, or 5 °C). Following storage, they were displayed for up to 30 h. CIE color coordinates, the oxidative states of myoglobin and pH were measured and muscle color, surface discoloration, retail appearance, and odor were evaluated prior to storage and during display (0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 24 and 30 h), and/or immediately prior to and following display. Prior to display, pH was negatively related to duration of storage, and samples stored at −1.5 °C had the highest and samples stored at 5 °C, had the lowest pH. Perception of muscle color was influenced by duration of storage and display, but lower storage temperatures appeared to produce a stabilizing effect. Both lightness of muscle color and deoxymyoglobin content were apparently not influenced by storage temperature or duration of storage or display. Both oxymyoglobin (OMB) and redness, as defined by CIE a* values, were lost progressively during storage and display, but this loss was progressively lower as storage temperature decreased. Yellowness of muscle color, as defined by CIE b* values, generally decreased as storage was prolonged, and this decrease was observed more quickly at higher storage temperatures. Surprisingly, b* values were not related to duration of display. Both surface discoloration and metmyoglobin (MMB) content increased progressively during storage and display. Samples stored at 5 °C displayed the most surface discoloration, while samples stored at −1.5 °C contained the least MMB and displayed the least surface discoloration. Retail appearance deteriorated progressively during storage in all samples stored at 2 and 5 °C and in samples stored at −1.5 °C, which were displayed for at least 24 h. Retail appearance also deteriorated progressively during display in samples stored at −1.5 and 2 °C for three weeks or longer and in samples stored at 5 °C for 0 to 15 and 24 weeks. In unstored samples, samples to be stored at −1.5 °C generally received the lowest retail appearance scores, but after prolonged storage and display, samples stored at −1.5 °C received higher retail appearance scores than samples stored at 5 °C, particularly when samples were stored for 12 weeks or longer and displayed for 1 h or more. Odor deteriorated progressively during storage when measured both prior to display and after 30 h of display. In samples stored for three weeks or longer, samples stored at −1.5 °C generally received the lowest odor scores and were perceived to have the least prevalent off-odors. Samples stored at −1.5 °C maintained a retail case-life of 30 h, when stored for up to 17 weeks, while samples stored at 2 and 5 °C maintained a retail case-life of 30 h, when stored for only eight and seven weeks, respectively. Consequently, storage life can be more than doubled by storage at subzero temperatures (−1.5 °C).     

Stevioside and Stevia-sweetener in food: application, stability and interaction with food ingredients

The stability of the natural sweetener stevioside during different processing and storage conditions as well as the effects of its interaction with water-soluble vitamins, food relevant organic acids and other common low calorie sweeteners and its application in coffee and tea beverages were evaluated. Incubation of the solid sweetener stevioside at elevated temperatures for 1 h showed good stability up to 120°C, whilst at temperatures exceeding 140°C forced decomposition was noticed. In aqueous solutions stevioside is remarkable stable in a pH range 2–10 under thermal treatment up to 80°C, however, under strong acidic conditions (pH 1) a significant decrease in the stevioside concentration was detected. Up to 4 h incubation of stevioside with individual water-soluble vitamins in aqueous solution at 80°C showed no significant changes in regard to stevioside and the B-vitamins, whereas a protective effect of stevioside on the degradation of ascorbic acid was observed resulting in a significant delayed degradation rate. In the presence of other individual low calorie sweeteners practically no interaction was found at room temperature after 4 months incubation in aqueous media. Stability studies of stevioside in solutions of organic acids showed a tendency towards enhanced decomposition of the sweetener at lower pH values depending on the acidic medium. In a stevioside-sweetened coffee and tea beverage, practically, no significant chances neither in caffeine content nor in stevioside content could be noticed. Furthermore an overview of already performed studies in literature about the Stevia-sweetener stevioside and rebaudioside A is given.     

The effect of composition of ternary mixtures containing phosphate and citrate emulsifying salts on selected textural properties of spreadable processed cheese

Ternary mixtures consisting of phosphate and citrate emulsifying salts were studied for their impact on selected textural properties (especially hardness) of processed cheese spreads over a 30 day storage period at 6 ± 2 °C. Two different groups of samples were manufactured, one with pH adjustment (target values within the interval of 5.60–5.80) and one without pH adjustment. When binary mixtures with trisodium citrate (TSC) and tetrasodium diphosphate (TSPP) were used (with zero content of the other salts tested in the ternary mixture), the products consisting of TSC and TSPP at a ratio of approximately 1:1 were the hardest. Increasing the content of TSC, TSPP and/or sodium salt of polyphosphate and decreasing that of disodium hydrogen phosphate (DSP) in ternary mixtures resulted in the increasing of the hardness of processed cheese. The absolute values of processed cheese hardness significantly changed as a result of pH adjustment.     

Changes in physicochemical characteristics of rice during storage at different temperatures

This study investigated the changes in the physicochemical properties of rice during storage at different temperatures. Milled rice stored at high temperatures showed higher fat acidity than rice stored at low temperatures. Although the moisture content of milled rice stored at 30 °C and 40 °C decreased below 15.5% (15.33% and 15.22%, respectively) after 1 month, adequate values were maintained with storage at 4 °C for 3 months (15.50%) and at 20 °C for 2 months (15.53%). Rice stored at low temperatures retained its white coloration, whereas low color retention values were obtained at higher storage temperatures. Peak viscosity increased during 4 months of storage and larger changes were found at higher storage temperatures. Breakdown decreased and setback increased with storage, regardless of storage temperatures. Storage at higher temperatures increased cohesiveness and hardness in compared with storage at lower temperatures. High temperatures also led to a decrease in adhesiveness with age. High temperatures (30 °C and 40 °C) significantly decreased all sensory values even after 1 month of storage. These results are similar to those obtained in an analysis of cooked rice texture. The results of this study indicate that storage temperature is an important factor affecting the physicochemical properties of rice. Short storage periods below room temperatures are recommended to maintain rice quality.     

Mass spectrometry-based electric nose system for assessing rice quality during storage at different temperatures

A mass spectrometry-based electronic nose (MS e-nose) was used to measure changes in rice quality during storage at different storage conditions. Rice was stored for 4 months at four different temperatures (0 °C, 20 °C, 30 °C, and 40 °C) and tested for fat acidity, sensory characteristics, and flavor pattern analysis using the MS e-nose. When the rice was stored for long durations at higher temperatures, fat acidity increased and sensory quality was low. Flavor volatile profiles of the rice determined by MS e-nose revealed a tendency for the results to separate into three groups (months 1 + 2, 3, and 4). Volatile profile changes in rice during storage depended on the storage time, regardless of storage temperature. It is likely that the fat acidity and sensory evaluation results, which were related, could be distinguished by their volatile-producing metabolic activities. Accordingly, MS e-nose system was successfully used to screen and qualitatively evaluate stored rice.