Small and large deformation rheology and microstructure of κ-carrageenan gels containing commercial milk protein products

The rheological behaviour of commercial milk protein/κ-carrageenan mixtures in aqueous solutions was studied at neutral pH. Four milk protein ingredients; skim milk powder, milk protein concentrate, sodium caseinate, and whey protein isolate were considered. As seen by confocal laser microscopy, mixtures of κ-carrageenan with skim milk powder, milk protein concentrate, and sodium caseinate showed phase separation, but no phase separation was observed in mixtures containing whey protein isolate. For κ-carrageenan concentrations up to 0.5 wt%, the viscosity of the mixtures at low shear rates increased markedly in the case of skim milk powder and milk protein concentrate addition, but did not change by the addition of sodium caseinate or whey protein isolate. For κ-carrageenan concentrations from 1 to 2.5 wt%, small and large deformation rheological measurements, performed on the milk protein/κ-carrageenan gels, showed that skim milk powder, milk protein concentrate or sodium caseinate markedly improved the strength of the resulting gels, but whey protein isolate had no effect on the gel stength.     

Maillard Reaction Products as Encapsulants for Fish Oil Powders

The use of Maillard reaction products for encapsulation of fish oil was investigated. Fish oil was emulsified with heated aqueous mixtures comprising a protein source (Na caseinate, whey protein isolate, soy protein isolate, or skim milk powder) and carbohydrates (glucose, dried glucose syrup, oligosaccharide) and spray‐dried for the production of 50% oil powders. The extent of the Maillard reaction was monitored using L*, a*, b* values and absorbance at 465 nm. Encapsulation efficiency was gauged by measurement of solvent‐extractable fat and the oxidative stability of the fish oil powder, which was determined by assessment of headspace propanal after storage of powders at 35 °C for 4 wk. Increasing the heat treatment (60 °C to 100 °C for 30 to 90 min) of sodium caseinate‐glucose‐glucose syrup mixtures increased Maillard browning but did not change their encapsulation efficiency. The encapsulation efficiency of all heated sodium caseinate‐glucose‐glucose syrup mixtures was high, as indicated by the low solvent‐extractable fat in powder (<2% powder, w/w). However, increasing the severity of the heat treatment of the sodium caseinate‐glucose‐glucose syrup mixtures reduced the susceptibility of the fish oil powder to oxidation. The increased protection afforded to fish oil in powders by increasing the temperature‐time treatment of protein‐carbohydrate mixtures before emulsification and drying was observed irrespective of the protein (sodium caseinate, whey protein isolate, soy protein isolate, or skim milk powder) and carbohydrate (glucose, glucose/dried glucose syrup, or oligosaccharide/dried glucose syrup) sources used in the formulation. Maillard reaction products produced by heat treatment of aqueous protein‐carbohydrate mixtures were effective for protecting microencapsulated fish oil and other oils (evening primrose oil, milk fat) from oxidation.     

Preliminary observations on the effects of milk fortification and heating on microstructure and physical properties of stirred yogurt

The aim of this work was to study how milk fortification and heating affect yogurt microstructure (micellar characteristics, protein network) and physical properties (viscosity, water-holding capacity (WHC), and graininess). Milk was fortified with skim milk powder (control), whey protein concentrate (WPC), caseinate, or a mixture of caseinate and whey protein. Two heat treatments were applied, giving average whey protein denaturation levels of 58% and 77%. For caseinate-enriched yogurts, the heating effect was negligible. When milk was enriched with WPC, heating led to a high level of cross-linking within the gel network. Heating increased yogurt viscosity and WHC, but also graininess. When milk was fortified with a blend of WPC and caseinate giving a whey protein-to-casein ratio of 0.20, the yogurt viscosity was greatly improved, while graininess was kept low. The results show a relationship between micelle solvation and yogurt microstructure, as well as micelle size in milk base and yogurt graininess.     

Rheological properties of emulsions containing milk proteins mixed with xanthan gum

Oil in water emulsions (30% w/w) containing mixtures of milk proteins with xanthan gum were rheologically characterized at ambient temperature and the evolution of their properties was measured during a month under cold storage. The milk proteins used were sodium caseinate and whey concentrate at 2% mixed with xanthan gum at 0.3% or 0.5%. Emulsions properties were compared to those of respective aqueous systems and in general showed same rheological behaviour as their respective aqueous system, however, emulsions presented higher consistency index, due to oil droplets concentration. The flow behaviour index showed a small variation, increasing its value slightly. The consistency of emulsions with xanthan was similar, independently of the milk protein used, confirming that xanthan rheology predominates on emulsion rheology.     

Milk Proteins Affect Yield and Sensory Quality of Cooked Sausages

Sausages were produced with seven different mixtures with skim milk powder, sodium caseinate and whey protein (1.5, 3, 5%) according to a simplex-centroid design, where the proportion of each ingredient varied from 0 to 100%. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified that sausages with 1.5% milk protein were most similar in sensory quality to the controls and had minimum cooking loss. PCA was effective to reduce the number of attributes to five to describe the main variation among the 1.5% milk protein sausages. A mixture of 1:1 blend of skim milk powder and whey protein resulted in the product with lowest cooking loss.     

EFFECT OF MILK PROTEINS AND STABILIZER ON ICE MILK QUALITY

Ice milk mixes were made with and without stabilizer/emulsifier as well as with and without milk protein isolate (sodium caseinate or whey protein isolate). The mixes were evaluated for rheological, freezing, melting, and sensory properties. Adding a stabilizer/emulsifier blend to ice milk changed its physical properties more than adding milk protein isolates. The mixes with stabilizer/emulsifier exhibited increased viscosity and chewiness and decreased drainage rate, iciness, and vanilla flavor intensity. The mixes with added caseinate exhibited increased viscosity compared with those with added whey protein isolate. Overall, the quality of ice milk mix was more dependent on stabilizer/emulsifier addition than on milk protein isolate addition.     

Industrial yogurt manufacture: monitoring of fermentation process and improvement of final product quality

Lactic acid fermentation during the production of skim milk and whole fat set-style yogurt was continuously monitored by measuring pH. The modified Gompertz model was successfully applied to describe the pH decline and viscosity development during the fermentation process. The viscosity and incubation time data were also fitted to linear models against ln(pH). The investigation of the yogurt quality improvement practices included 2 different heat treatments (80°C for 30 min and 95°C for 10 min), 3 milk protein fortifying agents (skim milk powder, whey powder, and milk protein concentrate) added at 2.0%, and 4 hydrocolloids (κ-carrageenan, xanthan, guar gum, and pectin) added at 0.01% to whole fat and skim yogurts. Heat treatment significantly affected viscosity and acetaldehyde development without influencing incubation time and acidity. The addition of whey powder shortened the incubation time but had a detrimental effect on consistency, firmness, and overall acceptance of yogurts. On the other hand, addition of skim milk powder improved the textural quality and decreased the vulnerability of yogurts to syneresis. Anionic stabilizers (κ-carrageenan and pectin) had a poor effect on the texture and palatability of yogurts. However, neutral gums (xanthan and guar gum) improved texture and prevented the wheying-off defect. Skim milk yogurts exhibited longer incubation times and higher viscosities, whereas they were rated higher during sensory evaluation than whole fat yogurts.     

Gastric digestion of milk protein ingredients: Study using an in vitro dynamic model

The coagulation behavior and the kinetics of protein hydrolysis of skim milk powder, milk protein concentrate (MPC), calcium-depleted MPC, sodium caseinate, whey protein isolate (WPI), and heated (90°C, 20 min) WPI under gastric conditions were examined using an advanced dynamic digestion model (i.e., a human gastric simulator). During gastric digestion, these protein ingredients exhibited various pH profiles as a function of the digestion time. Skim milk powder and MPC, which contained casein micelles, formed cohesive, ball-like curds with a dense structure after 10 min of digestion; these curds did not disintegrate over 220 min of digestion. Partly calcium-depleted MPC and sodium caseinate, which lacked an intact casein micellar structure, formed curds at approximately 40 min, and a loose, fragmented curd structure was observed after 220 min of digestion. In contrast, no curds were formed in either WPI or heated WPI after 220 min of digestion. In addition, the hydrolysis rates and the compositions of the digesta released from the human gastric simulator were different for the various protein ingredients, as detected by sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE. Skim milk powder and MPC exhibited slower hydrolysis rates than calcium-depleted MPC and sodium caseinate. The most rapid hydrolysis occurred in the WPI (with and without heating). This was attributed to the formation of different structured curds under gastric conditions. The results offer novel insights about the coagulation kinetics of proteins from different milk protein ingredients, highlighting the critical role of the food matrix in affecting the course of protein digestion.     

Survival of Bifidobacterium longum 1941 microencapsulated with proteins and sugars after freezing and freeze drying

Five types of proteins and three types of sugars were examined for their effectiveness in protecting B. longum after freeze drying, including their acid and bile tolerance, surface hydrophobicity, retention of β-glucosidase, lactate dehydrogenase and adenosine triphosphatase. Sodium caseinate 12%, whey protein concentrate 12%, sodium caseinate:whey protein concentrate 6%:6%, skim milk 12%, or soy protein isolate 12% was combined with glycerol (3% w/v), mannitol (3% w/v) or maltodextrin (3% w/v). Fifteen emulsion systems containing sugars were obtained. Concentrated B. longum 1941 was incorporated into each emulsion system at a ratio of 1:4 (bacteria:emulsion). All the mixtures were then freeze dried. Water activity (a_w) of freeze dried microcapsules was in the range of 0.30 to 0.35. WPC–CAS GLY provided high stability of bacteria (99.2%) during freezing, while high stability of cells after freeze drying and during exposure to acid and bile environment was achieved when CAS–MAN was applied (97.4%, 81.6% and 99.3%, respectively). High retention of β-glu of freeze-dried bacteria was achieved using SM–MAN as protectant (94.6%). ATPase and LDH were successfully retained by SM–GLY (94.9 and 83.6%, respectively) but there was no significant difference in protection effect using CAS–MAN (93.8 and 82.6%, respectively). Overall, milk proteins were superior to SPI and sugar alcohols provided more protection than MD.     

Viscosity,Swelling and Starch Leaching During the Early Stages of Pasting of Normal and Waxy Rice Starch Suspensions Containing Different Milk Protein Ingredients

The effects of three milk protein ingredients, sodium caseinate (NaCAS), whey protein isolate (WPI) and skim milk powder (SMP), on the swelling and leaching behaviour of normal and waxy rice starch solutions, during the early stages of pasting, were investigated. It was found that the swelling onset temperature for both starches was increased by NaCAS and SMP but was not affected by WPI. Furthermore, onset temperature determined by the swelling measurements was lower than the onset temperature determined from viscosity measurements. However, the calculated viscometric onset temperature, using the Maron‐Pierce equation and the results of the swelling measurements, was found to be in very good agreement with the measured viscometric onset temperature. This study also showed that the quantity of leached polysaccharides during the early stages of starch pasting was very small, indicating that significant leaching of polysaccharides during pasting primarily occurs after the break‐up of the sheared starch granules.     

Influence of milk pre-heating conditions on casein–whey protein interactions and skim milk concentrate viscosity

The viscosity of concentrates (50–55% total solids) prepared from skim milk heated (5 min at 80 or 90 °C) at pH 6.5 and 6.7 was examined. The extent of heat-induced whey protein denaturation increased with increasing temperature and pH. More denatured whey protein and κ-casein were found in the serum phase of milk heated at higher pH. The viscosity of milk concentrates increased considerably with increasing pH at concentration and increasing heating temperature, whereas the distribution of denatured whey proteins and κ-casein between the serum and micellar phase only marginally influenced concentrate viscosity. Skim milk concentrate viscosity thus appears to be governed primarily by volume fraction and interactions of particles, which are governed primarily by concentration factor, the extent of whey protein denaturation and pH. Control and optimization of these factors can facilitate control over skim milk concentrate viscosity and energy efficiency in spray-drying.     

Nutritional quality evaluation of commercial protein supplements

Protein supplements have received increasing attention by consumers over the last few decades. However, hundreds of them have recently exhibited irregularities including lower quantities of proteins than disclosed values. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional quality of six commercial protein supplement powders (calcium caseinate, milk protein concentrate, egg white, pea protein isolate, whey protein concentrate and soy protein isolate). The chemical composition, amino acid content and in vitro digestibility were examined. Thus, calculate the amino acid scores corrected for amino acid and protein digestibility. In vitro digestion was also conducted and protein hydrolysis was monitored by SDS-page. Calcium caseinate powder and whey protein concentrate were only composed of proteinogenic amino acids and exhibited the highest essential amino acid content. As regards in vitro digestibility, these two supplements perfectly meet the quality expectations of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). Conversely, the other four supplements exhibited a lower quality than the FAO reference protein. This was due to low digestibility (for egg white and milk concentrate) and/or lack of a specific essential amino acid (for milk concentrate and pea isolate).     

Impact of the acidification process, hydrocolloids and protein fortifiers on the physical and sensory properties of frozen yogurt

In our study, two acidification procedures, three stabilizers (guar gum, xanthan and carboxymethylcellulose) and two protein-fortifying agents (skim milk powder and whey powder) were evaluated based on their impact on the quality characteristics of frozen yogurts. Indirect acidification (blending of plain acidified milk with ice cream mix) was found to favour texture while direct acidification (fermentation of ice cream mix with starter culture), although it improved viscosity of mixes, did not enhance the sensory acceptance of frozen yogurts. The addition of 0.2% xanthan gum and the partial substitution (at the ratio of 3 : 1) of skim milk powder by whey powder increased overall acceptance and creaminess.     

Microstructural, textural, and sensory characteristics of probiotic yogurts fortified with sodium calcium caseinate or whey protein concentrate

The influence of milk protein-based ingredients on the textural characteristics, sensory properties, and microstructure of probiotic yogurt during a refrigerated storage period of 28 d was studied. Milk was fortified with 2% (wt/vol) skim milk powder as control, 2% (wt/vol) sodium calcium caseinate (SCaCN), 2% (wt/vol) whey protein concentrate (WPC) or a blend of 1% (wt/vol) SCaCN and 1% (wt/vol) WPC. A commercial yogurt starter culture and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 as probiotic bacteria were used for the production. The fortification with SCaCN improved the firmness and adhesiveness. Higher values of viscosity were also obtained in probiotic yogurts with SCaCN during storage. However, WPC enhanced water-holding capacity more than the caseinate. Addition of SCaCN resulted in a coarse, smooth, and more compact protein network; however, WPC gave finer and bunched structures in the scanning electron microscopy micrographs. The use of SCaCN decreased texture scores in probiotic yogurt; probably due to the lower water-holding capacity and higher syneresis values in the caseinate-added yogurt sample. Therefore, the textural characteristics of probiotic yogurts improved depending on the ingredient variety.     

蛋白质强化对搅拌型酸奶品质特性的影响

为了研究蛋白质强化对搅拌型酸奶品质特性的影响,以脱脂奶粉(SMP)和乳清浓缩蛋白-80(WPC-80)作为蛋白源,研究了强化不同种类及不同含量(2.7%、3.1%、3.5%、3.9%)的蛋白质强化对搅拌型酸奶感官品质、黏度和持水性的影响。结果表明:用SMP和WPC-80强化原料乳的蛋白质均可提高搅拌型酸奶的感官品质、黏度和持水性;比较同种蛋白源、不同蛋白质强化水平制得的搅拌型酸奶,其组织状态变化明显,风味稍有变化,色泽保持不变;酸奶的黏度和持水性都随蛋白质水平的上升而显著提高。SMP强化蛋白质含量至2.7%时,酸奶的感官品质最好;WPC-80含量则在3.5%时,酸奶的感官品质最好。同一蛋白质水平、不同强化蛋白相比较,WPC-80强化酸奶比SMP有更好的感官品质和更高的持水性,而SMP强化则得到更高的黏度值;从感官评定的黏稠度得分和测得的黏度值对比得出,搅拌型酸奶的黏度并不是越高越好,最佳黏度值在537～712mPa.s之间。实验中搅拌型酸奶的最佳蛋白强化配方为WPC-80强化蛋白质含量3.5%。     

How is an ideal satiating yogurt described? A case study with added-protein yogurts

Protein is recognized as the macronutrient with the highest satiating ability. Yogurt can be an excellent basis for designing satiating food as it is protein-based food product. Five different set-type yogurts were formulated by adding extra skim milk powder (MP), whey protein concentrate (WPC), calcium caseinate (CAS) or a blend of whey protein concentrate with calcium caseinate (CAS–WPC). A control yogurt without extra protein content was also prepared. Differences in sensory perceptions (through CATA questions) were related to the consumers' expected satiating ability and liking scores (of several modalities). In addition, an “Ideal satiating yogurt” was included in the CATA question to perform a penalty analysis to show potential directions for yogurt reformulation and to relate sensory and non-sensory yogurt characteristics to satiating capacity.     

Antihypertensive activity of casein-enriched milk fermented by Lactobacillus helveticus

Milk proteins contain peptidic angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which can be released by proteolysis during milk fermentation by some strains of Lactobacillus helveticus. Reconstituted milk media containing skim milk powder (12%), skim milk powder (10%) with added sodium caseinate (5%) or whey protein isolate (5%) were fermented by L. helveticus strains R211 and R389, and further tested for bacterial growth, proteolysis (free NH₃ groups) and ACE-inhibitory activity. The antihypertensive activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) was also investigated with caseinate-enriched milk unfermented (UFM) and fermented by the two strains of L. helveticus. Caseinate-enriched milk fermented by both strains showed higher proteolysis and ACE-inhibitory activity, indicating that ACE-inhibitory peptides are probably released from caseins during milk fermentation. Significant decreases in mean arterial blood pressure in SHR rats were measured following oral administration of UFM milk at doses of 1.0 and 2.5 g kg⁻¹ of body weight, and milk fermented by R211 or R389 strains at doses of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.5 g kg⁻¹ of body weight. The antihypertensive activity of UFM could be explained by the release of ACE-inhibitory peptides from caseins during the digestion process.     

Effects of partially replacing skimmed milk powder with dairy ingredients on rheology, sensory profiling, and microstructure of probiotic stirred-type yogurt during cold storage

This study aimed to evaluate the quality of stirred-type skim milk probiotic yogurt fortified by partially replacing skim milk powder (SMP) with whey protein concentrate (WPC) and sodium caseinate (Na-CN) during cold storage for 28 d compared with nonfortified yogurt. The rheological properties (as measured using dynamic oscillation) and sensory profiles of probiotic yogurts were greatly enhanced when SMP (i.e., 45%) was replaced with WPC and Na-CN. Higher values of mechanical parameters related to storage and loss modulus and consistent microstructure were found in the fortified yogurts. The acidification profile was not affected by supplementation of the solids in the milk base, and the viable counts of probiotic microbiota were high and satisfactory. These positive characteristics of probiotic yogurts were maintained until the end of the storage period. The microstructure of the fortified yogurt showed some differences compared with the nonfortified product, which were due to changes in chemical composition of the milk base in addition to the colloidal characteristics of the product.     

Rheological and equilibrium properties of milk proteins and tara gum mixtures

The stability of aqueous purified tara gum (TG) mixtures with sodium caseinate (NaCas) and whey protein concentrate (WPC) was investigated. Phase diagram of TG–milk proteins mixtures was obtained by measuring the sedimented fraction or the rheological parameters. The rheological behaviour was also evaluated as function of NaCas and WPC concentration, considering the zero-shear rate viscosity and the relaxation time as response variables. The rheological parameters were determined by rotational rheometry. The studied solutions presented a meta-stable condition provided by the increase in viscosity, while mixtures with NaCas at low TG concentrations sedimentation by volume exclusion occurred. The rheological behaviour of NaCas and WPC aqueous solutions approached the Newtonian and shear-thickening model, respectively. The mixtures with TG showed a pseudoplastic behaviour, approaching the Cross model. The results indicated interaction between TG and the studied proteins, expressed by an increase of zero-shear viscosity and the relaxation time at higher gum concentration.     

乳清浓缩蛋白在酸奶生产中的应用

以鲜奶，奶粉，乳清蛋白等乳成分为主要原料，研究了乳清浓缩蛋白在酸奶生产中的制做方法，对乳清浓缩蛋白代替部分高档脱脂奶粉生产酸奶产品的保水率，粘度，口感及组织状态进行了比较分析。结果表明，在酸奶生产中，添加一定的浓缩乳清蛋白代替高档脱脂奶粉是可行的，产品较为理想。