Consumer Acceptance of Bars and Gummies with Unencapsulated and Encapsulated Resveratrol

The addition of resveratrol, a polyphenol found in red wine and peanuts, to food products would help to provide the health benefits associated with the compound to the consumer in a wide array of food matrices. The bitterness of resveratrol and instability of its bioactive form in light are 2 major challenges with the incorporation of the compound into food products. Microencapsulation in a sodium caseinate matrix was utilized as a strategy to overcome these challenges. The objective of this research was to show the application of the resveratrol microcapsules in easy‐to‐consume foods. Consumer acceptance was evaluated for gummies and bars with encapsulated resveratrol in comparison to the controls. Four different controls were used: 1) without any resveratrol OR protein (Plain), 2) unencapsulated resveratrol (Resv), 3) sodium caseinate and unencapsulated resveratrol just mixed without encapsulation (P + R), and 4) sodium caseinate only (PRO). Two concentrations of resveratrol that have been shown to offer therapeutic effects in humans were tested (10 and 40 mg/d). The overall liking, evaluated using a 9‐point scale, of bars with 10 mg of encapsulated resveratrol did not differ significantly from the control without any added resveratrol and protein (Plain) or from the controls with equivalent protein and/or resveratrol concentrations. For gummies, the samples with the resveratrol microcapsules had a significantly lower overall liking than the controls with the same protein and/or resveratrol content. This research demonstrated application of resveratrol microcapsules into easy‐to‐consume food products in order to deliver the health benefits to the consumer.     

Consumer awareness of salt and sodium reduction and sodium labeling

Reduction of dietary sodium by reduction of sodium in foods is a current industry target. Quantitative information on consumer knowledge of sodium and reduction of dietary sodium is limited. The objectives of this study were to characterize consumer knowledge and awareness of sodium and salt reduction in foods. Consumers (n= 489) participated in a quantitative internet survey designed to gather knowledge and attitudes towards dietary sodium, sodium in foods, and health. Eating habits and food consumption characteristics, knowledge of salt and sodium, and interest in health and wellness were probed. Saltiness believe and sodium knowledge indices were calculated based on correct responses to salt levels in food products. Kano analysis was conducted to determine the role of nutrition labels and satisfaction/dissatisfaction of foods. Consumers were aware of the presence of sodium in "salty" foods, and that sodium was part of salt. People who had a family history of certain diseases associated with a higher intake of dietary sodium did not necessarily have more knowledge of the relationship between sodium intake and a specific disease compared to consumers with no family history. Sodium content on the food label panel did not influence consumer dissatisfaction; however, sodium content did not necessarily increase consumer product satisfaction either. The addition of a healthy nutrient (that is, whole grain, fiber) into a current food product was appealing to consumers. For nutrient labeling, a "reduced" claim was more appealing to consumers than a "free" claim for "unhealthy" nutrients such as fat, sodium, and sugar. Practical Application: This study demonstrated the current state of consumer knowledge on sodium and salt reduction, and consumer perception of the relationship between diets high in sodium and many chronic diseases. Information that may contribute to consumer satisfaction on nutrition panel labeling was also determined.     

Consumer Acceptability of Cooked Stored Ground Turkey Patties with Differing Levels of Phosphate

The acceptability of fresh and stored, cooked, ground turkey patties without added phosphate or with 0.25% or 0.5% added sodium tri-polyphosphate (STP) was determined by 100 consumers. Turkey patties without phosphate were less acceptable than those with 0.5% added STP. Consumers (26) who repeated the study five times indicated that stored samples containing 0.25% and 0.5% STP were liked more and the 0.5% treatment had more meaty flavor than those samples without phosphate. Samples containing 0.5% STP were found less firm and more juicy than the other samples. The consumers scored off-flavor inconsistently.     

Use of Consumer Acceptability as a Tool to Determine the Level of Sodium Reduction: A Case Study on Beef Soup Substituted With Potassium Chloride and Soy‐Sauce Odor

In this study, consumer acceptability was considered as a tool of reducing sodium rather than just using it as a final examination of the successfulness of the substitution. This study consisted of 4 experimental steps. First, by gradually reducing the concentrations of NaCl, consumer rejection threshold (CRT) of NaCl in beef soup was examined. Then, the amount of KCl that can increase preference was examined in 2 low sodium beef soups, with sodium concentrations slightly above or below the CRT. Relative saltiness of various KCl and NaCl/KCl mixtures were also measured. Finally, consumers evaluated acceptability and intensities of sensory characteristics for 9 beef soup samples that differed with respect to NaCl content and/or KCl content with/without addition of salty‐congruent odor (soy‐sauce odor). The results showed that in the “above CRT” system, consumer acceptability as well as sensory profile of low sodium beef soup substituted using KCl had similar profile to the control although saltiness was not fully recovered, whereas in the “below CRT” system, consumer acceptability was not recovered using KCl solely as a substitute. Potential of using salty‐congruent odor as a final touch to induce salty taste was observed; however, the results inferred the importance of having almost no artificialness in the odor and having harmony with the final product when using it as a strategy to substitute sodium. Overall, the results of the study implied the importance of considering consumer acceptability when approaching sodium reduction to better understand the potentials of the sodium substitutes and salty‐congruent odor.     

Taste perception and purchase intent of oil‐in‐water spreads: effects of oil types and salt (NaCl or KCl) concentrations

Associations of sodium intake with heart‐related problems are creating awareness towards reducing sodium. Potassium chloride (KCl), a substitute for sodium chloride (NaCl), has the disadvantage of imparting bitterness at high concentrations. We evaluated physical characteristics, taste perception and purchase intent of KCl and NaCl in oil‐in‐water spreads/emulsions composed by olive, rice bran and soya bean oils. Consumers (N = 300) evaluated saltiness/bitterness of emulsions prepared with 65% oil, and NaCl (0.5% and 1.0%) or KCl (0.75% and 1.5%). Olive oil spreads (104.07–107.43 Pa s) had higher viscosity compared to other spreads (59.16–74.96 Pa s). Type of oil had significant effects on bitterness, overall taste liking and viscosity. Taste liking decreased due to bitterness of olive oil spreads (mean drop=1.72–2.43). Purchase intent was positively associated with saltiness and pH and increased with oil claims (increase = 1.3%–22.1%) compared to sodium claims (increase = 0.0%–12.9%). These findings are useful for understanding taste perception of emulsions.     

基于固体食盐结构及成分设计的减盐策略及其研究进展

食盐是食品工业和居民日常生活中广泛使用的调味品,其主要成分氯化钠的过量摄入会增加高血压、胃癌、脑卒中等疾病的患病风险。如何在不影响食品口味的条件下减少含盐量是目前的研究热点。固体形式的氯化钠是日常膳食食盐摄入的重要部分,改善固体氯化钠结构及食盐成分是开发低盐食品的有效方法。本文在详细探讨咸味感知机理和机体内钠吸收代谢机制的基础上,对近年来国内外与氯化钠结构调控及成分设计有关的减盐策略进行综述,讨论减少食品含盐量而不影响咸味的各项技术,如调控氯化钠物理结构（形貌和粒径）、包埋氯化钠、添加氯化钠替代物（咸味矿物盐、风味增强剂和天然呈味物质）,并分析不同结构及成分食盐的减盐原理、缺点和适用场景,为未来设计新型食盐产品,开发减盐健康食品,减少居民膳食盐摄入量,提高居民健康水平提供理论依据和技术支撑。     

中草药复配组合处理后褐腐病菌的扫描和透射电镜观察

笔者对中草药处理后的褐腐病菌进行了扫描和透射电镜观察。结果发现,经11号中草药组合(鹿蹄草+厚朴+大黄)最小抑菌浓度(MIC)和最小杀菌浓度(MBC)处理的褐腐病菌菌丝数量减少,菌丝断裂,细胞壁变薄或缺失,胞内物质发生变化等,证实11号中草药组合可引起褐腐病菌明显的形态学改变。     

低盐对发酵肉制品品质形成影响及减盐手段研究进展

食盐是发酵肉制品加工过程中不可或缺的腌制材料,具有提供咸味、抑菌、提高加工及品质特性等作用。为了抑制发酵过程中致病菌和腐败菌生长,保证产品安全性,发酵肉制品常需高含量盐分。但摄入过多的食盐会对人体健康产生负面影响,因此,降低发酵肉制品中食盐的添加量势在必行。本文简单介绍了食盐在发酵肉制品中的作用及其对微生物的影响,论述了低盐处理对肌肉蛋白和脂质水解、氧化作用以及品质形成的影响,最后综述了常用的减盐手段,以期为发酵肉制品减盐研究提供理论依据。     

Consumer acceptance of reformulated food products: A systematic review and meta-analysis of salt-reduced foods

Food product reformulation is promoted as an effective strategy to reduce population salt intake and address the associated burden of chronic disease. Salt has a number of functions in food processing, including impacting upon physical and sensory properties. Manufacturers must ensure that reformulation of foods to reduce salt does not compromise consumer acceptability.

The aim of this systematic review is to determine to what extent foods can be reduced in salt without detrimental effect on consumer acceptability.

Fifty studies reported on salt reduction, replacement or compensation in processed meats, breads, cheeses, soups, and miscellaneous products. For each product category, levels of salt reduction were collapsed into four groups: <40%, 40–59%, 60–79% and ≥80%. Random effects meta-analyses conducted on salt-reduced products showed that salt could be reduced by approximately 40% in breads [mean change in acceptability for reduction <40% (?0.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) ?0.62, 0.08; p = 0.13)] and approximately 70% in processed meats [mean change in acceptability for reductions 60–69% (?0.18, 95% CI ?0.44, 0.07; p = 0.15)] without significantly impacting consumer acceptability. Results varied for other products.

These results will support manufacturers to make greater reductions in salt when reformulating food products, which in turn will contribute to a healthier food supply.     

Tea Polyphenols as Inhibitors of Furan Formed in the Maillard Model System and Canned Coffee Model

In this article, the effects of sugars and amino acids on furan formation via the Maillard reaction in low‐moisture model systems were investigated. Glucose and alanine are important furan precursors, and the effects of the heating temperature, heating time, and molar ratio of glucose to alanine on furan formation were studied in glucose/alanine model system by response surface methodology. The heating temperature greatly affected furan formation. The maximum furan concentration was obtained with a glucose‐to‐alanine molar ratio of 0.83:1.00, by heating at 151 °C for 41 min. Tea polyphenols effectively inhibited furan formation in the glucose/alanine model and a canned coffee model. A high inhibition rate of 42.4% ± 1.5% was obtained in the canned coffee model during sterilization procedure with addition of 84 mg (the mass fraction is 12.1%) of tea polyphenols (99%). However, the content of aromatic components in the canned coffee model was significantly reduced at the same time. This study provides evidence for a good furan inhibitor that can be used in food processing.