Enrichment of white flour with spices positively impacts safety and consumer acceptance of bread

Aiming at increasing the nutritional value and sensory quality of bread, we assessed the enrichment of white flour with different levels of powdered cinnamon and pomegranate peel, through rheological, nutritional, aromatic, textural and sensory analyses. These extra ingredients were chosen for their richness in bioactive compounds, and they differently affected bread quality. In relation to raw flour, introduced ingredients slightly decreased moisture and protein content, while increasing ash, fibre and radical scavenging activity, which can be attributed to the sharing of aromatic compounds by cinnamon and pomegranate peel during the bread making process. When cinnamon was incorporated at 1%, the content of all furan derivatives was reduced up to 1/4 of initial value, 2-pentyl furan totally disappeared, and furfuryl alcohol was reduced to 2.1%. Despite enriched bread’s texture was slightly worse, it was still acceptable in sensory tests, as 150 interviewed naive consumers preferred the new product over the control.     

Three issues in consumer quality perception and acceptance of dairy products

It is argued that consumer quality perception of dairy products is characterised by four major dimensions: hedonic, health-related, convenience-related and process-related quality. Two of these, viz., health and process-related quality, are credence dimensions, i.e. a matter of consumer trust in communication provided. Drawing on five different empirical studies on consumer quality perception of dairy products, three issues related to the communication on credence quality dimensions are discussed: providing credible information, the role of consumer attitudes, and inference processes in quality perception. Organic products, functional products, and products involving genetic modification are used as examples.     

Pathways to increase consumer trust in meat as a safe and wholesome food

This paper focuses on the effect of information about meat safety and wholesomeness on consumer trust based on several studies with data collected in Belgium. The research is grounded in the observation that despite the abundant rise of information through labelling, traceability systems and quality assurance schemes, the effect on consumer trust in meat as a safe and wholesome product is only limited. The overload and complexity of information on food products results in misunderstanding and misinterpretation. Functional traceability attributes such as organisational efficiency and chain monitoring are considered to be highly important but not as a basis for market segmentation. However, process traceability attributes such as origin and production method are of interest for particular market segments as a response to meat quality concerns. Quality assurance schemes and associated labels have a poor impact on consumers' perception. It is argued that the high interest of retailers in such schemes is driven by procurement management efficiency rather than safety or overall quality. Future research could concentrate on the distribution of costs and benefits associated with meat quality initiatives among the chain participants.     

Total phenolic content, consumer acceptance, and instrumental analysis of bread made with grape seed flour

Grape seed flour (GSF) from grape pomace, a waste product generated during winemaking, was explored for use in bread production due to its potential health benefits. This study evaluated the consumer acceptance and physical properties of bread, including total phenolic content (TPC), made with varying levels of GSF. Dough and breads were prepared using different levels of replacement of hard red spring wheat flour (HRS) with GSF (0 to 10 g GSF/100 g HRS) and stored for 0, 2, or 6 wk at -20 °C. Replacement of 10 g GSF/100 g HRS increased the bread TPC from 0.064 mg tannic acid/g dry weight to 4.25 mg tannic acid/g dry weight. Consumer acceptance and instrumental analyses were used to investigate changes in sensory and texture properties due to GSF replacement. Replacement above 5 g GSF/100 g HRS decreased the loaf brightness and volume, with an increase in the bread hardness and porosity. Generally, breads containing ≥ 7.5 g GSF/100 g HRS were characterized by lower consumer acceptance. A reduction in overall and bitterness acceptance was observed in bread at 10 g GSF/100 g HRS, with decreased acceptance of astringency and sweetness at 7.5 and 10 g GSF/100 g HRS. Based on these results, the replacement of 5 g GSF/100 g HRS is recommended for the production of fortified breads with acceptable physical and sensory properties and high TPC activity compared to refined bread. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This study shows that grape seed flour (GSF) can be used to replace hard red spring wheat flour (HRS) in bread production, with moderate impact on the physical and sensory properties of the bread. Replacement of up to 10 g GSF/100 g HRS significantly decreased overall consumer acceptance of the bread, with lower consumer acceptance of sweetness and astringency at 7.5 and 10 g GSF/100 g HRS. Thus, a replacement value of 5 g GSF/100 g HRS is recommended for the production of fortified breads.     

Antioxidant activity and consumer acceptance of grape seed flour‐containing food products

Grape seed flour (GSF) is produced from the pomace waste generated during winemaking. The inclusion of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon GSFs in cereal bars, pancakes and noodles was evaluated using antioxidant activity measurements [2,2 diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging]. Each product (noodles, pancakes and cereal bars) was also evaluated on separate days for consumer acceptance (n = 100 per panel). In comparing antioxidant activities, the highest DPPH radical‐scavenging activity was in pancakes containing Cabernet Sauvignon GSF (25% and 30%), noodles containing Cabernet Sauvignon GSF (20%) and cereal bars containing Merlot GSF (5%). From consumer sensory evaluation, cereal bars made with Merlot GSF, control pancakes and control noodles had high consumer acceptance. Products with low consumer acceptance included pancakes containing 25% Cabernet Sauvignon GSF and noodles containing 20% Cabernet Sauvignon GSF. Overall, the cereal bar containing 5% Merlot GSF showed a good balance of high antioxidant activity with consumer acceptability, making this a promising GSF‐containing new food product.     

Wasted bread flour as a novel ingredient in cake making

Bread is one of the most wasted products in both industry and retail. This study analysed the use of bread flour of various particle sizes (1000 μm, 500 μm and 200 μm) in different percentages for sponge formulations (10% and 20%) and layer cakes (10%, 20% and 30%). Viscosity, microstructure and density of batters, as well as specific volume, texture and colour of cakes were evaluated. The inclusion of bread flour change batter microstructure. Viscosity does not affect the sponge batters but it tends to increase in the layers, mostly in the case of finer flours. The specific volume is reduced in sponge cakes while hardness is generally increased, even with the lowest percentages of bread flour. In layers, this reduction in volume is only visible at the highest doses of flours below 500 microns with no changes in hardness.     

Personality traits,knowledge, and consumer acceptance of genetically modified plant and animal products

Several studies have investigated the associations between personality traits and consumer behavior, but little attention has been paid to the role of personality traits in the acceptance of genetically modified (GM) food products or knowledge concerning the application of GM technologies. We used a large Norwegian survey to investigate the associations between personality traits, knowledge about GM use in agriculture, attitudes, and willingness to pay (WTP) to avoid GM foods. Using a random effect interval regression model, we found premiums between 19% and 23% to avoid GM soybean oil, GM-fed salmon, and GM salmon. Neuroticism was associated with increased acceptance of GM soybean oil. Conscientiousness was associated with increased acceptance of GM-fed and GM salmon, and agreeableness was associated with increased aversion against these products. Conscientiousness and agreeableness were also associated with knowledge. Agreeable respondents were less likely to think that genetic modification was applied in Norwegian agriculture, and conscientious respondents were more likely to wrongly think so. Attitudes towards naturalness of foods were strongly correlated with increased WTP to avoid GM foods. Current policy restrictions concerning the use of GM technologies are likely to affect the perceived safety of GM foods. Information and more liberal regulations may change attitudes towards GM foods and reduce the resistance against GM technologies over time.     

Irish consumer acceptance of a hypothetical second-generation GM yogurt product

This paper examines Irish consumer acceptance of second-generation GM products, defined here as those which are expected to exhibit a specific consumer-oriented benefit. Conjoint analysis was used to determine Irish consumer preferences (n = 297) for attributes of a hypothetical GM yogurt. Cluster analysis on the basis of the GM attribute revealed four segments of consumers. An “anti-GM” segment (24.4% of sample) were outright rejecters of all GM foods, while a second cluster (33.4%) specifically rejected second-generation GM products. A further 20.5% of the sample were receptive to the notion of second-generation GM products. However, this group had a number of complex reservations, which would need to be resolved before they would truly accept such products. GM foods offering specific consumer benefits were found to be acceptable to 21.2% of the sample, implying that these foods could represent a segment within the overall food market in the future.     

Determination of consumer acceptance limits to sensory defects using survival analysis

Survival analysis concepts and calculations were applied to consumers' acceptance/rejection data of samples with different levels of sensory defects. The following defects in UHT milk were studied: acid, caramel, cooked, dark color, lipolytic and oxidized. For each defect a series of nine concentrations were prepared and tested by 50 member consumer panels. The lognormal parametric model was found adequate for most defects and allowed prediction of concentration values corresponding to 10% probability of consumer rejection. For cooked flavor the model was not adequate due to a large number of right censored data, consumers did not find this defect objectionable. For oxidized flavor there were also many right censored values, but this was due to an inadequate concentration range.     

Exploitation of lettuce waste flour to increase bread functionality: effect on physical,nutritional, sensory properties and on consumer response

Phenol and fibre‐rich flour obtained by air‐drying and grinding of lettuce waste was partially substituted (26, 53, 170 and 575 g kg^?1) to wheat flour to produce functional bread. The addition of flour progressively decreased dough leavening capacity while increased bread moisture and firmness. Lettuce waste flour significantly increased the polyphenolic content (up to 3.4 g GAE kg^?1) of bread samples and enhanced their antioxidant activity by 200%. Bread containing 170 and 575 g kg^?1 of lettuce waste flour presented sensory properties and consumer acceptability comparable to those of commercial wholemeal bread with similar rye bran content. Bread containing at least 170 g kg^?1 of lettuce waste flour could be associated to nutritional claims related to its enhanced fibre content (>30 g kg^?1). Data obtained by conjoint analysis demonstrate the possibility of increasing consumer preference for lettuce waste flour bread by proper nutritional (fibre content) and sustainability (lettuce waste valorisation) claims.     

Br concentration as an indication of pre-baking bromation of bread products

Br concentration in bread for baked bread products was shown to be linearly proportional to the amount of Br added per kg of flour used to make the product. Br concentration in bread can be used to help identify those bread products with the greatest likelihood of containing bromate residues. Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used to determine Br in test portions of bread products from commercial bakeries, homemade bread, flour, and unbaked dough. High performance liquid chromatography was used to determine the bromate residue in selected test portions.     

木聚糖酶在提高馒头品质中的应用

介绍了食品级木聚糖酶在提高馒头品质中的应用。对比了1种国产食品级木聚糖酶与2种进口食品级木聚糖酶作用的效果,证明国产木聚糖酶用于主食馒头加工具有独特的优势,可以替代国外同类进口产品。     

The temporality of eating behavior as a discriminant tool to characterize consumers: Temporal Dominance of Behavior applied to bread consumption during a restaurant meal in France

Video observation is gaining popularity as a data collection technique to study eating behavior. Traditional approaches to data analysis of video observations are based on static counts reporting the number of times an action occurs, disregarding the dynamic aspects captured in the video. In this paper, we investigate French consumers’ bread consumption patterns during a restaurant meal. We propose a novel approach, the Temporal Dominance of Behavior (TDB), to visualise the dynamic information contained in video material in terms of frequency, duration, sequence and simultaneity of actions based on standard data analysis principles from temporal methods such as Temporal Dominance of Sensations (TDS) and Temporal Check-All-That-Apply (T-CATA). TDB allows reporting hours of videos across several subjects in a single graphical output, providing an efficient summary overview suitable for results interpretation and communication.Regarding bread consumption patterns during a restaurant meal in French consumers, three groups of consumers are drawn: the No-breaders (43%), the Bread-as-a-tool group (48%) and the Bread lovers (9%). Eating behavior varies in the consumed quantity of bread as well as in consumption dynamics throughout the meal, and it is related to both the type of dish that is consumed and to consumer characteristics. The Temporal Observation Curves approach provides a graphical synthesis of the dynamic information.We discuss the added-value of the TDB method compared to single-point analysis, provide recommendations for future developments and suggest potential applications in the consumer and food domain.