Development of gluten-free fresh egg pasta analogues containing buckwheat

To improve the use of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), characterized by interesting nutritional properties, it could be used in pasta formulations. In particular, as buckwheat is devoid of the gluten-forming proteins, it might be an ingredient for celiac patient food. The aim of this study was to develop both fresh egg pastas integrated with buckwheat and fresh egg pasta analogues classifiable as gluten-free, based on buckwheat and rice flours. Matter loss in the cooking water and weight increase during cooking of buckwheat pasta were higher than those of a reference sample made of common wheat flour. As buckwheat integration increased, sample break strain was significantly lower, as a result of the progressive reduction in gluten content. In the production of gluten-free pasta analogues, wheat flour was substituted with rice flour, precooked rice flour or pregelatinized rice starch. Since samples containing precooked rice flour gave the best results, in terms of workability, break strain and weight increase during cooking, they were also produced on an industrial scale. Industrial gluten-free fresh egg pasta analogues were tougher and less deformable in comparison with the laboratory-produced samples. These results were determined by the presence of the double thermal pasteurisation treatment, which allows to obtain a better structure of the product, showing also a lower matter loss during cooking.     

Sensitivity analysis of parameters affecting the drying behaviour of durum wheat pasta

In this work, a comprehensive model of pasta drying combining Neumann boundary conditions, differential shrinkage and with consideration of the constant drying rate period and falling drying rate period was investigated through sensitivity and uncertainty analysis. Results confirmed that shrinkage, moisture loss and drying rate during the constant drying rate period and external resistance to mass transfer did not have a significant impact on the predicted required drying time. The predicted required drying time was influenced predominantly by the effective moisture diffusion coefficient. A correlation to estimate the effective moisture diffusion coefficient was developed from published values and was used to predict the required drying time with an uncertainty of ±3.5 h at a 90% confidence interval. Since this magnitude of uncertainty is unreasonable for most industrial uses, accurate data collection of effective moisture diffusivity should be viewed as a major objective in pasta drying research.     

Can environmental dust from silo area allow the development of stored product insects?

Dust derived from food processing can accumulate in places difficult to reach, where stored-product pests could thrive. The purpose of this work was to verify the development of Plodia interpunctella, Ephestia kuehniella, and Tribolium castaneum in dust collected on pipes and beams (15 m and 7.5 m) in a silo area of a pasta industry. Proximate analyses showed a higher metal content in the dust collected at the two different heights than semolina, including the presence of chrome, cobalt, arsenic, and lead. Particle size distribution analysis showed that in the two samples of dust the highest percentage was constituted by particle sizes smaller than 106 μm. The tests were carried out by using two quantities 4 g or 0.15 g of dust (corresponding to 3 mm and 0.1 mm), at controlled conditions. Fifty larvae, 0–24 h old, of each species, were used for each dust, semolina, and thickness test. The number of emerged adults was assessed daily. T. castaneum developed on all the tested substrates, despite the high content of metals and the small particle size in the environmental dust. A significant interaction between diet and thickness of the layer was observed, but thickness had a stronger influence than diet. Moreover, light filth analysis detected a large number of fragments of Tribolium sp. in dust collected at a different height. Dust was unsuitable for the development of moths; only two E. kuehniella adults emerged from 3-mm-deep dust collected at 15 m, and development lasted more than 90 d.     

Optimisation of resistant starch II and III levels in durum wheat pasta to reduce in vitro digestibility while maintaining processing and sensory characteristics

Foods with elevated levels of resistant starch (RS) may have beneficial effects on human health. Pasta was enriched with commercial resistant starches (RSII, Hi Maize™ 1043; RSIII, Novelose 330™) at 10%, 20% and 50% substitution of semolina for RSII and 10% and 20% for RSIII and compared with pasta made from 100% durum wheat semolina to investigate technological, sensory, in vitro starch digestibility and structural properties. The resultant RS content of pasta increased from 1.9% to ∼21% and was not reduced on cooking. Significantly, the results indicate that 10% and 20% RSII and RSIII substitution of semolina had no significant effects on pasta cooking loss, texture and sensory properties, with only a minimal reduction in pasta yellowness. Both RS types lowered the extent of in vitro starch hydrolysis compared to that of control pasta. X-ray diffraction and small-angle scattering verified the incorporation of RS and, compared to the control sample, identified enhanced crystallinity and a changed molecular arrangement following digestion. These results can be contrasted with the negative impact on pasta resulting from substitution with equivalent amounts of more traditional dietary fibre such as bran. The study suggests that these RS-containing formulations may be ideal sources for the preparation of pasta with reduced starch digestibility.     

Diversity of traditional Caciocavallo cheeses produced in Italy

This paper presents the results of a survey carried out in 68 dairies in southern Italy on the manufacturing processes of traditional Italian Caciocavallo cheese varieties. Following a study of the relevant literature, the various cheesemaking processes were analysed and the implications of different cheesemaking procedures were explored. The manufacturing variations able to influence the organoleptic characteristics of Caciocavallo cheese were milk and rennet types, procedures for curd acidification and stretching, salting and ripening conditions, and smoking treatment. This survey is designed to guide producers and consumers alike with respect to the perceivable effects of manufacturing variants on cheese quality.     

A survey of non-starter lactic acid bacteria in traditional cheeses: Culture dependent identification and survival to simulated gastrointestinal transit

Cultivable NSLAB in traditional Pasta filata and ewes' milk cheeses were studied by both PCR-DGGE of cells from Rogosa agar and by isolation and molecular identification after a simulated gastric juice (SGJ) treatment of the cheese. Two to six species were retrieved from each sample. The majority of isolates were identified as Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Enterococcus or Pediococcus. Bile tolerance and bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity were tested on 88 strains: 64% were able to grow with ≥0.15% bile and 40% were BSH positive. The effect of simulated digestion was tested on 15 strains. Inactivation ranged from 0.15 to 2.93 log cycles; most of the lethality was associated with pancreatic juice treatment. Although SGJ treatment alone may not provide a correct estimate of tolerance to gastrointestinal transit, it allowed selection of strains with a high tolerance to gastric juice, which may be tested as probiotic candidates.     

凝乳条件对我国传统拉伸型干酪-乳扇品质的影响

乳扇是云南大理的一种传统民族乳制品，属工艺独特的拉伸型干酪。采用单因素对比试验设计．研究了不同凝乳条件对乳扇品质的影响。结果表明，凝乳方式和凝乳PH值对乳扇感官、理化和烹饪性有显著影响（P〈O．05）。     

The effect of varying fat content on the microstructure of Oaxaca cheese,a typical pasta filata cheese

The effect of varying fat content in Oaxaca cheese, a typical pasta filata, on microstructure was described. Microstructure of cheeses was analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy (LM) in nondehydrated and dehydrated samples. In nondehydrated samples, protein fibres were wide and compact in fat‐free cheese, and big serum channels were approximately 100 μm in width. Width of protein fibres and size of channels decreased as fat content increased. Small channels seemed to be occupied only by fat, while in big channels, water and fat were observed. LM both confirmed and supplemented the observations made by SEM, particularly the presence and distribution of fat in channels.