Evaluation of the effect of processing on cocoa polyphenols: antiradical activity,anthocyanins and procyanidins profiling from raw beans to chocolate

The content and composition of anthocyanins and procyanidins in fermented cocoa beans (from different geographic origins: Ecuador, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Nigeria), roasted nibs, cocoa mass and chocolate were determined, beside the determination of the total antiradical capacity. Concerning geographic origin, cocoa beans and processed products from Ecuador showed the highest levels of anthocyanins, followed by Nigeria and Cameroon. Generally, as cocoa beans were further processed, the levels of anthocyanins and flavan‐3‐ols decreased. The largest observed losses of phenolics occurred during roasting. A progressive decreasing trend in polyphenol concentration was observed in the other processed samples as well. Despite the original content of polyphenols in raw cocoa beans, technological processes imply a significant impact on cocoa quality, confirming the need of specific optimisation to obtain high value chocolate.     

Separation of Triacylglycerol Species from Interesterified Oils by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Using a 1,3-regioselective lipase as a catalyst, soybean oil and olive oil were interesterified with the short-chain triacylglycerol tributyrin (1,2,3-tributyrylglycerol) to produce mixtures of structured triacylglycerols (SL-TAG). The SL-TAG were purified by column chromatography and analyzed by both normal-phase (silica column; NP_SIL) and reversed-phase [octadecyl silane (ODS) column] high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Individual SL-TAG molecular species were detected by evaporative light-scattering detection, and characterized by mass spectrometry. NP_SIL HPLC successfully separated the newly synthesized SL-TAG into two groups of TAG: one composed of one butyryl group and two long-chain fatty acyl groups (from soybean or olive oil); the second was composed of two butyryl groups and one long-chain fatty acyl group. The SL-TAG species were further analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC which gave a more detailed separation of the TAG species present in the two SL-TAG.     

Fat bloom formation and characterization in milk chocolate observed by atomic force microscopy

The surface microstructure and polymorphic behavior of milk chocolate subjected to multiple thermal cycles between 20 and 32, 33, or 34°C were examined using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). The surface of unbloomed milk chocolate was smooth (surface roughness of 278 nm) and consisted of small, evenly distributed crystals. XRD results indicated the presence of mostly form V crystals and little or no form VI crystals. Cycling between 20 and 32°C resulted in little bloom formation and change in polymorphic behavior. Gradual bloom formation occurred as a result of cycling between 20 and 33°C, and was accompanied by the nascence of form VI crystals. Surface roughness increased gradually from 417 nm after one cycle to 476 and 521 nm after two and three cycles, respectively. Extensive bloom arose from cycling between 20 and 34°C. Surface roughness increased from 373 nm after one cycle to 603 and 736 nm after two and three cycles, respectively. This heavily bloomed chocolate consisted of jutting crystals and large raised, yet smooth areas that were haphazardly located within the chocolate matrix. In summary, a new perspective on the development of surface bloom due to thermal cycling is provided.     

涂层工艺及参数对巧克力制品品质的影响

通过单因素和正交试验,研究了巧克力涂层温度、涂层厚度和冷却条件对巧克力涂层产品品质的影响。结果表明:巧克力冷却条件是影响巧克力涂层产品品质的首要因素,其次是涂层温度和涂层厚度。优化后最终成品巧克力涂层工艺参数是:36℃的涂层温度、0.5 mm的涂层厚度和12℃-10℃-12℃的冷却条件。     

Improving functionality of chocolate: A review on probiotic,prebiotic, and/or synbiotic characteristics

BackgroundChocolate is consumed by people of all ages in all segments of society throughout the world. The popularity of this food is mainly associated with its potential to arouse sensory pleasure and positive emotions. Increasing awareness of the link between healthy eating and well-being is reflected in the current views of the general consumers. Consumers perceive functional foods as a member of the specific food category to which they belong. Also, in developed economies, a key trend at the moment is confectionery products that deliver functional benefits for health and well-being, such as functional chocolate.Scope and approachIn this review, studies related with production of prebiotic, probiotic and synbiotic chocolates as a functional food were investigated and positive and negative aspects of these functional products when compared with standard one were stated, which could shape the following related studies in food area and the production of prebiotic, probiotic and synbiotic chocolates in the food industry.Key findings and conclusionsWhen the studies related with this topic were investigated it could be concluded that the studies associated with chocolate which could play a role in transportation of probiotics and prebiotics might be supported by studies in which bioavailability and bioaccessibility characteristics of them in vivo and in vitro media will be determined. Moreover, in order to improve bioavailability and bioaccessibility properties product quality optimization studies might be required in the future.     

Effect of ingestion of dark chocolates with similar lipid composition and different cocoa content on antioxidant and lipid status in healthy humans

The association between in vitro antioxidant capacity of dark chocolates with different cocoa percentage and the in vivo response on antioxidant status was investigated. In a randomized crossover design, 15 healthy volunteer consumed 100 g of high antioxidants dark chocolate (HADC) or dark chocolate (DC). In vitro, HADC displayed a higher Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) than DC. In vivo, plasma TAC significantly peaked 2 h after ingestion of both chocolates. TAC levels went back to zero 5 h after DC ingestion whilst levels remained significantly higher for HADC. HADC induced a significantly higher urinary TAC in the 5-12 h interval time than DC. No change was detected in urinary excretion of F2-isoprostanes. Plasma thiols and triacylglycerol (TG) levels significantly increased for both chocolate with a peak at 2 h remaining significantly higher for DC after 5 h respect to HADC. Results provide evidence of a direct association between antioxidant content of chocolate and the extent of in vivo response on plasma antioxidant capacity.     

Use of Palm Mid-Fraction in White Chocolate Formulation

Samples of two types of palm mid-fraction (PMF I, a commercial sample and PMF II, from a laboratory-scale acetone fractionation of PMF I) and a Malaysian deodorised cocoa butter sample were used as the main components in the fat phase for white chocolate formulation. The monounsaturatedtriacylglycerol contents of these fats were 853, 899 and 903 g kg⁻¹, respectively.All the fats had free fatty acid contents of less than 10 g kg⁻¹ and melting points in the range of 34·0–34·5°C. The solid fat content profiles for the three fats were very steep. Differential scanning calorimeter analyses showed that all the fats had two melting peaks, T1 and T2. Results of the study showed that the tempering time to produce a well-tempered chocolate using PMF I was longer than that using PMF II, whereas, the time to produce a well-tempered cocoa butter chocolate increased with increase in the tempering temperature. Chocolates made with PMF I and II were well tempered between 17 and 19°C and with cocoa butter at 23°C. Thermal analyses, carried out on the chocolate showed that PMF I and II produced three melting peaks, T1, T2′ and T2 whereas most of the cocoa butter chocolates exhibited only one melting peak, T2. Storage studies showed that most of the chocolates had good bloom resistance for up to 12 weeks storage.     

Multi-allergen screening immunoassay for the detection of protein markers of peanut and four tree nuts in chocolate

A multiresidue enzyme immunoassay was developed to check for the presence of markers of peanut, hazelnut, almond, cashew and Brazil nuts in a single run. The assay was designed under the competitive indirect format and adapted for screening purposes applied to chocolate samples. The limit of detection for this assay was below 1 µg g^-1 protein for each allergenic food. In most cases, the high specificity of the antibodies used allowed the identification of each particular allergenic food with no possible confusion. This assay was proven to be useful as part of an analytical procedure involving the identification of the unknown allergenic food among peanut and other tree nuts in recalled samples before the application of a quantitative technique to determine the level of cross-contamination.     

Evaluation and optimisation of five different extraction methods for soy DNA in chocolate and biscuits. Extraction of DNA as a first step in GMO analysis

A method is described to discriminate between genetically modified (GM) and non‐modified foodstuffs by detecting the presence of newly introduced genes at the protein or DNA level. Currently available methods operate almost exclusively at the DNA level and are based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The first and most crucial step in this process is the isolation of DNA. In this study, five different methods for the isolation of DNA from chocolate and biscuits were evaluated, using four commercially available extraction kits and a non‐commercial method for amplification of the soybean‐specific lectin gene. The latter method involves the use of hot‐start Taq polymerase, to prevent the formation of non‐specific amplification products, and an increase in the number of cycles from 35 to 41. The performance of the non‐commercial cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)‐based method was the best, taking into consideration the adaptations of the extraction procedure, although this method was more time‐consuming than the others. Chocolate (white, milk and dark) and several biscuits generated positive amplification results using this PCR approach. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

GC-O-MS法鉴定黑巧克力中关键香气物质

采用同时蒸馏萃取法(SDE)和吹扫捕集法(P&T)对醇浓黑巧克力中挥发性物质进行提取。利用气相色谱-嗅闻-质谱联用的方法对其中的挥发性性物质定性分析,共鉴定出52种物质,包括醛类、烯醛类、吡嗪类、醇类、酯类、酮类、呋喃类、酸类等物质,其中吡嗪类物质的种类最多,其次为醛类物质。通过香气提取物稀释分析(AEDA)和动态顶空稀释分析(DHDA),确定关键的香气物质(log3FD≥4/FD值≥125)共有10种,分别为醛4种(2-甲基丙醛、3-甲基丁醛、2-甲基丁醛、苯乙醛),吡嗪4种(乙基吡嗪、2,3-二甲基吡嗪、三甲基吡嗪、四甲基吡嗪),酯1种(苯甲酸异戊酯),吡咯1种(2-乙酰基-1-吡咯啉)。其中巧克力香气特征主要表现为黑巧克力香、爆米花味、烤香、水果香、咖啡香、坚果香等。