SHELF LIFE OF SPRAY-DRIED MILK FORMULATIONS SUPPLEMENTED WITH N-3 FATTY ACIDS

Studies were carried out to assess the shelf life of spray‐dried milk formulation containing linseed oil (LSO) or fish oil (FO) as a source of n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in comparison with a milk formulation containing groundnut oil (GNO) stored at 4, 27 and 37C in tin cans for a period of up to 6 months. Total protein, fat, carbohydrate, moisture and solubility index of formulations stored for 6 months were comparable with fresh samples. The fresh samples containing LSO contained 20% ∝ linolenic acid (LNA). At the end of 6 months, the ∝ LNA levels were found to be 18.4, 18.0 and 16.2% in samples stored at 4, 27 and 37C, respectively. The fresh samples containing FO had 2.4% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). At the end of 6 months, the EPA levels were found to be 2.2, 2.0 and 1.6% in samples stored at 4, 27 and 37C, respectively. The docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) level in the freshly prepared sample containing FO was 2.1%. At the end of 6 months, the DHA levels were found to be 1.7, 1.6 and 1.3% in samples stored at 4, 27 and 37C, respectively. The whiteness of the formulation containing GNO, LSO or FO remained unaltered for a period of 5 months, but dropped marginally when n‐3 PUFA‐containing formulations were stored at 37C for 6 months. Acceptability scores of formulations were similar for 5 months storage but declined significantly in the FO formulation at the end of 6 months of storage. All n‐3 PUFA‐enriched milk formulations were stable and accepted well for up to 5 months when stored at different temperatures.