Functional properties of pasteurised liquid whole egg products as affected by the hygienic quality of the raw eggs

The viscosity, foaming and baking performances of pasteurised liquid whole egg products were investigated to study the influence of raw egg hygienic quality on egg product functional performances. Uracil, lactic acid and 3OH-butyric acid measured in the pasteurised egg products were taken as chemical indices of the hygienic quality of the raw material. A high variability in the functional properties was observed, especially for overrun and foam stability, as well as in the chemical indices of hygiene. Many interesting correlations were found between variables, for example between overrun and cake volume (p < 0.001). Instead, no significant correlations were found between the chemical indices and the different functional properties. However, the application of Principal Component Analysis demonstrated that a good hygienic quality of the raw material used to prepare the liquid whole egg products is a prerequisite needed to develop good functional performances, although other factors pertaining to composition or processing also have a role.