Rheological behavior of high altitude Indian honey varieties as affected by temperature

The rheological properties of high altitude India honeys were analyzed in honeydew (pine) and nectar honey (multifloral and acacia) varieties at a wide range of temperatures (0, 5, 10, 20, and 30 °C). All the honey samples were significantly dominated by loss modulus (G″) which displayed their viscous nature. Irrespective of geographical origin and temperature, all the honey varieties showed a Newtonian behavior. The viscosity of all honey varieties showed a strong dependence on temperature, and Arrhenius model was examined to describe this. Keywords: Honey, Loss modulus, Storage modulus, Viscosity, Arrhenius mode

Evaluation of functional properties of extruded snacks developed from brown rice grits by using response surface methodology

Extrusion behavior of brown rice grits was investigated using twin screw extruder. Feed moisture of the grits was adjusted between 14% and 18%, and extrusion cooking was done at barrel temperature of 130–170 °C and screw speed of 400–550 rpm. The brown rice grits differed significantly with respect to extrusion behavior and extrudate characteristics. Water solubility index (WSI) of extrudates varied from 5.43% to 14.32%, water absorption index (WAI) from 4.72 to 7.81 and bulk density (BD) from 0.065 to 0.188 g/ml. With increase in moisture, BD, WAI and hardness increased, while WSI and SME decreased. Increase in screw speed resulted in lower BD, WAI and WSI whereas resulted in a higher SME. With increase in temperature decrease in SME, BD, WAI and hardness was observed. All responses were most affected by changes in feed moisture, temperature and to a lesser extent screw speed. Keywords: Brown rice, RSM, Functional properties, Extrusion, Snack

Supercritical impregnation of active components into polymers for food packaging applications

Supercritical impregnation is one of the novel technologies exploited for incorporation of active components into packaging material. This technique uses carbon dioxide as solvent to incorporate the active components in the polymeric matrix. The major advantages of using supercritical carbon dioxide as a solvent rely on the possibility to operate under mild temperature and so to process with thermo-sensitive active components. This technique permits the impregnation of diverse natural and synthetic polymers which is the main advantage of this process. This review covers recent developments in the application of supercritical impregnation technology for incorporation of active components in polymers for food packaging applications

Nutritional and bioactive characteristics of buckwheat, and its potential for developing gluten-free products: An updated overview

In the present era, food scientists are concerned about exploiting functional crops with nutraceutical properties. Buckwheat is one of the functional pseudocereals with nutraceutical components used in the treatment of health-related diseases, malnutrition, and celiac diseases. As a preferred diet as a gluten-free product for celiac diseases, buckwheat is a good source of nutrients, bioactive components, phytochemicals, and antioxidants. The general characteristics and better nutritional profile of buckwheat than other cereal family crops were highlighted by previous investigations. In buckwheats, bioactive components like peptides, flavonoids, phenolic acids, d-fagomine, fagopyritols, and fagopyrins are posing significant health benefits. This study highlights the current knowledge about buckwheat and its characteristics, nutritional constituents, bioactive components, and their potential for developing gluten-free products to target celiac people (1.4% of the world population) and other health-related diseases

Influence of processing on physicochemical and antioxidant properties of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L. variety Narmo)

Fresh apricot pulp and its processed products (bar, chutney, and leather) were analyzed for physicochemical (moisture content, titrable acidity (TA), ascorbic acid, and percent reducing sugars) and antioxidant properties (2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), reducing power, total phenolics, lipid peroxidation, ferric reducing antioxidant potential, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity). Reducing sugars, TA, and ascorbic acid content were found to be higher in the processed products than the fresh pulp. A significant difference in the antioxidant properties between the fresh apricot pulp and its processed products was observed. The difference in antioxidant properties between the fresh and the processed products may be attributed to the partial degradation of the bioactive compounds by the action of heat during processing. Among the processed products, apricot bar showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity, lipid peroxidation, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. Therefore, production of apricot bar could a suitable option for processing of apricots

Effectiveness of Terminalia bellerica based bioactive edible film in controlling the microbial growth and lipid oxidation of cheese during storage

A novel bioactive film was developed using Terminalia bellerica as a bioactive ingredient for improved lipid-oxidative stability and microbial quality of cheese using kalari, a Himalayan cheese, as a food-model system. The carrageenan-based film with optimum characteristics was developed using 0.5% T. bellerica extract and characterized for various physicochemical and oxidative properties. The cheese samples were packaged within the films (T1 = control film, T2 = film containing 0.5% T. bellerica) and stored for four weeks at 4±1°C along with control samples. The addition of T. bellerica significantly increased the thickness and density and decreased the moisture content, transparency, solubility and water-vapour transmission rate of the film. It also increased (P<0.05) the antioxidant potential (total-phenolic and flavonoid contents, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities) of the film. A significant impact of the film was observed on lipid stability and microbiological quality and the samples stored within the T2 film showed significantly lower values for thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, free-fatty acids, peroxide values and microbial counts on days 14 and 28. The T2 film showed a significant positive effect on the sensory quality of the stored product indicating the potential of the film for controlling the quality loss during storage