Black chokeberry fruit polyphenols: A valuable addition to reduce lipid oxidation of muffins containing xylitol

The study aimed at assessing effects of black chokeberry polyphenol extract (ChPE) added (0.025–0.075%) to xylitol-containing muffins to reduce lipid oxidation, especially in preventing degradation of hydroperoxides throughout the storage period. Among polyphenolic compounds (3092 mg/100 g in total) in ChPE, polymeric procyanidins were the most abundant (1564 mg/100 g). ChPE addition resulted in a significantly increased capacity of scavenging free radicals and markedly inhibited hydroperoxides decomposition, as reflected by low anisidine values (AnV: 3.25–7.52) throughout the storage. On the other hand, sucrose-containing muffins had increased amounts of primary lipid oxidation products and differed significantly from other samples in conjugated diene hydroperoxides (CD values), which was in accordance with the decrease of C18:2 9c12c in those muffins after storage. In addition, sucrose-containing muffins were found to be those with the highest level of contamination with toxic carbonyl lipid oxidation products. Throughout the storage, no yeast or moulds contamination were found in higher enriched muffins. The incorporation of polyphenols to xylitol-containing muffins resulted in preventing decomposition of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and in reducing the content of some toxic aldehydes. ChPE could be regarded as a possible solution to xylitol-containing muffins to extend their shelf life. The results support the use of xylitol in muffin manufacture as being favourable in terms of suitability for diabetics

Structural changes in biscuits made with cellulose emulsions as fat replacers

[EN] Biscuits are a popular baked cereal food much appreciated by consumers. In the last few years, cellulose derivatives have been successfully used as fat replacers in biscuits. In this way, not only is the total amount of fat reduced but also the saturated fatty acids and the trans fatty acids are eliminated. The aim of this study is to increase understanding of the functionality of different cellulose ether emulsions used as fat replacers in biscuits. For this purpose, three emulsions with different cellulose ethers were designed: hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, methylcellulose and methylcellulose with greater methoxyl substitution (MCH). The microstructure and textural properties of the doughs and biscuits prepared with these emulsions were studied and the effects of cellulose types and glycerol as textural improver were also analysed. The results showed that the incorporation of glycerol in the doughs made with methylcellulose and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose cellulose emulsions seems to make the dough softer, bringing the values closer to those of the control dough; however, this effect disappears once the dough is baked. The presence of glycerol does not seem to have an effect on the hardness of the doughs and biscuits made using the methylcellulose with greater methoxyl substitution (MCH) emulsion.The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The authors are grateful to the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness for financial support (AGL2015-68923-C2) and gratefully acknowledge the financial support of EU FEDER funds.Teresa Sanz; Quiles Chuliá, MD.; Salvador Alcaraz, A.; Hernando Hernando, MI. (2017). Structural changes in biscuits made with cellulose emulsions as fat replacers. Food Science and Technology International. 23(6):480-489. https://doi.org/10.1177/1082013217703273S48048923

Determinants of burnout and other aspects of psychological well-being in healthcare workers during the Covid-19 pandemic: A multinational cross-sectional study

The Covid-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented pressure on healthcare systems and workers around the world. Such pressures may impact on working conditions, psychological wellbeing and perception of safety. In spite of this, no study has assessed the relationship between safety attitudes and psychological outcomes. Moreover, only limited studies have examined the relationship between personal characteristics and psychological outcomes during Covid-19. From 22nd March 2020 to 18th June 2020, healthcare workers from the United Kingdom, Poland, and Singapore were invited to participate using a self-administered questionnaire comprising the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ), Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to evaluate safety culture, burnout and anxiety/depression. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine predictors of burnout, anxiety and depression. Of 3,537 healthcare workers who participated in the study, 2,364 (67%) screened positive for burnout, 701 (20%) for anxiety, and 389 (11%) for depression. Significant predictors of burnout included patient-facing roles: doctor (OR 2.10; 95% CI 1.49–2.95), nurse (OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.04–1.84), and ‘other clinical’ (OR 2.02; 95% CI 1.45–2.82); being redeployed (OR 1.27; 95% CI 1.02–1.58), bottom quartile SAQ score (OR 2.43; 95% CI 1.98–2.99), anxiety (OR 4.87; 95% CI 3.92–6.06) and depression (OR 4.06; 95% CI 3.04–5.42). Significant factors inversely correlated with burnout included being tested for SARS-CoV-2 (OR 0.64; 95% CI 0.51–0.82) and top quartile SAQ score (OR 0.30; 95% CI 0.22–0.40). Significant factors associated with anxiety and depression, included burnout, gender, safety attitudes and job role. Our findings demonstrate a significant burden of burnout, anxiety, and depression amongst healthcare workers. A strong association was seen between SARS-CoV-2 testing, safety attitudes, gender, job role, redeployment and psychological state. These findings highlight the importance of targeted support services for at risk groups and proactive SARS-CoV-2 testing of healthcare workers

Possibilities of applying liquid margarines to produce sponge cakes

Tłuszcze są jednym z najważniejszych składników w produkcji ciast biszkoptowo-tłuszczowych. Celem pracy było określenie wpływu margaryn płynnych na jakość ciast biszkoptowo-tłuszczowych i porównanie go z tłuszczami stosowanymi tradycyjnie w produkcji ciastkarskiej. Do przygotowania wypieków zastosowano: margaryny płynne, wybrane tłuszcze roślinne o stałej konsystencji (margaryna i emulsja tłuszczowa) oraz masło. W trzech margarynach płynnych (spośród czterech) zawartość substancji tłuszczowej wynosiła 70%, co determinowało ich korzystne właściwości funkcjonalne. Tłuszcze płynne charakteryzowały się mniejszą zawartością nasyconych oraz wyższych monoenowych kwasów tłuszczowych w porównaniu z tłuszczami stałymi. Jednak ich wielką zaletą była jednocześnie znacznie większa zawartość polienowych kwasów tłuszczowych i najmniejsza zawartość niekorzystnych izomerów trans (TFA) w porównaniu z tłuszczami stałymi. Stwierdzono korzystny wpływ margaryn płynnych na objętość wyrobów i profil tekstury potwierdzony wysoką oceną sensoryczną tekstury. Natomiast ciasta z dodatkiem tłuszczów stałych przewyższały pod względem smaku ciasta z dodatkiem margaryn płynnych. Margaryny płynne z powodzeniem mogą zastąpić tradycyjnie stosowane tłuszcze stałe przy wytwarzaniu wyrobów biszkoptowo-tłuszczowych.Fat is one of the most important ingredients used in the production of sponge cakes. The main objective of the study was to determine the effect of liquid margarines on the quality of sponge-cakes and to compare it with fats traditionally used in households and in the production of cakes. The following components were used to make sponge cakes: liquid margarines, some selected plant fats of solid consistency (table margarine, fat emulsion, and butter. In the three liquid margarines (from the four margarines examined in total), the content of fatty substance was 70%, thus, their functional properties were useful. The liquid margarines had a lower content of saturated and a higher content of monounsaturated fatty acids if compared with the solid fats. On the other hand, the most beneficial quality of the liquid fats was a much higher content of PUFAs (polyenic fatty acids) along with the lowest content of unfavourable trans-isomers (TFAs) compared with the solid fats. It was stated that the effect of liquid margarines on the volume and texture profile of sponge cakes baked was very favourable and this positive effect was confirmed by the considerably high results of the sensory assessment of texture. However, the cakes produced with solid fats showed a better taste that those made using liquid margarines. Liquid margarines can successfully replace solid fats traditionally used in manufacturing sponge cakes

Wplyw tluszczu na wybrane cechy ciasta biszkoptowo-tluszczowego

Celem pracy było określenie przydatności tłuszczów roślinnych, różniących się składem kwasów tłuszczowych (szczególnie izomerów trans), do wypieku ciasta biszkoptowo-tłuszczowego. Oceniono jakość siedmiu tłuszczów roślinnych. Przeprowadzono ocenę właściwości surowego ciasta, właściwości technologicznych i sensorycznych gotowego wyrobu, otrzymanego przy udziale badanych tłuszczów. Stwierdzono, że rodzaj zastosowanego tłuszczu miał bardzo istotny wpływ na cechy ciasta biszkoptowo- tłuszczowego. Wykazano korzystny wpływ izomerów trans nienasyconych kwasów tłuszczowych na masę objętościową surowego ciasta i gotowego wyrobu. Ciasta wypieczone z ciekłym olejem rzepakowym generalnie uzyskały noty średnie. Sensorycznie najlepiej zostały ocenione ciasta, do których wytworzenia zastosowano tłuszcze o najwyższych zawartościach izomerów trans.The aim of work was to determine the suitability of vegetable fats, which vary in composition of fatty acids (especially trans isomers), for baking biscuit-fat cake. Quality of seven vegetable fats was examined. Quality assessment of dough was carried out as well as, technological and sensoric examinations of the cake received with the use of vegetable fats. The kind of applied fat was estimated to have a great influence on biscuit-fat cake properties. Trans isomers of unsaturated fatty acids had advantageous influence on the volume mass of dough as well as on the baked cake. Cakes baked with the liquid rape oil obtained average notes. The best results of sensory evaluation was obtained for cakes with the highest trans fatty acids content

Composition of fatty acids against quality and technological usefulness of fats in the baking process

Celem pracy było sprawdzenie możliwości określania jakości i ustalania przeznaczenia tłuszczów do pieczenia w zależności od składu ich kwasów tłuszczowych. Zakres pracy obejmował ocenę składu kwasów tłuszczowych sześciu roślinnych tłuszczów piekarskich, masła i smalcu. Wyznaczono także czas indukcji każdego tłuszczu w aparacie Rancimat w temp. 150 ºC. Badane tłuszcze różniły się znacząco składem kwasów tłuszczowych. Cechowały się zawartością SFA od 20,6 do 69,7 %, TFA od 0,2 do 55,9 %, MUFA cis od 22,4 do 46,0 % i NNKT od 1,0 do 10,0 %. Czas indukcji wynosił od 1,23 do 3,26 h. Stwierdzono, że na podstawie składu kwasów tłuszczowych, oznaczonych metodą GC, można określić jakość i przeznaczenie tłuszczów oraz ustalić warunki obróbki termicznej. Tłuszcze o wysokiej łącznej zawartości SFA i TFA cechowały się dłuższym czasem indukcji. Natomiast większa zawartość NNKT w tłuszczach powodowała ich niższą stabilność oksydatywną.The objective of the study was to prove the possibilities of determining the quality and usefulness of fats in the baking process depending on the composition of fatty acids contained in them. The scope of the study involved the evaluation of the composition of fatty acids contained in six vegetable shortenings, as well as in butter and lard. Additionally, the induction time of each fat was determined using a Rancimat apparatus at a temperature of 150 ºC. The fats investigated significantly differed in the composition of their fatty acids. They were characterized by the following amounts of their fatty acids: SFA: from 20.6 to 69.7 %; trans fat acids (TFA): from 0.2 to 55.9 %; MUFA cis from 22.4 to 46.0; and EFA: from 1.0 to 10.0 %. The induction time ranged from 1.23 to 3.26 h. It has been found that it is possible, using the composition of fatty acids determined by a GC method, to determine the quality and usefulness of fats, and to define thermal treatment conditions. Fats containing a high total amount of SFA and TFA were characterized by a longer induction time. However, a higher amount of NNKT in fats caused the oxidative stability to lower

Effect of herbs extracts on quality and stability of crackers

Wykonano laboratoryjny wypiek krakersów z dodatkiem ekstraktów z przypraw w ilości 0,02 i 0,2 % w stosunku do masy dodanego tłuszczu. Równocześnie wypieczono krakersy bez udziału przypraw (próba kontrolna). Gotowe produkty oceniono sensorycznie oraz zmierzono ich barwę. Ponadto, w odstępach 7-dniowych określano zmiany oksydacyjne frakcji lipidowych ekstrahowanych z ciastek bezpośrednio po wypieku oraz w ciągu 28 dni ich termostatowania (temp. 60 ºC). Postęp tych zmian śledzono, oznaczając liczbę nadtlenkową i anizydynową oraz obliczając wskaźnik Totox. Dodatek przypraw w różnym stopniu wpłynął na jakość sensoryczną krakersów i barwę mierzoną metodą odbiciową. Za najlepsze pod tym względem uznano wyroby z 0,2-procentowym dodatkiem ekstraktu z oregano. Stwierdzono, że ekstrakty z tymianku najefektywniej zabezpieczały frakcję lipidową krakersów przed procesami oksydacji zarówno na etapie powstawania pierwotnych, jak i wtórnych produktów utlenienia.In a laboratory, crackers were baked with herb extracts added, their amount between 0.02 % and 0.2 % of the weight of the fat added. Also, the crackers were baked without herbs added (control sample). A sensory evaluation of the ready-baked products was performed and their colour was measured. Furthermore, oxidative changes were determined, every 7 days, in the lipid fractions extracted directly after the baking and during a 28-day period of the thermo-stating of crackers (at a temperature of 60 °C). The progress of those changes was monitored, peroxide and anisidine values were determined, and a Totox index was calculated. The addition of herbs differently impacted the sensory quality and the colour of crackers; the latter was measured using a reflectance method. The products with a 0.2 % addition of oregano extract were considered as the best. It was found that the thyme extracts provided for the most effective protection of the lipid fraction in the crackers against autooxidation processes both during the formation of the primary and the secondary oxidation products