Principal component analysis (PCA) was carried out to study the relationship between 24 meat quality measurements taken from beef round samples that were injected with curing brines containing gum arabic (1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, and 3%) and soy protein concentrate (SPC) (3.5%) at two injection levels (30% and 35%). The measurements used to describe beef round quality were expressible moisture, moisture content, cook yield, possible injection, achieved gum arabic level in beef round, and protein content, as well as descriptive sensory attributes for flavor, texture, basic tastes, feeling factors, color, and overall acceptability. Several significant correlations were found between beef round quality parameters. The highest significant negative and positive correlations were recorded between color intensity and gray color and between color intensity and brown color, respectively. The first seven principal components (PCs) were extracted explaining over 95% of the total variance. The first PC was characterized by texture attributes (hardness and denseness), feeling factors (chemical taste and chemical burn), and two physicochemical properties (expressible moisture and achieved gum arabic level). Taste attribute (saltiness), physicochemical attributes (cook yield and possible injection), and overall acceptability were useful in defining the second PC, while the third PC was characterized by metallic taste, gray color, brown color, and physicochemical attributes (moisture and protein content). The correlation loading plot showed that the distribution of the samples on the axes of the first two PCs allowed for differentiation of samples injected to 30% injection level which were placed on the upper side of the biplot from those injected to 35% which were placed on the lower side. Similarly, beef samples extended with gum arabic and those containing SPC were also visible when scores for the first and third PCs were plotted. Thus, PCA was efficient in analyzing the quality characteristics of beef rounds extended with gum arabic.

It was of interest to determine the water holding effect of the gum from the Acacia senegal var. kerensis in extended beef rounds. Beef rounds injected at two injection levels (30% and 35% over green weight) with curing brines containing gum arabic at 1%, 1.5%, 2.0%, 2.5% and 3.0% of the final product were investigated. A non-injected sample and a product injected with soy protein concentrate (SPC) at 3.5% of the final product weight were prepared for comparison. Mean results indicated that the level of gum arabic from Acacia senegal var. kerensis used in curing brines significantly increased the cook yield and reduced the extractable moisture in cooked extended beef rounds. The injection of beef with curing brine also significantly increased the cook yield and the extractable moisture of the extended beef rounds as compared to the non-injected beef samples. Both injection and gum levels had a significant effect on the proximate composition and sensory properties of the resulting beef rounds. Sensory analysis revealed that samples containing gum arabic at 2.5% were juicier and comparable to those containing SPC at 3.5% injection level. Furthermore, these samples had the highest overall preference comparable to samples injected with curing brines containing SPC. This is the first report on the physicochemical properties of extended beef rounds containing gum arabic from Acacia senegal var. kerensis.

The fatty acid profile in breast milk of nursing mothers who participated in a Cohort for Vitamin A (COVA) study at the fourth and ninth month of lactation was investigated. Breast milk samples were collected by manual expression and stored at −20˚C until analysis. The fat was extracted from the milk and methylated using the American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS) Official Methods with modifications. The separation, identification and quantification of the fatty acid methyl esters was performed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Fat contents of human milk increased significantly between the fourth and ninth month of lactation 0.38 and 1.21 mg•mL −1 respectively; P < 0.05. The major fatty acids of breast milk fat at the 4th month of lactation were oleic acid (66.6%), followed by linoleic acid (51.3%) and palmitoleic acid (28.9%). However, at the 9th month, the major component was linoleic acid (58.1%), followed by oleic acid (30.9%) and stearic acid (23.1%). The percentage average of the total saturated fatty acids at the 4th month (16.62%) was significantly lower (P ˂ 0.05) than the average percent of the total unsaturated FAs (48.93%). Similarly, at the 9th month the percentage average of the total saturated fatty acids (15.18%) was significantly lower (P ˂ 0.05) than the average percent of the total unsaturated FAs (31.05%). The results obtained in this study demonstrated that the fat content in breast milk significantly increased in the 9th compared to the 4th month of lactation. The fatty profile was also significantly different with the omega 6 being the dominant at the 9th month compared with the omega −9 being dominant at the 4th month of lactation.

High protein yoghurt was made from whole milk, fortified with egg white (30% v/v) and skim milk powder at 12% (w/v). Different yoghurt mixes, with albumin content of 15%, 30% and 45% (v/v), were prepared. The control was made from whole milk, fortified with skim milk powder at 12% (w/v). The blended premixes were pasteurized at 74ºC for 4 seconds, cooled and then inoculated with 3% (w/v) Direct Vat Set yoghurt starter culture at 45ºC. After fermentation for 3 hours in a water bath maintained at 46+-1C, product was cooled to 5ºC and then stored for 24 hours. The effect of the fortification on physico-chemical and sensory properties was investigated. Protein content increased to 8.50% at 45% egg white utilization. Susceptibility to wheying was reduced in egg-white fortified samples, without signicant difference in sensory attributes of the test samples compared to the control. Sensory analysis showed that yoghurt fortified with 45% egg white was organoleptically acceptable. The yoghurt was rated as having better sensory appeal as compared to the control.

High protein yoghurt was made from whole milk, fortified with egg white (30% v/v) and skim milk powder at 12% (w/v). Different yoghurt mixes, with albumin content of 15%, 30% and 45% (v/v), were prepared. The control was made from whole milk, fortified with skim milk powder at 12% (w/v). The blended premixes were pasteurized at 74 • C for 4 seconds, cooled and then inoculated with 3% (w/v) Direct Vat Set yoghurt starter culture at 45 • C. After fermentation for 3 hours in a water bath maintained at 46±1 • C, product was cooled to 5 • C and then stored for 24 hours. The effect of the fortification on physico-chemical and sensory properties was investigated. Protein content increased to 8.50% at 45% egg white utilization. Susceptibility to wheying was reduced in egg-white fortified samples, without significant difference in sensory attributes of the test samples compared to the control. Sensory analysis showed that yoghurt fortified with 45% egg white was organoleptically acceptable. The yoghurt was rated as having better sensory appeal as compared to the control.