The purpose of this work was to optimize the formulation of a prebiotic dairy dessert with low fat content (<0.1g/100g) using a mixture of short- and long-chain inulin. Response surface methodology was applied to obtain the experimental design and data analysis. Nineteen formulations of dairy dessert were prepared, varying inulin concentration (3 to 9 g/100g), sucrose concentration (4 to 16 g/100g), and lemon flavor concentration (25 to 225 mg/kg). Sample acceptability evaluated by 100 consumers varied mainly in terms of inulin and sucrose concentrations and, to a lesser extent, of lemon flavor content. An interaction effect among inulin and sucrose concentration was also found. According to the model obtained, the formulation with 5.5 g/100g inulin, 10 g/100g sucrose and 60 mg/kg of lemon flavor was selected. Finally, this sample was compared sensorially with the regular fat content (2.8 g/100g) sample previously optimized in terms of lemon flavor (146 mg/kg) and sucrose (11.4 g/100g). No significant difference in acceptability was found between them but the low-fat sample with inulin possessed stronger lemon flavor and greater thickness and creaminess.

The industrial by-product of blueberry juice, a source of fibre with antioxidant capacity was used to develop cookies. Dnce dried and ground the blueberries by-product, its composition and functional properties were analyzed and used to develop fibre enriched cookies. A central composite design was used to optimize the cookie formulation maximizing antioxidant and total polyphenol content varying fibre content (3-9 g/100 g), baking temperature (160-180 °C) and dough thickness (0.5-1.0 cm). Antioxidant capacity and total polyphenol content showed both a similar behaviour, increasing when fibre content increases. The increasing of dough thickness and baking temperature decreases the antioxidant capacity and total polyphenol content. Cookie with 9% fibre, 180 °C baking temperature and 0.50 cm dough thickness and cookie with 9% of fibre, 170°C baking temperature and 0.75 cm dough thickness showed maximum antioxidant capacity and polyphenol content with no significant differences between them; both cookies can be labelled using a fibre claim.

Dry coffee pulp obtained from the residue of the wet processing of Coffea arabica was used as a source of antioxidant dietary fibre to develop "high in fibre" salty cookies. Total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity (ABTS and ORAC) were quantified in cookies and physiological extracts from an in vitro digestion. Enriched cookies' phenolic content (94.42 ± 1.00 mg GAE/30g) and ABTS antioxidant capacity (1168.58 ± 23.50 µmol TE/30g) were found to be significantly higher than those of control cookies, ORAC antioxidant capacity remained similar. Physiological extracts after in vitro digestion showed higher values of total phenolic content (191.53 ± 9.29 mg GAE/30g) and antioxidant capacity (5617.49 ± 211.87 µmol TE/portion in ABTS and 3362.60 ±262.58 µmol TE/portion in ORAC), which were also superior to the antioxidant characteristics of the physiological extracts of control cookies. Cookies were evaluated by consumers who rated the degree of liking on tasting the samples under blind and informed conditions. Results indicated that label had effect on consumers' hedonic perception. Formulation of cookies with dry coffee pulp was successful; an acceptable product with functional properties was obtained.

No abstract

The use of apple pomace flour (APF) as a fibre enrichment strategy was investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate consumers’ response to intrinsic and extrinsic properties of a bakery premix product when using APF. Apple pomace, a by-product from the juice industry, was dried and ground. APF is high in carbohydrates (47.47%) and fibre (38.48%), and it was used to partially substitute wheat flour and sugar in a cake premix. Acceptability, health, and nutrition questions were evaluated with and without information in terms of regular and fibre-enriched cake. The regular cake score was not affected by information, while the enriched cake’s score increased with information. Three clusters were identified. Cluster 1 (29%) showed high liking scores for regular cake, cluster 2 (31%) for the fibre-enriched cake, and cluster 3 (40%) showed similar liking for both. Consumers described the samples and ideal cake using a check-all-that-apply (CATA) questionnaire. Penalty analyses explained differences in acceptability among consumers. Healthiness, tastiness, and fibre content were the main reasons to buy the enriched cake for cluster 2; taste for consumers in cluster 1; and healthiness and taste for consumers in cluster 3. APF as a functional ingredient may be a consumers’ choice as a sustainable use of apple pomace.

Traditionally, plant breeding goals have focused on increasing yield, product firmness, shelf life and pest tolerance, combining ambient adaptation and agronomic management, without making focus on the sensory characteristics. The addition of sensory information into plant breeding programs provides breeders with unbiased tools to measure otherwise subjective quality traits. Combining consumer preferences with descriptive information about the sensory characteristics of products can contribute to the development of consumer-driven improvements in diverse agronomical commodities. In this context, the objective of this review is to describe a series of successful experiences where sensory evaluation has contributed to breeding programs in order to develop cultivars with enhanced sensory characteristics and higher likelihood of succeeding in the marketplace. The application of analytic and hedonic tests are described and discussed. A special consideration is made into fruit and vegetables examples, with focus on strawberry and sweet potato, considering the relevance of consumer acceptance in rising consumption of these products. Rice is also showed as an example of a cereal widely consumed worldwide and where cooking methods display a special challenge in sensory evaluation.

The aim of this work was to extract soluble dietary fibre from orange by-product, by testing four different green (non-contaminant, solvent free) extraction technologies: hot water (HW), extrusion + hot water (EHW), jet cooker (JC) and jet cooker + hot water (JCHW). Starting from orange pomace, the treatments were assayed and sample was separated in soluble and insoluble fractions. The processing and analysis of the soluble fraction was continued, through subsequent spray drying until obtaining a soluble fibre-enriched powder. Powders were analysed: dietary fibre, sugar profile and bioactive characterisation (total polyphenol content, antioxidant capacity). Through the application of these green technologies, it was possible to obtain a functional ingredient with soluble dietary fibre from orange by-product. EHW was the treatment that yielded the highest amount of soluble dietary fibre, the lowest content of glucose, sucrose and fructose, and the highest polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity.

This work focuses on how the expectation created by the label influences the consumer's acceptance and willingness to purchase low‐fat Uruguayan cheeses. Six commercial low‐fat cheeses were evaluated by a group of consumers who rated their expected liking by observing the label and the degree of liking on tasting the samples under blind and informed conditions. To identify the underlying relationships between product attributes and consumers' personal beliefs motivating their purchasing decision, laddering interviews were performed with another group of consumers. Results indicated that the label had a positive or neutral effect on consumers' hedonic perception. When hedonic expectations were not fulfilled, assimilation took place, either completely or incompletely, indicating that positive consumer expectations had a positive effect on acceptability ratings of these cheeses. For consumers, the two main components influencing the final decision on purchasing Uruguayan low‐fat cheese were trust and expected pleasure. The brand, appearance and previous knowledge of the product were the characteristics on the label with most impact on consumers. In addition, certain brands and images on the label elicited differentiating responses, like the sense of natural or traditional manufacture, which motivated some consumers to purchase the product. Practical Application To develop or improve products, it is necessary to provide the characteristics consumers seek in a product. Sensory properties are considered determining factors when choosing a product; however, they are not the only ones. The label is one of the extrinsic components of a product, playing an important role in consumer buying behavior, acting as a means to attract attention and provide information. This work shows how the expectation created by the label affected the acceptance of Uruguayan low‐fat cheeses. To develop products with a higher likelihood of success, it is important to know which label characteristics are relevant to consumers and their underlying motivation.