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Lactobacillus acidophilus or Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bb-12 and green banana pulp were used in order to obtain potentially probiotic and prebiotic yoghurts, which were compared over a 45-day storage period. Goat milk yoghurts demonstrated probiotic effects up to 45 days of storage. Cow milk yoghurts produced with B. animalis subsp. lactis Bb-12 showed a probiotic effect reduction during the storage period (1.74 log CFU/g). The type of milk affected the yoghurts' chemical and physicochemical properties. Sensory acceptance was also affected, where cow milk yoghurts were better accepted than goat milk ones.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of chicken nuggets packaging attributes on Brazilian consumer purchase intention. Focus group technique was employed in order to identify the relevant packaging characteristics. Forty consumers were interviewed in six sessions where five different types of chicken nuggets packaging were evaluated. After identifying the most relevant parameters for the study (color, picture, brand, and price), the impact of each characteristic (factor) on the purchase intent was evaluated. The conjoint analysis technique was applied to 100 consumers data. Eight stimuli (labels) were prepared by combining two levels for each factor using a fractional factorial design 2 4-1. The price significantly influences at the time of purchase, which was quantitatively confirmed by the conjoint analysis, demonstrating the importance of a product supplied with a competitive market price. The picture influences at the time of purchase more than color and brand. Despite having less relative importance, warm colors and a brand already associated with the product might contribute positively to purchase intention.

SbstractEncapsulation of bioactive compounds has been carried out to improve bioavailability and to protect them against harm conditions. However, encapsulation processes are often aggressive and it is important that encapsulated substances keep their biological activity. In this work curcumin was nanoencapsulated using dichloromethane as solvent and ultrasound as dispersion device. Nanoparticles were obtained using different curcumin concentrations and encapsulants (PLLA and Eudragit S100) and the encapsulation efficiency was inferred using spectroscopic and calorimetric techniques as well as optical microscopy. Total phenolic contents and antioxidant activity tests were applied to the curcumin before and after encapsulation and also to blank polymer nanoparticles. Results demonstrated that the encapsulation process had no deleterious influence on its antioxidant activity.

The reactive extrusion technique is efficient in the incorporation of bioactive compounds for active packaging development. The application of curcumin, a strong antioxidant in its pure, isolated form to obtain active packaging has already been investigated; however, the use of water-soluble curcumin (WSC) in thermoplastic starch/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (TPS/PBAT) films has not yet been investigated. It is important to determine how WSC would affect starch esterification reaction during reactive extrusion (REx). The use of WSC at 0.5%wt led to an increase in tensile strength, elongation at break, and Young's modulus. A reduction in starch esterification was observed; however, an improvement in TPS/PBAT compatibility was detected by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy images. It is worth noting that WSC addition resulted in an increase in the film's solubility and water vapor permeability, due to the hydrophilic character of the WSC. The films were used to package chia oil, and the oxidative stability data were evaluated by UV-Vis spectroscopy coupled with principal component analysis. The addition of WSC (0.5%wt) in the films led to the improvement of the oil oxidative stability, suggesting that using water-soluble curcumin may be a promising alternative to active packaging in the case of reactive extruded films.

Objective The influence of broiler carcass scalding conditions on chicken breast meat quality parameters was investigated. Methods Two hundred and seventy Cobb broiler chickens from 42 to 48 days old were slaughtered according to the standard industry practice and scalded in five temperature/time combinations—T 1 , 54°C/210 s; T 2 , 55°C/180 s; T 3 , 56°C/150 s; T 4 , 57°C/120 s; T 5 , 58°C/90 s. Results Scalding temperature increase resulted in higher values of external and ventral lightness and in protein functionality reduction—determined by emulsification capacity and protein denaturation—in chicken breast fillets 24 h post-mortem . Protein secondary structures had conformational changes, with a decrease of the α-helix and an increase of the β-sheet and β-turn proportions, mainly in T 1 and T 5 samples, determined by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy in an attenuated reflectance mode analysis. The chemical composition, pH, water holding capacity and Warner-Bratzler shear force did not differ among the treatments. In the fatty acid profile, the 18:1n-9 was lower in T 5 , which suggested that the high scalding-temperature could have caused the lipid oxidation. The values of the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), such as 22:2, 20:4n-6, and 22:6n-3, were highest in the T 5 , thus being related to the phospholipid cellular membrane collapse in this experimental condition and subsequent release of these PUFA. Conclusion Intermediate scalding-parameters avoided the negative changes in the chicken meat quality.

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