Emulsifying properties of sodium caseinate -locust bean gum Maillard conjugates produced at different temperatures (54 - 96 ºC), protein/polysaccharide ratios (0.3 - 1.0) and reaction times (1 - 24 hours) were evaluated. Conjugate formation was confirmed by formation of color and high molecular weight fractions and the decrease of the αs- and β-casein bands. The emulsions stabilized by Maillard conjugates showed good stability. The mean droplet diameter (d32) tended to decrease with the increase of incubation time and temperature, except at extreme conditions (24 hours and 90 ºC or 96 ºC) when the partial degradation of the conjugates was probably favored, resulting in phase separation of emulsions. The emulsion viscosity decreased with the increase in the protein/polysaccharide ratio and with the degradation of the conjugates. The conditions used in the experimental design made the optimization of the conjugate production viable, which showed greater emulsifier properties than the pure protein under acid conditions.

Yellow passion fruit pulp is unstable, presenting phase separation that can be avoided by the addition of hydrocolloids. For this purpose, xanthan and guar gum [0.3, 0.7 and 1.0% (w/w)] were added to yellow passion fruit pulp and the changes in the dynamic and steady - shear rheological behavior evaluated. Xanthan dispersions showed a more pronounced pseudoplasticity and the presence of yield stress, which was not observed in the guar gum dispersions. Cross model fitting to flow curves showed that the xanthan suspensions also had higher zero shear viscosity than the guar suspensions, and, for both gums, an increase in temperature led to lower values for this parameter. The gums showed different behavior as a function of temperature in the range of 5 - 35ºC. The activation energy of the apparent viscosity was dependent on the shear rate and gum concentration for guar, whereas for xanthan these values only varied with the concentration. The mechanical spectra were well described by the generalized Maxwell model and the xanthan dispersions showed a more elastic character than the guar dispersions, with higher values for the relaxation time. Xanthan was characterized as a weak gel, while guar presented a concentrated solution behavior. The simultaneous evaluation of temperature and concentration showed a stronger influence of the polysaccharide concentration on the apparent viscosity and the G' and G" moduli than the variation in temperature.

Mechanical properties have been widely correlated with textural characteristics to determine the interactions during the process formation of dairy gel. These interactions are strongly affected by process conditions and system composition. In the present study, the rheological of acid-induced protein dairy gels with (2(7-3)) and without (2(6-2)) sucrose and subjected to small and large deformations were studied using an experimental design. The independent variables were the sodium caseinate, whey protein concentrate (WPC), carrageenan and sucrose concentrations as well as stirring speed and heat treatment time and temperature. Mechanical deformation tests were performed at 0.1, 1, 5, and 9 mm/s up to 80% of initial height. A heavy dependence of rupture stress on increasing crosshead speed and the formation of harder gels with the addition of sucrose were observed. Moreover the elastic and viscous moduli, obtained by fitting the Maxwell model to stress relaxation data, increased with increasing addition of sucrose. These results can be explained by preferential hydration of the casein with sucrose, causing an induction of casein-polysaccharide and casein-casein interactions.

Quatro marcas de goiabas em calda foram submetidas a análises físico-químicas, de cor e textura instrumentais e teste sensorial de preferência, a fim de avaliar as diferenças entre os produtos comerciais. As mesmas análises foram efetuadas em uma goiaba in natura madura, a fim de avaliar os possíveis efeitos do processamento na qualidade do produto. De maneira geral, observou-se grandes diferenças entre os produtos das diferentes marcas, e muitas vezes entre os frutos de um mesmo fabricante. As análises químicas mostraram que o teor de açúcares da maior parte dos produtos está entre 22 e 30%, com exceção de uma amostra que mostrou um valor bem mais elevado (ao redor de 40%). A análise sensorial mostrou que esta amostra com maior teor de açúcares foi a mais preferida em relação à doçura. Na análise de cor foram observados menores valores de a* em relação à fruta in natura, possivelmente devido à degradação dos carotenóides da goiaba. A luminosidade das goiabas em calda também é maior que da fruta in natura, devido à presença dos açúcares. Esta entrada de açúcares na fruta junto com o processamento térmico utilizado pode ter causado possível gelificação da pectina, aumentando a dureza, firmeza e elasticidade de algumas amostras processadas, quando comparadas à fruta fresca. No entanto, em alguns casos foi visível o efeito de processamentos mais drásticos, que levaram à perda da estrutura celular, observada pelos baixos valores das propriedades mecânicas. Em relação à textura e aparência, a amostra mais dura foi a preferida.

Four brands of canned guava were submitted to physico-chemical, sensory (preference test) and instrumental color and texture analyses, in order to evaluate the differences between commercial products. The same analyses were made on a fresh, mature guava, to evaluate possible effects of processing on the quality of the final product. There were considerable differences between the distinct brands, and occasionally differences could be found between samples from the same manufacturer. The chemical analyses showed that most of the samples contained between 22 and 30% of sugar, except for one sample, which had a higher content, around 40%. The preference test showed that the consumers preferred the sweetness of the sample with the highest sugar content. Lower values for the chroma parameter a* were found in the commercial samples than in the fresh fruit, probably due to carotenoid degradation. The canned guava samples were lighter (higher values for L*) than the fresh fruit, due to the presence of sugar. The penetration of sugar into the fruit during heat processing may have caused pectin gelation, increasing the hardness, firmness and elasticity of some of the processed samples as compared to the fresh fruit. However in some samples, drastic process conditions were readily apparent, leading to loss of cellular structure, which could be observed from the low values obtained for the mechanical properties. With respect to texture, the hardest sample was preferred.

Seis amostras comerciais de queijo petit suisse foram coletadas em supermercados da cidade de Campinas e analisadas quanto à composição química, capacidade de retenção de água, propriedades reológicas e aceitação sensorial. Os produtos comerciais diferiram especialmente em relação ao tipo de hidrocolóide adicionado e na relação proteína/gordura. O produto B apresentou uma capacidade de retenção de água maior que o dobro da apresentada pelas demais amostras. Este produto apresentou uma relação proteína/gordura intermediária e continha os hidrocolóides concentrado protéico de soro (CPS) e pectina. A amostra E apresentou os maiores valores de viscosidade aparente (etaa), viscosidade complexa (eta*), módulo de armazenamento (G’), módulo de dissipação (G’’) e também apresentou a maior relação proteína/gordura, sugerindo haver boa correlação entre a razão proteína/gordura e os parâmetros reológicos. A relação proteína/gordura influenciou significativamente os valores G’, G’’ e eta*, confirmando a influência da composição do produto na estrutura e na elasticidade do queijo petit suisse. Todas as amostras mostraram comportamento viscoelástico, sendo que G’ (o caráter elástico) foi maior que G’’ (o caráter viscoso), em todas as freqüências estudadas. Todas as amostras apresentaram características de "gel fraco" com a relação G’/G’’ entre 3 e 4. Houve diferença significativa (p<0,05) entre as amostras quanto aos atributos sensoriais aparência global e sabor. Em geral, os produtos apresentaram aceitação variando entre gostei ligeiramente e gostei muito. A única rejeição foi atribuída ao produto A, provavelmente devido à elevada sinerese apresentada. Em geral, as amostras E e F receberam a melhor aceitação sensorial e a amostra B, a aceitação mais baixa. A alta aceitação de alguns dos produtos analisados indica um bom potencial de consumo por adultos, que pode ser explorado pelos fabricantes de queijo petit suisse nacional.

The chemical composition, water holding capacity, rheological properties and sensory acceptability of six commercial brands of Brazilian petit suisse cheeses collected from local markets, where analyzed after 20 days of storage at temperatures between 8 and 12°C. The commercial products differed mainly with respect to the type of hydrocolloid added and protein/fat ratio. Product B showed more than two times the water holding capacity as compared to the other samples presenting an intermediate protein/fat ratio and whey protein concentrate and pectin added. The highest apparent viscosity, complex viscosity, G’ and G’’ where presented by product E which also showed the highest protein/fat ratio, suggesting that there was a good correlation between these rheological parameters and protein/fat ratio. The protein/fat ratio significantly influenced (p<0,05) G’, G’’ and the complex viscosity, showing the impact of product composition on the petit suisse cheese structure and elasticity. All the samples showed viscoelastic behavior but G’ was higher than G’’ for all studied frequencies, The G’/G’’ ratio was between 3 and 4, characteristic of "weak gel" for this type of cheese. Sensory scores for taste, global appearance, texture and global terms where significantly different among the samples. Products E and F received the highest acceptability scores and the product B, the lowest. Product A received the highest acceptability scores for taste and texture, but also presented the lowest acceptance in global appearance, due to its high syneresis. In general, the samples were well accepted by adult consumers indicating a good potential in this segment to be explored by national processors of petit suisse cheese.