Food Products with High Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities and Their Sensory Appreciation

(1) Background: The demand for healthy and nutritious food is growing worldwide. Fermented dairy products are highly valued by consumers for their health benefits. Kefir is a fermented dairy product that brings many benefits to the consumer due to its antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, antihypertensive and antimicrobial properties. Extracts from various plants in the form of volatile oils have a beneficial efct on consumer health. their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities were demonstrated. (2) Methods: In the present study, the main purpose was to obtain a fermented dairy product with a high nutritional value; therefore, kefir, enriched with three types of volatile oils, namely, volatile mint oil, volatile fennel oil and volatile lavender oil, was made. The kefir samples obtained were sensory and texturally analyzed. The beneficial effect on health must also be studied in terms of the acceptability of these products by consumers from a sensory point of view. A non-numerical method based on several multi-personal approval criteria was used to interpret the results obtained in the sensory analysis. In the textural analysis, the consistency, cohesiveness and firmness of the kefir samples were analyzed. (3) Results: The samples enriched with volatile oils obtained superior results compared to the control sample in both conducted examinations. Kefir samples with volatile oils retained their sensory and textural characteristics for a longer time during storage. (4) Conclusions: The volatile oils added to kefir positively influenced the sensory and textural characteristics of the finished product.

The Use of BrownAlgae Laminaria Saccharinain Iodine Enriched Products Aimed at PreventingIodine Deficiency

The high content of iodine in dried algae has allowed it to be used as a physiologically functional food ingredient in the technology of fortified foods, which can help prevent iodine deficiency. The aim of this research was to develop a technology for food products enriched with iodine (Italian crispbreads), as well as fermented dairy products (thick and drinking yoghurts with various fruit fillings). The brown algae Laminaria saccharina, which originates from the islandFrøya (in Norway), was used to enrich the products with iodine. This algaewas grown on the farms of the company ”Energy Solutions AS” and was dried by various methods of low-temperature drying (heat pump at a temperature of minus 10 ∘C, drying in 1-3 layers; vacuum freeze drying with pre-storage at a temperature of minus 8 ∘C; and pre-freezing and storing at a temperature of minus 25 ∘C for 2-6 days). The chemical composition of the algae was studied. The findings showed that the modes of pretreatment of algae and the method of cold drying did not influence the following indicators (in % of the total mass of dried algae): the mass fraction of water (6.00±0.50% to 6.93±0.50%),ash (46.40-50.14%), andsodium chloride (31.00±1.75%). The above technological factors substantially affected the content of protein and iodine in the dried algae. Thus, the mass fraction of protein varied from 5.88% to 12.35% per total mass, and iodine varied from 0.367% to 0.522% in terms of dry matter. The optimal dosage of dried algae for adding to raw material was calculated (which provided anabove-stated iodine content of % of the recommended level of adequate consumption in 100g of the developed products): from 66% in crispbreads to 88% in fermented dairy products. All new products provided a high level of organoleptic evaluation. Keywords: brown algae, Laminaria saccharina, iodine, functionalproduct, crispbreads, drinking yoghurts, thick yoghurts

Methodological Approach to Designing Fermented Dairy Products with Optimal Biological Value

The development of food products implies ensuring the optimal composition and ratio of the basic components, as well as their technological compatibility. A priori, the quality of raw materials, the optimal formula of the product and the efficiency of the technological process determine the quality of products, including biological value. The use of whole-cell sensors such as infusoria Tetrahymena pyriformis is most productive for screening biological studies. At present, for a comprehensive assessment there are no data on the use of simplest technology of fermented dairy products and the design of their biological value. The purpose of this research is to develop a methodology for creating whole-milk products of optimal biological value using the express method of biotesting. The research object was yogurt with the ratio of the mass fraction of fat and protein in the range of 0.36 ÷ 1.5, sucrose in the range of 5 ÷ 10%. An express method for determining the relative biological value of fermented dairy products using test organisms and an original methodology for creating whole-milk products of optimal biological value have been developed. A software has been developed to calculate formula of the product optimized for the following indicators: the relative biological value of the product, the cost of raw material and basic materials. The methodology is a tool to assist industry organizations in improving production technologies and quality management systems.

Caseinolytic proteases of Lactobacillus and Lactococcus strains isolated from fermented dairy products

Proteases of Lactobacillus and Lactococcus strains catalyze casein degradation in fermented dairy products, which can result in the production of bioactive peptides. Proteolytic properties of a selection of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains previously isolated in Croatia, including Lactococcus lactis and Lactobacillus strains, are described. All strains of Lactobacillus and Lactococcus showed an Fmc+ phenotype that can be associated with efficient growth in milk. The significant caseinolytic effect, after incubation of culture supernatant or concentrated cell biomass, was observed for Levilactobacillus brevis D6 and Lactiplantilactobacillus plantarum D13 after growth in the optimal growth medium, while for Lactoccocus lactis ZGBP5-32 and Levilactobacillus brevis SF9B strains after growth in skimmed milk. To assess the LAB growth in skimmed milk, the acidification rate was monitored. Statistically, significant acidification capacity was determined for L. plantarum D13 in the optimal medium and by the proteolytic strain Lactobacillus helveticus M92 in skimmed milk. After extraction of proteinases from the strains with caseinolytic activity, protein samples were analysed by the SDS-PAGE. The protein extract of the Lc. lactis ZGBP5-32 and ZGZA7-10, retained proteolytic activity even at very low concentrations. The ultrafiltration improved protein extraction. The crude extract possibly contained putative protease, as a decrease in contaminating proteins was confirmed by SDS-PAGE in samples of L. brevis D6 and SF9B, L. fermentum D12 and L. plantarum D13.

Obtaining of a Milk Drink with Mushrooms and Bioactive Compounds

Fermented dairy products are a rich source of nutrients. Buttermilk is part of fermented dairy products and is highly valued by consumers due to its sensory and nutritional qualities. The study aims to capitalize on buttermilk by adding mushroom powder and volatile oil of dill and caraway encapsulated in sodium alginate. The research was performed over for 20 days using sensory and physicochemical analysis methods. The samples analyzed were plain buttermilk, buttermilk with encapsulated dill volatile oil, buttermilk with encapsulated caraway volatile oil, buttermilk with added mushroom powder, buttermilk with added mushroom powder and encapsulated dill volatile oil and buttermilk with the addition of mushroom powder and encapsulated caraway volatile oil. The results of the physicochemical analyzes were statistically processed using the Minitab program. The addition of mushroom powder in buttermilk has positively influenced its sensory characteristics, and the results obtained from physicochemical analyzes were superior to plain buttermilk. The addition of volatile oil of dill and caraway has positively influenced both the sensory and physical-chemical characteristics of buttermilk.

The Effect of Banana Fiber and Banana Peel Fiber on the Chemical and Rheological Properties of Symbiotic Yogurt Made from Camel Milk

Functional foods play an important role in human health by prevention of disease. A variety of functional foods are produced around the world. Recently, the consumption of dairy products containing probiotic bacteria and prebiotics (synbiotic) has increased. Yoghurt is the most common fermented dairy product. Various compounds are used to enrich yoghurt. One of these compounds is dietary fiber. Since the peel of fruits has a significant amount of fiber and is mainly disposed of as solid waste, so using the peel of fruits to extract fiber can not only solve environmental problems but also produce a cheap and useful source that leads to the production of dietary fiber. In this study, the effect of banana fiber and banana peel fiber at different concentrations (0, 0.2, 0.5, and 1%) on the chemical and rheological properties of synbiotic yogurt prepared from camel milk was investigated. The result showed that with increase of the amount of both fibers, pH, hydration, surface tension, overall acceptability, color, and flavor of the samples decreased significantly, but the viscosity, survival of probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus gasseri), and texture acceptance increased significantly ( p < 0.05 ). In conclusion, these fibers were able to reduce the syneresis of yogurt, which is one of the biggest disadvantages of yogurt, and help to increase health.

Dairy Lactic Acid Bacteria and Their Potential Function in Dietetics: The Food–Gut-Health Axis

Fermented dairy products are the good source of different species of live lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which are beneficial microbes well characterized for their health-promoting potential. Traditionally, dietary intake of fermented dairy foods has been related to different health-promoting benefits including antimicrobial activity and modulation of the immune system, among others. In recent years, emerging evidence suggests a contribution of dairy LAB in the prophylaxis and therapy of non-communicable diseases. Live bacterial cells or their metabolites can directly impact physiological responses and/or act as signalling molecules mediating more complex communications. This review provides up-to-date knowledge on the interactions between LAB isolated from dairy products (dairy LAB) and human health by discussing the concept of the food–gut-health axis. In particular, some bioactivities and probiotic potentials of dairy LAB have been provided on their involvement in the gut–brain axis and non-communicable diseases mainly focusing on their potential in the treatment of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel diseases, and cancer.