Showing papers by "Raquel Guiné published in 2016"

Engineering Aspects of Cereal and Cereal-Based Products

Abstract: Cereal food engineering has become increasingly important in the food industry over the years, as it plays a key role in developing new food products and improved manufacturing processes. Engineering Aspects of Cereal and Cereal-Based Products focuses on the recent growth in cereal technology and baked foods science, reviewing the latest updates in

New foods, new consumers: innovation in food product development

Abstract: Background: Today, new lifestyles, higher incomes and consumer awareness are creating consumer demand for a year-round supply of high-quality, diverse and innovative food products. However, when it comes to innovation, the food sector is less changeable when compared to other sectors, such as high technology. Still, in the past decades much and important developments have been achieved in several areas related to foods and the food industry. Methods: A systematic review of scientific literature was conducted on Science Direct. The topics investigated were: aspects related to innovation in food development (such as the transfer of innovation, open innovation, collaborative innovation and consumer perception and its role in the developing process); the innovation in the food industry (particularly regarding the processing technologies and packaging, which are two prominent areas of innovation in this sector nowadays); the innovation in the cooking sector (particularly in regards to the molecular gastronomy and science based cooking). Results: A total of 146 articles were included in the review and the aspects focused allowed confirming that innovation has been recognized as a key driver of economic growth. Within the framework of ‘open innovation’, a number of key issues related to the acquisition of external knowledge in food technology must be taken into consideration. Food product development is highly dependent on the consumer perception and acceptance, and hence it is of utmost importance to include the consumer in the development process to minimize failure probabilities. The sectors of the food industry where important developments and innovation are registered include the processing technologies and the packaging systems, where the latest progresses have produced very significant outcomes. Conclusion: The present work allowed verifying the latest improvements and trend towards food product development from two perspectives, the product itself and the industrial processing. This sector is undoubtedly a major key for the success and competitiveness nowadays in the food industry.

Analysis of factors influencing the physical, chemical and sensorial properties of Serra da Estrela cheeses

Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical, color, textural, and sensorial characteristics of Serra da Estrela cheese and also to identity the factors affecting these properties, namely thistle ecotype, place of production, dairy and maturation. The results demonstrated that the cheeses lost weight mostly during the first stage of maturation, which was negatively correlated with moisture content, being this also observed for fat and protein contents. During maturation the cheeses became darker and with a yellowish coloration. A strong correlation was found between ash and chlorides contents, being the last directly related to the added salt in the manufacturing process. The flesh firmness showed a strong positive correlation with the rind harness and the firmness of inner paste. Stickiness was strongly related with all the other textural properties being indicative of the creamy nature of the paste. Adhesiveness was positively correlated with moisture content and negatively correlated with maturation time. The trained panelists liked the cheeses, giving high overall assessment scores, but these were not significantly correlated with the physicochemical properties. The salt differences between cheeses were not evident for the panelists, which was corroborated by the absence of correlation between the perception of saltiness and the analyzed chlorides contents. The Factorial Analysis of the chemical and physical properties evidenced that they could be explained by two factors, one associated to the texture and the color and the other associated with the chemical properties. Finally, there was a clear influence of the thistle ecotype, place of production and dairy factors in the analyzed properties.

Bioactive Compounds in Some Culinary Aromatic Herbs and Their Effects on Human Health.

Abstract: Culinary herbs are herbaceous (leafy) plants that add flavour and colour to all types of meals. There is a wide variety of herbs that are used for culinary purposes worldwide, which are also recognized for their beneficial health effects, and thus have also been used in folk medicine. Besides their nutritional value herbs are rich in many phytochemical components with bioactive effects, thus improving human health. The aim of the present work was to make a general overview of some of these herbs, including their gastronomic usage, their chemical composition in bioactive components and their reported health effects. This work showed that the health effects are very diverse and differ according to the herb in question. However, some of the most frequently citted biological activities include antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiviral effects.

Knowledge about dietary fibre: a fibre study framework.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to study the degree of knowledge about dietary fibre (DF), as influenced by factors such as gender, level of education, living environment or country. For this, a descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken on a non-probabilistic sample of 6010 participants from 10 countries in different continents (Europe, Africa and America). The results showed that the participants revealed on average a positive but still low global level of knowledge, which alerts for the need to take some actions to further inform the population about DF and its role as a component of a healthy diet. The results also indicated differences between genders, levels of education, living environments and countries. The highest level of knowledge was revealed by the participants from female gender, with higher education and living in urban areas. Concerning the country, the best informed were the participants from Romania, followed by those from Portugal and Turkey while the least informed were f...

Effect of different thistle flower ecotypes as milk-clotting in Serra da Estrela cheese

Abstract: Purpose Thistle flower (Cynara cardunculus) aqueous extracts, as rich source of milk-clotting peptidases, have been widely used for cheeses marketed under the Registry of the Protected Designation of Origin, as it is the case of Serra da Estrela cheese, manufactured from raw ewes’ milk and without addition of any commercial starter culture. This paper aims at studying the influence of six different ecotypes of thistle flowers in cheese properties during the ripening and of final products. Design/methodology/approach Cheeses were produced with different thistle flower extracts and then the clotting time, weight and colour of cheeses, as well as texture properties and sensorial characteristics, were evaluated. Findings The clotting time varied from 47 to 66 min, and the weight loss along ripening varied between 32 and 40 per cent. There was some influence of thistle flower ecotype on the colour during ripening and in the final product. The results of texture analysis revealed significant differences between the thistle ecotypes: crust firmness varying from 2.4 to 5.6 N; inner firmness from 0.82 to 1.82 N; stickiness from −0.5 to −1.60 N; adhesiveness from −3.0 to −11.3 N.s; and Ecotype C was particularly distinguishable. Sensorial evaluation revealed differences among the cheeses, with Ecotype C receiving the highest score for global appreciation. Originality/value The usage of different extracts of thistle flower to produce Serra da Estrela cheese with different properties is a novelty, and it allows the possibility of manipulating this parameter in the future so as to produce cheeses with specific characteristics, addressed to different consumer targets.

Attitudes Towards Dietary Fibre on a Multicultural Basis: A Fibre Study Framework

Abstract: Background: Dietary fibre (DF) has been recognised as having many positive health effects. Hence, the objective of this research was to evaluate the consuming habits relating to DF on people from different countries, as well as their knowledge about the fibre rich foods and their attitudes towards food labelling. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken on a non-probabilistic sample of 6010 participants from 10 countries. Descriptive statistics and inferential tests were done using SPSS software considering a level of significance of 5%. Results: The results suggested that the ingestion of fibre rich foods like fruit, vegetables and cereals, was low and far from the recommended amounts. It was also concluded that most people did not pay the desired level of attention to food labelling and nutritional information. Furthermore, the level of knowledge about dietary fibre was generally not satisfactory. Conclusion: In view of these findings it becomes important to develop actions to better inform the population and to make them better aware of the importance of dietary fibre in their habitual diet.

Physical properties of Physalis peruviana L.

Abstract: Abstract Physalis (Physalis peruviana L.), also known as cape gooseberry or ground-cherry, plays an important role in nutrition as an excellent base for dietetic products. Highly valued for its unique flavour, texture and colour, recent research has shown that physalis fruit is rich in many beneficial compounds. In this study, the diameter and mass of physalis fruits were measured, which can be used to calculate other biometric characteristics of the fruit, such as: surface area, volume or density. Other physical properties were measured, namely the colour coordinates, by means of a Chroma meter, whilst the textural parameters firmness and elasticity were measured with a texturometer. The following values were calculated for the physalis fruits analysed in the present work: 1.69 cm for average diameter; 8.98 cm2 for surface area, 2.51 cm3 for volume; 2.77 g for mass was, and 1.10 g/cm3 for density. The colour coordinates were 56.72 for lightness, 16.69 for redness, and 58.11 for yellowness. Skin firmness and elasticity were evaluated for texture attributes, and their average values were 2.40 N and 2.94 mm, respectively. The results of this work are in accordance with data reported by other authors in the literature.

Development of Yogurts Enriched with Antioxidants from Wine

Abstract: This study aimed to develop a new food product, attractive from the organoleptic point of view and with the advantage of being rich in phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity. For that, a phenolic-rich solution was obtained from wine and included in the recipe of the yogurts. The product developed was therefore a yogurt with wine antioxidants, prepared in different aroma variations. The results showed that the addition of the phenolic-rich solution caused an increase in the content of antioxidants without affecting acidity. On the other hand, based on sensory analysis, it was possible to choose two final products which were the favorite among the members of the sensorial panel, namely the yogurt with flavor of mixed fruits and sugar and the addition of the wine antioxidants solution and the yogurt with flavor of cinnamon and sugar and the addition of wine antioxidants.

Preferences and consumer habits related to bread in the centre of Portugal

Abstract: Purpose Bread is one of the most consumed foods in the world, and its main function is to provide nutrients and energy for the body. Thus, the purpose of this paper was to raise awareness about the consumption habits of bread and consumer preferences in the region of Viseu (centre of Portugal), assessing the extent to which the preferences and consumption habits differ based on individual variables. Design/methodology/approach The study was conducted by means of a questionnaire by direct interviewing. The questionnaire included sections aimed at gathering information about demographics, consumption habits and preferences related to bread. The sample consisted of 500 consented respondents. Findings The results showed significant differences between genders regarding the type of bread eaten: women consumed less wheat bread (52 per cent against 62 per cent; p = 0.029) and less unsalted bread (0.3 per cent against 3 per cent; p = 0.023), but more whole bread (25 per cent against 11 per cent; p < 0.001) and more bread with cereal grains (23 per cent against 11 per cent; p = 0.001), thus revealing a trend for a nutritionally more adequate choice. Accordingly, women valued more the composition of the bread when purchasing it (p < 0.001). It was also observed a trend for a lower consumption of wheat bread among classes with more advanced studies (47 per cent on university graduates against 60 per cent on nongraduates; p = 0.004). Originality/value This work is innovative because it was the first time the preferences and consuming habits of a sample of Portuguese population regarding bread were accessed, altogether. The results hereby obtained may be of importance both to understand the nutritional importance of bread in the diet of the Portuguese and also for the industry and manufacturers to better correspond to the buying preferences.

Evaluation of morphological and physical characteristics of hazelnut varieties

Abstract: Introduction: Hazelnut are an important crop in Portugal, wich fruits can be used for direct consumption or introduced in a large range of food products. Objectives: In this study 15 hazelnut varieties existing in a collection of Viseu Agricultural Station were evaluated. Methods: The nuts were studied in respect of their morphological characteristics, such as fruit and kernel weight, index of compression and of shape and shell thickness. The study was complemented with analysis of physical properties such as colour and texture, and the determination of moisture content and water activity, given the importance that these parameters take in the conservation capacity of the fruits. All experiments followed standard methods, being also used the following equipment: texturometer, colorimeter and hygrometer. Results: The results obtained allowed to know the expectable ranges for each color parameters in the shell, film and kernels: L*, a*, b* chroma and hue, having been found statistically significant differences among the cultivars studied. As regards the textural parameters evaluated by crust crushing and crumb cutting tests (hardness, friability and resilience) there were also significant differences. Evaluation of moisture was of great importance because confirmed that the solar drying, used to extract the excess of moisture from the fruits, was sufficient to reach low values, between 1.66% and 4.52%, being so a guarantee of preservation. Conclusions: This work allowed identifying the characteristics of several hazelnut varieties concerning the morphological and physical properties.

Sources of Information about Dietary Fibre: A Cross-Country Survey

Abstract: Dietary fibre (DF) is recognized as a major determinant for improvement of health Hence the means of information through which people become aware of its benefits are crucial and this work aimed at studying the sources of information about DF Factors such as age, gender, level of education, living environment or country were evaluated as to their effect on the selection of sources and preferences For this, a descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in a sample of 6010 participants from 10 countries For the analysis were used descriptive statistics, crosstabs and chi square test, and factor analysis with Varimax rotation The results showed that mostly the information about DF comes from the internet, but the participants recognize that television might be a most suitable way to disseminate information about DF The results also indicated differences between age groups, genders, levels of education, living environments and countries The internet, the preferred source of information, got highest scores for Hungary, for urban areas, for university level of education and for female gender The radio, the least scored source of information, was preferred in Egypt, for men and with lower education (primary school) As a conclusion, people get information through the internet due to easy access However, it is to some extent a risk given the impossibility to control de information made public on the internet The role of health centers and hospitals as well as schools should definitely be increased, as a responsible way to ensure correct information

Effect of Chemical Pretreatments on the Physical Properties of Kiwi

Abstract: In this work the effect of pre-treatments on the physical properties of fresh kiwi was studied. For that, a set of tests using chemical pretreatments was used, in which the samples were subjected to aqueous solutions of ascorbic acid and potassium metabisulfite at concentrations of 0.25% and 1% (w/v) for periods of 30 and 60 minutes, in order to understand the implications of the treatments in the color and texture of the kiwi as compared to its original properties. The results showed that the kiwi treated with ascorbic acid changed its color very intensively when compared to the fresh product, and this trend was intensified after storage. Contrarily, when potassium metabisulfite was used, the changes in color were quite negligible right after the treatment and even lower after the storage period of 6 days under refrigeration. After the treatments with both solutions, the kiwi texture was drastically changed, diminishing hardness considerably and increasing elasticity for all treatments. The same could be observed after six days of refrigeration.

Evaluation of thermo-physical properties and drying kinetics of carrots in a convective hot air drying system

Abstract: This paper presents an experimental study on the evolution of carrot properties along convective drying by hot air at different temperatures (50oC, 60oC and 70oC). The thermo-physical properties calculated were: specific heat, thermal conductivity, diffusivity, enthalpy, heat and mass transfer coefficients. Furthermore, the data of drying kinetics were treated and adjusted according to the three empirical models: Page, Henderson & Pabis and Logarithmic. The sorption isotherms were also determined and fitted using the GAB model. The results showed that, generally, the thermo-physical properties presented a decline during the drying process, and the decrease was faster for the temperature of 70oC. It was possible to verify that the Page model presented the best prediction ability for the representation of kinetics of the drying process. The GAB model used to fit the sorption isotherms showed a good prediction capacity and, at a given water activity, despite some variations, the amount of water sorbed increased with the decrease of drying temperature.

Development of an innovative jam based on beetroot

Abstract: The objective of the present work was to develop an innovative food product with nutritional properties as well as appealing organoleptic qualities. For this a jam was prepared on a basis of pear or apple, to which was added the water from boiling beetroot, without the addition of any conservatives. Five different jams were produced: pear jam, pear with beetroot, apple, apple with beetroot and finally apple with beetroot and cinnamon. The preparation of the products involved several trials until the optimum recipe was found. The final products were then submitted to sensorial analysis that revealed the panelists preference for the jam with apple, beetroot and cinnamon. Additionally, some chemical components were evaluated to characterize the product in terms of fat, sugars and antioxidant activity, being this one of the most important, given the interest of utilizing the antioxidant properties of the beetroot to produce a jam enriched with antioxidants. The results obtained revealed that the apple jam with beetroot and cinnamon had a low sugar content and a high antioxidant activity, enhancing the potential health benefits associated with its consumption.  2016 Trade Science Inc. - INDIA

Romanian Knowledge and Attitudes regarding Dietary Fibers

Abstract: Introduction: Presently, the scientists recognize the health benefits of food fibers in the menu and also plant food sources are at high interest both for general population and food companies. The food companies are responsible for a clear nutrition labelling that will assist consumers to make informed and healthy choices and health providers has to inform the population about the benefits of fibers. The aim of our study was to evaluate the Romanian knowledge and attitudes regarding dietary fibers from food products. Materials and methods: We made a qualitative survey based on a questionnaire applied in 2015, over a period of 6 months, over 670 Romanian consumers. It was focused on testing the attitudes and knowledge towards ingestion of foods rich in fibers. For all data analysis we used the software SPSS, from IBM Inc. Results and Discussions: Our results showed that the knowledge about dietary fibers and also the ingestion of food products rich in fibers were low, and most of the subjects didn’t have any interest to read the nutritional information from food labels related to fibers. The female participants ate more whole grains and fruits than males and pay more attention to food labelling, the Romanian people prefer to stay and eat home than at restaurants especially in rural areas, and the knowledge about fibers benefits was significantly related to education and urban location. Conclusion: We underline the needs for more efficient community interventions and proper information about the importance of dietary fibers for our health and also to improve and disseminate our nutritional standards and diet recommendation among population.

Evaluation of colour and texture of a Portuguese traditional sweet: “egg chestnut”

Abstract: This work aimed to evaluate the colour and texture of a Portuguese traditional sweet “egg chestnuts” along a storage period of 12 days under refrigeration. For this, the colour coordinates were measured through a colorimeter and the textural parameters were evaluated by compression and puncture tests using a textutrometer. The results showed that the colour coordinates do not vary along time, corresponding to very low values of total colour difference. Hardness, chewiness and springiness decreased in the first 3 days but after that the values were maintained approximately constant. In contrast, resilience and cohesiveness did not change along time. While crust firmness increased along storage, both the flesh firmness and stickiness did not change. The adhesiveness measured through the penetration test decreased considerably from the first to the last day. Hence, it was concluded that colour is better preserved than texture along a 12 day storage period under refrigeration.

Latvian citizens knowledge about dietary fiber

Abstract: Abstract The positive benefits of dietary fibre (DF) include regulation of the intestinal transit, prevention of risk or treatment of diabetes, and prevention of cardiovascular diseases, colon cancer, and obesity. The aim of this study was to collect information on knowledge about dietary fibre of citizens of Latvia. The questionnaire consisted of 22 questions. Its aim was to evaluate knowledge in three distinct areas: six concerning knowledge about food fibres; six — about the relation between fibres and various foods, and ten about the relation between fibres and diseases. The methodological study was conducted involving 231 participants, of which 83.5% were female and 16.5% male, aged between 18 and 80 years. The respondents were selected by convenience, and they differed in age, literacy, gender, geographical area of residence, and included people from different cities and smaller villages. 67% of the respondents considered that consumption of sufficient amounts of fibres can prevent or treat different diseases. 85% of respondents noted that legumes (peas, beans) are a source of fibres, but that it was more possible to take up the fibre with a combination of vegetables and animal products. The questionnaire revealed that respondents are aware of the benefits of fibre consumption for promoting health and treating some diseases.

Consumers knowledge about dietary fibre — Results of a survey questionnaire in Hungary and Romania

Abstract: Dietary fibres (DFs) are essential components of the balanced diet. Even though the adequate level of their consumption can be ensured from several natural (e.g. fruit, vegetables, legumes) and ‘artificial’ sources (e.g. functional foods), the consumed levels are below the recommendations. To analyse the Hungarian and Romanian consumers’ knowledge level, their perceptions of the health benefits associated with fibre, as well as the recognition of the potential information sources, a survey questionnaire was conducted with the total of 713 consumers. Results showed that the level of knowledge about DFs was not adequate. Internet was found to be widely used and identified as one of the most appropriate information sources to encourage the consumption of DF. It was a favourable result that three-quarter of the respondents was interested in the topic of healthy food consumption; however, just less than half of them took into consideration the label information during their shopping decisions. To increase the ...

Designing training in organic farming on a multinational basis

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to obtain information to characterize potential trainees seeking training programs about organic farming in the form of mobile learning. This information is expected to allow for establishing a set of guidelines to design mobile training opportunities that could match the potential clients’ wishes. Design/methodology/approach – For this survey an on-line questionnaire was used, translated into the languages of the participating countries (Portugal, Spain, Slovakia, Hungary, UK, Italy and Turkey), and in the end 133 consented valid questionnaires were obtained. The data analysis was made with SPSS and included basic descriptive statistics, crosstabs and χ2 tests, considering a level of significance of 5 per cent. Findings – The results obtained in the present study indicate that designing training programs in organic farming for a wide target population should attend to the differences between countries, which showed to significantly influence the preferences of the p...

Factors Affecting the Body Mass Index in Adolescents in Portuguese Schools

Abstract: The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children is increasing; hence, it was aimed to assess the Body Mass Index (BMI) in school children aged from 10 to 18 years for girls and to 17 for boys, as well as to identify the factors influencing BMI. This study included 742 students who answered a questionnaire previously approved for application in schools. The results showed some sociodemographic factors associated with BMI classes: age, school year, practicing high competition sport, being federate in a sport or having a vegetarian diet. The educational factors associated with BMI classes included only seminars given at school by a nutritionist. Behavioural factors significantly associated with BMI included: learning in classes, playing in the open air, reading books or use of internet. As conclusion, the results demonstrated that several factors affect BMI, and hence some actions could be taken in order to change them so as to reduce the prevalence of overweight, namely reinforcing the role of school and a more active participation of nutritionists in the education of the adolescents.

Atitudes da população portuguesa em relação à fibra alimentar

Abstract: Introducao: A fibra dietetica (FD) tem feito parte da dieta humana desde ha milenios, embora os seus beneficios tenham sido reconhecidos, principalmente, nas ultimas decadas. Objetivos: Porque a FD e um componente importante de uma dieta saudavel, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os habitos de consumo dos Portugueses, bem como o seu conhecimento sobre os alimentos ricos em fibras e as suas atitudes em relacao a rotulagem dos alimentos. Metodos: Foi realizado um estudo descritivo transversal usando uma amostra nao-probabilistica de 382 participantes. Resultados: Os resultados mostraram que a ingestao de alimentos ricos em fibras, como frutas, vegetais e cereais, foi muito menor do que a ingestao recomendada. Os resultados tambem indicaram que a maioria das pessoas nao presta a atencao desejada a rotulagem de alimentos ou a informacao nutricional. Conclusoes: O nivel geral de conhecimento sobre FD foi considerado insatisfatorio, e, portanto, e necessario mais educacao nutricional e desenvolver esforcos para informar as pessoas acerca da importância da FD como parte da sua dieta diaria.

Az élelmi rostokkal kapcsolatos fogyasztói ismeret – Hazai kérdőíves felmérés eredményei

Abstract: Absztrakt Bevezetes: Az elelmi rostok az egeszseges es kiegyensulyozott taplalkozas kulcselemei, amelyek rendszeres fogyasztasa szamos betegseg kockazatat csokkentheti. Celkitűzes: Jelen munka celja a magyar fogyasztok elelmi rostokkal kapcsolatos ismeretenek, vasarlasi dontesben betoltott szerepenek feltarasa, valamint a jelenleg hasznalt es a fogyasztast előremozdito lehetseges informacioforrasok megismerese volt. Modszer: A kerdőives megkerdezest 303 magyar felnőtt fogyaszto segitsegevel vegeztek. Eredmenyek: Az elelmi rostok forrasait tekintve a resztvevők bizonytalanok voltak, mig a rostfogyasztas egeszsegugyi hatasainak ismerete viszonylag alapos volt. Az internet jelentős informacios forraskent jelent meg a temaban, azonban az eredmenyek ramutatnak az iskolai oktatas fontossagara is. Az elelmi rostban gazdag elelmiszereket gyakrabban fogyasztok, a nők, valamint a 45 even feluli resztvevők az elelmi rostokkal kapcsolatosan tudatos attitűdot mutattak. Kovetkeztetesek: A hazai fogyasztok kiegyensulyoz...