Projective mapping of preferences on milk and dark chocolate bar fortified nanocapsules Arthrospira carotenoid

The characteristics in milk or dark chocolate Arthrospira products require testing before the product is released to the market. The purpose of this study was to use the Projective Mapping (PM) method to determine the characteristics and preferences of consumers toward milk or dark chocolate Arthrospira carotenoid products compared to commercial milk or dark chocolate products on the market, and to analyze the factors that can influence consumers’ purchasing intention. The chocolate samples tested were Arthospira milk chocolate and ten commercial milk chocolate samples (SQ, DF, LD, DV, CB, MG, VH, BB, TB, and WD). The dark one compares to ten commercial dark chocolates (SQ, M5, M6, M7, DC, WD, TB, BB, LD, and DV). The factors that influence consumers’ purchasing intentions are identified through an online survey and analyzed using chi-square. A total of 159 people (68 PM respondents and 91 non-PM respondents) took part in the milk chocolate poll, while 92 people (41 PM respondents and 51 non-PM respondents) took part in the dark chocolate poll. PM test shows consumers perceive milk chocolate and dark chocolate fortified with nanocapsules Arthospira carotenoid to be similar in taste, appearance, texture, and price to some commercial chocolate bar products, implying that both chocolate products fortified with nanocapsulesArthospira carotenoid can compete in the market. The results of the chi-square test for milk chocolate show that for PM respondents, socio-demographic factors, consumer habits of buying chocolate bars, knowledge of Arthrospira, and the benefits of consuming Arthospira influence their buying interest, whereas for non-PM respondents, consumer habits of buying chocolate bars influence their buying intention. The results of the dark chocolate chi-square test show that respondents’ knowledge of the benefits of consuming chocolate bars and the emotion conducted to consume chocolate bars and influence their purchasing interest.

Sugar-Free Milk Chocolate as a Carrier of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Probiotics: A Potential Functional Food for the Diabetic Population

Chocolate is an adequate matrix to deliver bioactive ingredients. However, it contains high sugar levels, one of the leading causes of chronic degenerative diseases. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of milk chocolate reformulation with alternative sugar sweeteners (Sw; isomalt + stevia), probiotics (Prob), and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on its physicochemical properties and consumers’ acceptability. Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (L. p299v) and Lactobacillus acidophilus La3 (DSMZ 17742) were added as Prob strains, and fish oil (FO) was added as the source of ω-3 PUFAs. Prob addition resulted in chocolates with >2 × 107 colony forming unit (CFU) per serving size (12 g). Except for Prob, aw values of all treatments were <0.46. Sw and Sw + Prob presented the nearest values to the control in hardness, whereas Sw without FO increased fracturability. FO, Sw + FO, and Sw + Prob + FO contained 107.4 ± 12.84, 142.9 ± 17.9, and 133.78 ± 8.76 mg of ω-3 PUFAs per chocolate, respectively. Prob + FO increased the resistance of chocolate to shear stress, while Sw + FO showed a similar flow behavior to the control. The consumers’ acceptability of Sw + Prob chocolate was adequate, while Sw + Prob + FO had higher acceptability than Prob + FO. Health benefits of reformulated milk chocolates requires further assessment by in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies.

Added Value Analysis of Intermediate and Final Cocoa Products: Case Study in a Cocoa Producing Unit in Jember, East Java

Cocoa is one of the important commodities that significantly contribute to Indonesian economy. Moreover, millions farmers depend on this commodityas their main source of income. However, the low quality of dried cocoa beans produced by Indonesian smallholder cocoa farmers has led the low farm-gateprice. Therefore, efforts for increasing the cocoa income are required. Hilirisasi (down streeming) program has been implemented by the Government of Indonesia (GoI), including in cocoa commodity in order to increase the added value ofcocoa. There are various downstream products, including intermediate and final products that can be produced. The intermediate products include paste/liquor,cocoa butter, and cocoa powder, meanwhile the final products, such as 3 in 1 cocoa powder, milk chocolate bars and dark chocolate bars. Research on addedvalue of intermediate and final cocoa products specially in small size producing units is still limited, whereas this research is required to support the nationaleconomy and smallholder cocoa farmers. Therefore, this research aims to understand the added value of producing intermediate and final cocoa products at asmall sized enterprises of cocoa processing unit based in Jember, East Java. This research was conducted in March to June 2020 by conducting observation, documentation and interview for understanding the production activities of intermediateproducts (cocoa paste/liquor, cocoa butter and cocoa powder) and final products (3 in 1 milk powder, milk chocolate bar and dark chocolate bar). The researchresults show that producing intermediate and final products resulted in medium to high added value and profitable for the producing unit. Producing cocoa paste/liquor generated the highest profit among the intermediate cocoa products, meanwhile on final cocoa products, processing 3 in 1 cocoa powder provided thehighest profit. In order to increase the national and community economy, the support of GoI to small and medium enterprise (SMEs) or farmer groups for processing the downstream cocoa products is required. Cocoa is one of the important commodities that significantly contributeto Indonesian economy. Moreover, millions farmers depend on this commodity as their main source of income. However, the low quality of dried cocoa beansproduced by Indonesian smallholder cocoa farmers has led the low farm-gate price. Therefore, efforts for increasing the cocoa income are required. Hilirisasi(down streeming) program has been implemented by the Government of Indonesia (GoI), including in cocoa commodity in order to increase the added value ofcocoa. There are various downstream products, including intermediate and final products that can be produced. The intermediate products include paste/liquor,cocoa butter, and cocoa powder, meanwhile the final products, such as 3 in 1 cocoa powder, milk chocolate bars and dark chocolate bars. Research on addedvalue of intermediate and final cocoa products specially in small size producing units is still limited, whereas this research is required to support the nationaleconomy and smallholder cocoa farmers. Therefore, this research aims to understand the added value of producing intermediate and final cocoa products at asmall sized enterprises of cocoa processing unit based in Jember, East Java. This research was conducted in March to June 2020 by conducting observation, documentation and interview for understanding the production activities of intermediateproducts (cocoa paste/liquor, cocoa butter and cocoa powder) and final products (3 in 1 milk powder, milk chocolate bar and dark chocolate bar). The researchresults show that producing intermediate and final products resulted in medium to high added value and profitable for the producing unit. Producing cocoa paste/liquor generated the highest profit among the intermediate cocoa products, meanwhile on final cocoa products, processing 3 in 1 cocoa powder provided thehighest profit. In order to increase the national and community economy, the support of GoI to small and medium enterprise (SMEs) or farmer groups for processing the downstream cocoa products is required.