Antioxidant properties, technological and physicochemical characteristics of milk ice cream with addition of camu-camu pulp

Camu-camu is an exotic fruit, known for having high concentrations of vitamin C and bioactive compounds. In order to diversify the consumption of this fruit, this study developed milk ice cream formulations and evaluated the effect of the addition of different concentrations of camu-camu pulp (20 to 26%), sugar (12 to 14%) and defatted dry extract (DDE) (12 to 16%) through a mixture design. Ice creams were evaluated by analyses of overrun, density, melting time, ratio, and cost. Three formulations were defined based on maximum melting time and ratio and minimum cost. The ice creams formulations defined by the experimental design consisted of the following proportions of pulp, sugar and DDE (%): 26:12:12, 20:14:16 and 24:14:12. These formulations were evaluated in relation to their physicochemical and technological characteristics, antioxidant and reducing capacity and sensory acceptance. The results showed that all formulations had high concentrations of antioxidant compounds and vitamin C and the formulation with the addition of camu-camu pulp lower than 24% had greater sensory acceptance. Therefore, it is concluded that the addition of camu-camu pulp in milk ice cream is interesting from a nutritional point of view, as it can increase the content of nutrients and minerals in the final blend.

Development of Nutraceutical Ice Creams Using Flour Yellow Worm Larvae (Tenebrio molitor), Chia (Salvia hispanica), and Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa)

Functional ice creams were developed by adding larvae of the insect Tenebrio molitor mixed with a seed (Salvia hispanica) and a pseudocereal (Chenopodium quinoa) to strawberry–cranberry ice cream. The objective was to increase micronutrients, macronutrients, and antioxidants, thus rendering the product a food complement. Four ice cream formulations were manufactured: the control strawberry–cranberry ice cream and three experimental mixtures, one of them with an addition of Tenebrio larvae (HT) and two others with a combination of Tenebrio larvae, chia (HTC), and quinoa (HTQ). The ice creams were submitted to proximate chemical analysis: mineral, fatty acid, vitamin, and one antioxidant (cyanidin 3 glucoside) determination. The strawberry–cranberry ice cream was used as a control formulation to evaluate if there were significant differences among nutrients, to which a Dunnett test with a critical value of α = 0.05% was applied. The three formulations that were studied showed a significant increase in the analyzed micronutrients and macronutrients compared to the control formulation. We observed increases of up to 62% in lipid content in the HTC formulation, while an increase of 41% in the protein content of the HT formulation was observed. We quantified an increase and enrichment of vitamins and minerals in the manufactured products, so that their nutritional value was significantly enhanced. In the determination of cyanidin 3 glucoside, we found that the formulation to which chia had been added showed an increase of 74% as compared to the control ice cream; this is important because anthocyanins are a group of flavonoids that stand out for their antioxidant and antimutagenic capabilities.

Improvement in Lactose Tolerance in Hypolactasic Subjects Consuming Ice Creams with High or Low Concentrations of Bifidobacterium bifidum 900791

Although Bifidobacterium bifidum expresses lactase activity, no clinical trials have determined its impact on lactose-intolerant subjects. This study evaluated whether acute and chronic ingestion of ice creams containing B. bifidum 900791 at high (107 CFU/g) or low (105 CFU/g) concentrations improved lactose tolerance in hypolactasic subjects. Fifty subjects were selected based on a positive lactose (20 g) hydrogen breath test (HBT0) and the presence of digestive symptoms. The recruited subjects were required to perform breath tests after the acute ingestion of: (1) ice cream containing 20 g of lactose without a probiotic (HBT1); (2) the same ice cream, accompanied by a lactase tablet (HBT2); (3) the same ice cream containing the low or high dose of probiotic (HBT3-LD and HBT3-HD); and (4) after the chronic consumption of the ice cream without (placebo) or with the low concentration of probiotic for 1 month (HBT4). Significant decreases in H2 excretion during HBT2 and HBT3-HD as well as digestive symptoms during HBT2, HBT3-HD and HBT3-LD were observed compared to HBT0 and HBT1, while the orocecal transit time increased. Chronic consumption of the probiotic ice cream did not enhance lactose tolerance compared to the placebo. These results suggest that the acute ingestion of ice cream containing high or low concentrations of B. bifidum 900791 improves lactose tolerance in hypolactasic subjects.

Herbs and Spices Fortified Functional Dairy Products

Recently, an increased interest in exploiting the functional and medicinal health attributes of herbs and spices has been observed worldwide among the health conscious consumers to preserve and promote the health and nutrition and immunity particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic era. Fortification of dairy products with these herbs and spices so as to exploit the functional and medicinal attributes have also gained momentum. Herbs and spices are rich source of bioactive compounds such as anti-oxidants, vitamins, micro- and macro-minerals, phytochemicals like flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, essential oils, coumarin, organic acids, phenols and saponins. Milk and other dairy products have been popular compatible vehicles for delivering functional, nutritional and other health benefits of phytochemicals of herbs and spices among the consumers. This chapter explores the quality and functional attributes of herbs and spices fortified dairy products such as herbal spiked milk, curd and yoghurts, paneer, cheese and ice creams and other dairy products.

MICROBIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF PASTY AND SOFT ICE CREAM

Ice creams are susceptible to contamination by handling and bad hygiene conditions during the storage process and the fraction for sale, once those can be means of diseases. This survey’s objective was to evaluate the microbiological quality of ice creams sold in bulk, of the pasty and soft types, offered for consuming. Thirty samples of pasty ice cream, sold in bulk, and thirty samples of soft ice cream were analyzed by counting thermotolerant coliforms, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus, and researching the presence of Salmonella. During the survey, were found ten (33%) samples of pasty ice cream and five (16%) samples of express ice cream out of the limits established by the Brazilian law. Salmonella was found in four samples. These results are an alert to the need of a bigger attention to the microbiological quality of ice creams, in order to ensure the consumer’s security.

Characterization of Aiphanes aculeata fruit pulp and application in ice cream formulations

The characteristic color of the palm fruits Aiphanes aculeata, also known as Cariota-de-Espinho, suggests the presence of pigments such as carotenoids and anthocyanins, in addition these fruits present other compounds with health benefits such as minerals, vitamins and phenolics. However, there are no studies on the application of these fruits in food formulations since this palm tree is used only for urban landscaping. The present study aimed to characterize the Aiphanes aculeata pulp for proximate composition, physicochemical parameters, mineral contents, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity. Three ice cream formulations with the addition of different pulp concentrations were also produced, aimed to contribute to the technological and nutritional use of Aiphanes aculeata fruits. The choice of ice cream as the main investigation occurs due to the importance of functional ice creams to the balance of the physiological functions of the human organism that occurs through the ingestion of active and nutritional ingredients. Ice creams were characterized for overrun, melting behavior, color, and texture profile. The pulp presented representative minerals levels such as iron (49.82 ± 43.85 mg/100g) and zinc (96.07 ± 81.65 mg/100g). The total carotenoids level was significant, corresponding to 92.64 ± 0.83 μg/100g, with an emphasis on the beta-carotene levels (56.94 ± 2.11 μg/100g). The different pulp concentrations used in the formulations influenced the characteristics of the ice cream, as it interacted positively with the ingredients until the concentration of 30% pulp. Therefore, the Aiphanes aculeata fruits showed potential for application in the food industry, in the manufacture of ice cream with high nutritional value.