B. S. Khatkar

Trans fats—sources, health risks and alternative approach - A review

Trans fatty acids have the presence of one or more double bonds in the trans configuration instead of the usual cis configuration. They are desired by Vanaspati industry as they impart firmness to margarines and plasticity as well as emulsion stability to shortenings. Research has proved the direct connection of trans fatty acids with cardiovascular diseases, breast cancer, shortening of pregnancy period, risks of preeclampsia, disorders of nervous system and vision in infants, colon cancer, diabetes, obesity and allergy. In light of these new findings trans fatty intake should be zero and new technology of hydrogenation of oils is to be developed which produce zero trans fatty acids at the same time preserve the desirable properties contributed by trans fatty acids to the hydrogenated oils. Presently in India there is no system to monitor and regulate the amount of trans fats in processed foods and hence a stringent food law is immediately required.

Biochemical and Functional Properties of Wheat Gliadins: A Review

Gliadins account for 40–50% of the total storage proteins of wheat and are classified into four subcategories, α-, β-, γ-, and ω-gliadins. They have also been classified as ω5-, ω1, 2-, α/β-, and γ-gliadins on the basis of their primary structure and molecular weight. Cysteine residues of gliadins mainly form intramolecular disulfide bonds, although α-gliadins with odd numbers of cysteine residues have also been reported. Gliadins are generally regarded to possess globular protein structure, though recent studies report that the α/β-gliadins have compact globular structures and γ- and ω-gliadins have extended rod-like structures. Newer techniques such as Mass Spectrometry with the development of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) in combination with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) have been employed to determine the molecular weight of purified ω- gliadins and to carry out the direct analysis of bread and durum wheat gliadins. Few gliadin alleles and components, such as Gli-B1b, Gli-B2c and Gli-A2b in bread wheat cultivars, γ-45 in pasta, γ-gliadins in cookies, lower gliadin content for chapatti and alteration in Gli 2 loci in tortillas have been reported to improve the product quality, respectively. Further studies are needed in order to elucidate the precise role of gliadin subgroups in dough strength and product quality.

Instant noodles: processing, quality, and nutritional aspects.

Noodles are one of the staple foods consumed in many Asian countries. Instant noodles have become internationally recognized food, and worldwide consumption is on the rise. The properties of instant noodles like taste, nutrition, convenience, safety, longer shelf-life, and reasonable price have made them popular. Quality factors important for instant noodles are color, flavor, and texture, cooking quality, rehydration rates during final preparation, and the presence or absence of rancid taste after extended storage. Microstructure of dough and noodles has been studied to understand the influence of ingredients and processing variables on the noodle quality by employing scanning electron microscopy. Applications of newer techniques like confocal laser scanning microscopy and epifluorescence light microscopy employed to understand the microstructure changes in dough and noodles have also been discussed. Sincere efforts of researchers are underway to improve the formulation, extend the shelf life, and promote universal fortification of instant noodles. Accordingly, many researchers are exploring the potential of noodle fortification as an effective public health intervention and improve its nutritional properties. This review focuses on the functionality of ingredients, unit operations involved, quality criteria for evaluation, recent trends in fortification, and current knowledge in relation to instant noodles.

Influence of Gliadin and Glutenin Fractions on Rheological, Pasting, and Textural Properties of Dough

The glutenins and gliadins were added to the base flour at varying concentrations of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 g/100 g flour, respectively. The addition of glutenins remarkably improved the mixing characteristics of the flour, while gliadins resulted in decreased dough stability and increased softening of the dough. The pasting characteristics varied with the varying concentrations of gliadins and glutenins. The peak viscosity decreased upon the addition of gliadins and glutenin, with gliadins being more effective in reducing the values of peak, final, breakdown, and setback viscosities. The hardness of the dough improved upon the addition of glutenins, while the gliadins resulted in dough with greater adhesiveness and cohesiveness. The gluten recovery increased by 98.79% upon addition of 10 g/100 g flour gliadins while the gluten quality measured in terms of gluten index was increased by the addition of glutenins.

Effect of partially hydrolyzed guar gum on pasting, thermo-mechanical and rheological properties of wheat dough

Partially hydrolyzed guar gum was prepared using enzymatic hydrolysis of native guar gum that can be utilized as soluble fiber source. The effect of partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) on pasting, thermo-mechanical and rheological properties of wheat flour was investigated using rapid visco-analyzer, Mixolab and Microdoughlab. Wheat flour was replaced with 1-5g PHGG per 100g of wheat flour on weight basis. PHGG addition decreased the peak, trough, breakdown, setback and final viscosity of wheat flour. Water absorption and amylase activity of wheat dough were increased whereas starch gelatinization and protein weakening of wheat dough were reduced as a result of PHGG addition to wheat flour. PHGG addition also increased the peak dough height, arrival time, dough development time, dough stability and peak energy of wheat dough system. However, dough softening was decreased after PHGG addition to wheat flour dough. Overall, it can be assumed that PHGG has influenced the properties of wheat flour dough system by decreasing the RVA viscosities and increasing the water absorption and starch gelatinization of wheat dough system.

Physicochemical, morphological, thermal and pasting properties of starches isolated from rice cultivars grown in India.

Physicochemical, morphological, thermal, and pasting properties of starches, isolated from basmati (HBC-19 and Bas-370) and non-basmati (Jaya, a coarse cultivar; P-44 and HKR-120, the medium cultivars and Sharbati, fine cultivar) rice cultivars grown in India were studied. The amylose content of starches from different cultivars ranged from 2.25 (Jaya) to 22.21 g/100 g of starch (HBC-19). Jaya, HKR-120, and P-44 cultivars showed soft gel consistency as 84, 73, and 69 mm, respectively, whereas Sharbati, Bas-370 and HBC-19 cultivars showed medium gel consistency as 54, 53, and 58 mm, respectively. Swelling power (at 95°C) indicated a significant positive correlation with amylopectin content (r = 0.828, p < 0.05) and gel consistency (r = 0.983, p < 0.01). Turbidity had a highly significant positive correlation with solubility (r = 0.919, p < 0.01) and amylose content (r = 0.945, p < 0.01). Starch form Jaya cultivar showed the presence of smallest size granules (2.4–5.7 μm) with an average size of 3.96 μm, whereas Bas-370 showed the presence of largest size granules (3.3–6.7 μm) with an average size of 5.0 μm. The transition temperatures, enthalpy of gelatinization (ΔHgel), peak height index (PHI) and gelatinization range were determined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The starch from Sharbati cultivar showed highest onset temperature (To), peak temperature (Tp), conclusion temperature (Tc), enthalpy of gelatinization and peak height index (PHI) of 68.8°C, 73.2°C, 79.0°C, 11.56 J/g and 2.63 respectively. Pasting temperature of rice starches varied from 68.9°C (Jaya) to 74.5°C (Sharbati). The peak viscosities observed were in the range of 2223 to 3297 cP, lowest for HBC-19 starch and highest for Jaya starch.

Relationship of molecular weight distribution profile of unreduced gluten protein extracts with quality characteristics of bread

A statistical correlation was established among the molecular weight distribution patterns of unreduced gluten proteins and physicochemical, rheological and bread-making quality characteristics of wheat varieties. Size exclusion chromatography fractionated the gluten proteins apparently into five peaks. Peak I signified glutenins (30-130kDa), peak II as gliadins (20-55kDa), peak III as very low molecular weight monomeric gliadins (10-28kDa), peak IV and V, collectively, as albumins and globulins (<10kDa). Peaks I and II had appreciable effects on dough development time (r=0.830(∗∗) and r=-0.930(∗∗)) and dough stability (r=0.901(∗∗) and r=-0.979(∗∗)). Peak I was associated with R/E ratio (r=0.745(∗∗)), gluten index (r=0.959(∗∗)), and gliadin/glutenin ratio (r=-0.952(∗∗)), while peak II influenced inversely as expected. Peak I exhibited positive statistical significance with bread loaf volume (r=0.848(∗∗)); however, peak II had negative (r=-0.818(∗∗)) impact. Bread firmness increased with increment in peak II (r=0.625(∗∗)), and decreased with accretion in peak I (r=-0.623(∗∗)).

Effect of Compositional Variation of Gluten Proteins and Rheological Characteristics of Wheat Flour on the Textural Quality of White Salted Noodles

Protein quality parameters of wheat flour, as well as protein content, showed significant relationship with hardness, cohesiveness, springiness, adhesiveness, chewiness, and gumminess of the cooked noodles. A significant positive correlation (0.54) was observed between glutenins and hardness of noodles. Chewiness of the noodles increased with the protein content, sodium dodecyl sulfate sedimentation volume, dough development time, dough stability, and glutenins. Hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness of the noodles were negatively affected by gliadin to glutenin ratio. Multiple regression analysis depicted significant relationships of the various noodle quality parameters with wheat flour characteristics. The results revealed that the relative composition of the gliadins and glutenins had a considerable effect on the textural profile of noodles indicating their defining contribution on the noodle quality. The resulting information could be useful in predicting the noodle-quality potential of the varieties.

Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment of Wheat Gluten Proteins and their Contribution to Instant Noodle Quality

This study was carried out to examine the effect of quantity and quality of wheat gluten proteins on the quality attributes of instant fried noodles. Dough development time, dough stability, SDS sedimentation volume, gluten index and Resistance to extension/Extensibility (R/E) ratio were found to be positively correlated with glutenin content, whereas negatively associated with the quantity of gliadin sub-fractions. Medium strong flours were found most suitable for noodle preparation. The weaker flours from cultivars HW 2004 and C 306 having HMW-GS composition of Null, 2+12 and 20 alleles expressed at Glu-A1, B1 and D1, respectively could not withstand sheeting, resulted in rough surface and high breakage of noodles. The best noodle cultivars DBW 16 and WH 542 had 5+10 glutenin subunits at Glu-D1, however, differed in subunits expressed at Glu-A1 and Glu-B1 loci. Oil uptake and cooking time of noodles varied considerably from 15.4 to 22.7% and 2.0 to 4.0 min, respectively. Oil uptake in noodles was positively correlated with dough softening, however, all the parameters related to gluten quality and strength were negatively associated with the oil uptake. Cooking time of instant noodles was found to be highly associated with protein content (R2 = 0.778) of flour, gluten quality and strength. Hardness or firmness of cooked noodles was found to be significantly linked with SDS sedimentation volume (R2 = 0.725), gluten index (R2 = 0.610), glutenin content (R2 = 0.619), gliadin content (R2 = −0.567), R/E ratio (R2 = 0.532) and gliadins/glutenins (R2 = −0.605) ratio.

Post-harvest malpractices in fresh fruits and vegetables: food safety and health issues in India

Fruits and vegetables, being good source of energy, health promoting and protecting compounds with unique taste and flavor, are attracting consumers since ages. These horticultural produces start deterioration just after harvest; therefore, their proper storage is must during transportation and storage to retain maximum quality parameters and for good market value. Best storage conditions are required to prevent growth of micro flora and to maintain the nutritional values of harvested produce. Retailers and processors in every corner of world want to move toward the cheaper ways to increase the shelf life and texture of horticultural crops for better consumer preference. The purpose of this paper is to make consumers and researchers aware about different post harvest malpractices in fresh fruits and vegetables.,Lot of chemicals like colors, artificial ripening agents, sweeteners and waxes are applied on surface of horticulture produce to siphon off money from consumers, and these have adverse health effects directly or indirectly. Various regulatory agencies have launched various programs, acts and laws for monitoring and avoiding such unhealthy ways. Regulatory bodies launched training programs also for the food handlers and consumers to ensure the food safety from farm to fork.,This paper will throw light on different malpractices followed by retailers to manipulate the quality which causes adverse health effects and to create consumer awareness regarding such malpractices.,The paper emphasizes on current malpractices followed by retailers to mislead the consumers about fruits’ and vegetable’ quality by using sweeteners, colors and other chemical. On prolonged consumption, such substances lead to major health issues such as attention disorder.