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This research delves into the Maillard reaction (MR) in high-solid gelatin-saccharide mixtures consisting of 8% and 72% of allulose, fructose, or fructo-oligosaccharides, which were subjected to varied duration (0-60min) of thermal processing prior to gelation. Physicochemical properties of the gels, including color, chemical composition, protein crosslinking, mechanical strength, in-vitro digestibility and antioxidant activities, were characterized. At pH ∼5.5 and intermediate water activities (0.6-0.7), fast browning was observed through sugar degradation and sugar-amine interactions, which were intensified by prolonged heating. The MR reactivity of saccharides followed: AL > FRU > FOS. Characteristic products (MRPs, e.g., α-dicarbonyls, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, and advanced glycation end products) were identified, with the spectra of MRPs varying significantly between monosaccharides and oligosaccharides. The MR-induced protein glycation and crosslinking exhibited certain negative impacts on the gel strength and in-vitro protein digestibility. Furthermore, all gelatin-saccharide mixtures exhibited augmented antioxidant properties, with the gelatin-AL mixtures displaying the highest free radical scavenging rates., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Ruican Wang reports financial support was provided by National Natural Science Foundation of China. Wenwen Pang reports financial support was provided by Science and Technology Program of Tianjin, China. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to investigate the crystal network of bulk milk fat fractions and the partial coalescence, and the rheological properties of their oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions. Different milk fat fraction model systems were compared for their physicochemical properties, crystallization kinetics, and fat crystal networks across a range of temperatures. The extent of partial coalescence and rheological properties of the O/W emulsion prepared by different milk fat fractions were further analyzed. The results demonstrated that the ratio between saturated fatty acids (SFA) and unsaturated fatty acids and triacylglycerides (TAG) influenced the melting thermal behaviors, solid fat contents (SFC), and crystal networks of various milk fat fractions, which in turn influenced the partial coalescence and rheological characteristics of their O/W emulsions. Moreover, an excellent fit of the trend line confirmed that hardness increased exponentially with SFC. Trisaturated TAG in fractions with high melting points (HMF) such as milk fat fraction MF45, whose clarification temperature was 45°C, enriched long-chain SFA (saturated:unsaturated fatty acid = 2.2:1). We found that MF45 achieved higher SFC and hardness in the range of 0 to 40°C and, ultimately, formed a well-defined microstructural network with thick, rod-like crystals. Further, TAG in fractions with low melting points (LMF) such as MF10, whose clarification temperature was 10°C, were enriched with short-chain and unsaturated fatty acids (saturated:unsaturated fatty acid = 1.5:1), and a disordered crystal network in MF10, composed of randomly arranged, translucent platelets, was detected. Although fat globules of HMF and LMF were stabilized against coalescence, this could be attributed to a variety of mechanisms involving SFC, liquid fat, protective film around the fat globule, and minor lipids. According to the rheological profiles, all O/W emulsions exhibited weak viscoelastic "gel-like" structures [storage modulus (G') > loss modulus (G")] over most of the measured range. The G' values and apparent viscosity of HMF were greater than those of other fractions, indicating that the large and rigid crystals strengthen the networks more effectively., (© 2023, The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. and Fass Inc. on behalf of the American Dairy Science Association®. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).)

Foods and liquids have properties that are often modified as part of clinical dysphagia management to promote safe and efficient swallowing. However, recent studies have questioned whether this practice is supported by the evidence. To address this, a scoping review was conducted to answer the question: "Can properties of food and liquids modify swallowing physiology and function in adults?" Online search in six databases yielded a set of 4235 non-duplicate articles. Using COVIDENCE software, two independent reviewers screened the articles by title and abstract, and 229 full-text articles were selected for full-text review. One-hundred eleven studies met the inclusion criteria for qualitative synthesis and assessment of risk of bias. Three randomized controlled trials and 108 non-randomized studies were analyzed. Large amounts of variability in instrumental assessment, properties of food and liquids, and swallowing measures were found across studies. Sour, sweet, and salty taste, odor, carbonation, capsaicin, viscosity, hardness, adhesiveness, and cohesiveness were reported to modify the oral and pharyngeal phase of swallowing in both healthy participants and patients with dysphagia. Main swallow measures modified by properties of food and liquids were penetration/aspiration, oral transit time, lingual pressures, submental muscle contraction, oral and pharyngeal residue, hyoid and laryngeal movement, pharyngeal and upper esophageal sphincter pressures, and total swallow duration. The evidence pooled in this review supports the clinical practice of food texture and liquid consistency modification in the management of dysphagia with the caveat that all clinical endeavors must be undertaken with a clear rationale and patient-specific evidence that modifying food or liquid benefits swallow safety and efficiency while maintaining quality of life., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Shrinkage is a well-documented defect in frozen desserts, yet the root causes and mechanisms remain unknown. Characterized by the loss of volume during storage, shrinkage arose during the mid-twentieth century as production of frozen desserts grew to accommodate a larger market. Early research found that shrinkage was promoted by high protein, solids, and overrun, as well as postproduction factors such as fluctuations in external temperature and pressure. Rather than approaching shrinkage as a cause-and-effect defect as previous approaches have, we employ a physicochemical approach to characterize and understand shrinkage as collapse of the frozen foam caused by destabilization of the dispersed air phase. The interfacial composition and physical properties, as well as the kinetic stability of air cells within the frozen matrix ultimately affect product susceptibility to shrinkage. The mechanism of shrinkage remains unknown, as frozen desserts are highly complex, but is rooted in the physicochemical properties of the frozen foam. Functional ingredients and processing methods that optimize the formation and stabilization of the frozen foam are essential to preventing shrinkage in frozen desserts., (© 2021 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

Stickinessis an inherent textural property in many sugar-rich foods, which can be problematic to the processing of confectionery products. The adhesion between foods and contact surfaces during processing and consumption has not been well understood in academia or industry. The theories of adhesion were discovered by scientists in the adhesive field of study, some of which can explain the stickiness phenomenon of confections. This work reviewed these theories in the context of sugar-rich foods, followed by a survey on the sensory and instrumental analyses of stickiness. Furthermore, the contributions of ingredients, temperature, compression, and contact surfaces to sugar-rich food adhesion are highlighted., (© 2021 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

Molten white chocolate held at high temperatures for extended periods of time undergoes thickening and nonenzymatic browning reactions. Lactose and milk proteins participate in Maillard browning, which occurs more rapidly at higher temperatures. Crystallization of amorphous lactose and high temperature contribute to rheological changes over heating. In the present study, five white chocolates of varied compositions were sampled over time at different temperatures. White chocolates containing amorphous lactose showed increases in complex viscosity, while chocolates with crystalline or no lactose showed no change in rheological properties. Maillard browning was measured through both colorimetry and spectrophotometric analysis of brown pigments. Both markers showed the greatest browning for Nonfat dry milk (NFDM)-containing systems. Chocolates containing no NFDM (milk protein isolate, MPI, or crystalline lactose) showed no change in absorbance after clarification, but some browning in colorimetry results, likely due to residual amorphous lactose in the MPI or increased mobility of lactose from crystals at high temperatures. The evolution of fluorescent intermediates was visualized using fluorescence spectroscopy, revealing that these intermediates were formed prior to colored end stage products and were consumed as the reaction approaches completion. An excess of lactose in the system meant reducing sugar declines were relatively small throughout. Kinetic models were created to determine the influence of chocolate composition and temperature on thickening as related to complex viscosity (first order) and browning via colorimetry and absorbance (pseudo-zero order). Both thickening rate and Maillard reaction rates were faster in chocolates with greater levels of amorphous lactose and when held at higher temperatures. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: So-called "golden chocolate" is white chocolate that has been held at warm temperatures for a period of time to undergo Maillard browning. However, thickening of the chocolate during heating can cause processing problems. In this study, viscosity changes are correlated with Maillard browning kinetics to help chocolate manufacturers find optimal conditions for creating new products., (© 2021 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

In many confectionery systems, an understanding of crystallization behavior is essential for proper control of product texture. While this knowledge is well developed in sucrose-based systems, there is little information on controlling crystallization in sugar-free systems, such as those formulated with sorbitol. By leveraging such advances in time domain-nuclear magnetic resonance (TD-NMR) methodology, the impact of mannitol and maltitol on modulating sorbitol crystal growth in sugar-free systems. Binary and ternary systems of sorbitol mixed with mannitol, maltitol, or a mixture thereof were evaluated at total impurity addition levels of 10% and 20%. Polyol mixtures were dissolved in water, evaporated to 10% moisture, and mixed with γ sorbitol seed crystals to create a sugar-free fondant. Fondants were crystallized at 25 °C, and crystal content was measured using TD-NMR over time. Crystal content increased rapidly at the start but quickly tapered off to a final asymptote indicating phase equilibrium. In all systems, the addition of impurities decreased the extent and rate of sorbitol crystallization, with mannitol having the greatest impact on rate. When both mannitol and maltitol were present as impurities, the rate of crystallization was reduced to a greater extent. At the highest level of mannitol, the final crystal content increased, presumably because mannitol also crystallized. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Controlling sorbitol crystallization in the presence of impurities is a key to controlling quality in certain confections., (© 2020 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

Although the ice phase greatly influences the properties of ice cream, other structural components also affect its rheological behavior, particularly after melting. In this study, mix viscosity (serum phase viscosity), extent of fat destabilization (FD), and overrun were manipulated to produce different microstructures. The effects of these structural components were evaluated on the rheological properties of the ice creams and melted ice creams. In oscillatory thermorheometry, mix viscosity and then overrun, influenced G' and tanδ below -10 °C. When ice phase decreased (between -10 and -2.7 °C), mix viscosity had reduced effects, but continued to strongly affect G' and tanδ, followed by FD, and with lower effects from overrun. When the ice phase was completely melted at 0 °C, FD had most influence on G' and tanδ, followed by overrun, and with lower effects from mix viscosity. In creep/recovery test, six-element model described well creep behavior of melted ice cream at 0 °C. Viscous behavior at lower shear rate (η0 0 °C) was most influenced by mix viscosity, followed by FD, and lower overrun effects. In stress growth measurement, transient behavior, represented by σY 0 °C, of melted matrix at 0 °C was most influenced by FD, followed by mix viscosity, with lower overrun effects. In flow ramp measurement, Hysteresis Area was most affected by mix viscosity, followed by overrun, and with lower FD effects. Moreover, correlation between Hyst 0 °C and tanδ Peak suggested that structure formation affected the magnitude of tanδ Peak. These results document the importance of microstructure on properties of melted ice cream. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The understanding of how structural components, such as mix viscosity, fat destabilization, and overrun, affect the ice cream matrix can help manufacturers to control its rheological behavior. The influence of these structural components on the G', tanδ, η 0 0 °C , σ Y 0 °C , and Hyst 0 °C can be also used to understand the structural rearrangements that occur in meltdown tests and sensory analyses for future studies. Therefore, elucidation of these mechanisms on the rheological properties can directly assist in quality control and new product development in the ice cream industry., (© 2020 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

Arrested, or partial, coalescence of viscoelastic emulsion droplets can occur when elastic resistance to deformation offsets droplet surface area minimization. Arrest is a critical element of food and consumer product microstructure and performance, but direct studies of structural arrest and rearrangement have been carried out using only two or three droplets at a time. The question remains whether the behavior of small numbers of droplets also occurs in larger, more realistic many-droplet systems. Here we study two-dimensional aggregation and arrested coalescence of emulsions containing ∼1000 droplets and find that the restructuring mechanisms observed for smaller systems have a large effect on local packing in multidroplet aggregates, but surprisingly do not significantly alter overall mass scaling in the aggregates. Specifically, increased regions of hexagonal packing are observed as the droplet solids level, and thus elasticity, is decreased because greater degrees of capillary force-driven restructuring are possible. Diffusion-limited droplet aggregation simulations that account for the restructuring mechanisms agree with the experimental results and suggest a basis for prediction of larger-scale network properties and bulk emulsion behavior.

Air incorporated during dynamic freezing influences the development of the microstructure and the final texture of frozen desserts. Frozen desserts were manufactured with 100-175% overrun from a constant ice cream mix formulation. Microstructural elements (fat, air, and ice phases) of the frozen desserts were then investigated and related to the melting, rheological, and sensory properties of the product. Mean ice crystal and air cell size were found to decrease with increasing overrun, and the extent of fat destabilization increased. Frozen desserts manufactured with higher overrun had slower drip-through rate and better shape retention after melting at ambient conditions, demonstrating that fat destabilization and the interplay of fat, air, and serum phases affect the melting behavior. Structural elements also influenced the rheological behavior, as measured by oscillatory thermo-rheometry. Frozen desserts had similar rheological properties at temperatures below the freezing point due to the presence of ice, and the values of G' and G″ (solid-like and viscous-like character, respectively) increased with increasing overrun above the freezing point, corresponding to a more solid-like structure. Slight differences in sensory denseness and breakdown were detected, but sensory texture was not significantly different for the frozen desserts studied. This study provided insights into the role of air in ice cream and frozen desserts, and its influence on product texture., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

This study aims at exploring ice cream meltdown behavior by changing the levels of stabilizer (ST), polysorbate 80 (PS80), and overrun (OR). By adjusting the formulation of ice cream, the degree of fat destabilization (FD), mix viscosity (MV), and overrun can be controlled within a certain range, which in turn presents different meltdown behaviors for study. In addition to the drip-through test, the shape of ice cream as it melts was recorded as height change to further investigate ice cream meltdown. Mix viscosity (at 50 s -1 ) and fat destabilization were found to have a significant effect not only on drip-through rate, but also the induction time, final weight of the drip-through part, height-change rate, and final height of melted ice cream. On the other side, overrun was found only to have an effect on meltdown when no stabilizers were added. These results indicate serum phase viscosity (mix viscosity) and fat destabilization are important parameters to describe ice cream meltdown. Besides, the entire ice cream meltdown curve and height collapse curve provide important information on ice cream meltdown behavior. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: A new direction of analysis of ice cream meltdown behavior is provided in this study. The induction time, the final drip-through weight, and the height change during the meltdown process were found to be the indicators on the influence of microstructure on ice cream meltdown behavior for the future study., (© 2019 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

Ice cream is a multiphase frozen food containing ice crystals, air cells, fat globules, and partially coalesced fat globule clusters dispersed in an unfrozen serum phase (sugars, proteins, and stabilizers). This microstructure is responsible for ice cream's melting characteristics. By varying both formulation (emulsifier content and overrun) and processing conditions (dasher speed), the effects of different microstructural elements, particularly air cells and fat globule clusters, on ice cream melt-down properties were studied. Factors that caused an increase in shear stress within the freezer, namely increasing dasher speed and overrun, caused a decrease in air cell size and an increase in extent of fat destabilization. Increasing emulsifier content, especially of polysorbate 80, caused an increase in extent of fat destabilization. Both overrun and fat destabilization influenced drip-through rates. Ice creams with a combination of low overrun and low fat destabilization had the highest drip-through rates. Further, the amount of remnant foam left on the screen increased with reduced drip-through rates. These results provide a better understanding of the effects of microstructure components and their interactions on drip-through rate., Practical Applications: Manipulating operating and formulation parameters in ice cream manufacture influences the microstructure (air cells, ice crystals, and fat globule clusters). This work provides guidance on which parameters have most effect on air cell size and fat globule cluster formation. Further, the structural characteristics that reduce melt-down rate were determined. Ice cream manufacturers will use these results to tailor their products for the desired quality attributes., (© 2018 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

Ganache is a mixture of chocolate and dairy. Although a popular confection, little is known about how it functions as a system. Objectives were to (1) determine if dairy fats and cocoa butter mix in ganache, (2) characterize ganache microstructure, and how structure affects texture and rheology, and (3) identify how changes in chocolate composition alter ganache. Textural analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, stress sweep tests, and microscopy were used to examine ganache formulations that varied in dairy source (cream or butter) or in solid fat content (SFC), composition or type of chocolate. Melting temperatures for all ganache formulations were lower than for chocolate, indicating that cream milk fat globules rupture during processing, and mix with cocoa butter. Altering the SFC of chocolate affected ganache hardness, spreadability, melting enthalpy, and resistance to deformation. Chocolate systems made with constant fat content and greater amounts of defatted cocoa powder relative to sugar or nonfat milk powder yielded ganache that was harder, less spreadable, and more resistant to deformation. Ganache made with commercially produced dark, milk, and white chocolates behaved similarly to model chocolate systems. Ganache attributes are affected by chocolate crystalline fat content in addition to particle phase volume-greater levels of cocoa powder, which is mostly insoluble, strengthens ganache structure, producing a firmer product, whereas greater levels of milk powder and sugar, which dissolve in the aqueous cream component, produce a softer ganache., Practical Application: Understanding how ganache functions as a system and how differences in chocolate composition affect its textural and rheological properties may allow for greater control over the desired characteristics of the final product. For example, this research shows how changing cocoa content of the chocolate affects ganache, which is useful when developing formulations involving chocolates with different cocoa percentages. There may also be cost saving implications; for example, using a chocolate with a harder cocoa butter may allow less total chocolate to be used in a formulation, while still achieving an appropriate texture., (© 2018 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

Ice cream has come a long way since the first snow cone was made. Innovations in a variety of areas over the past century have led to the development of highly sophisticated, automated manufacturing plants that churn out pint after pint of ice cream. Significant advances in fields such as mechanical refrigeration, chilling and freezing technologies, cleaning and sanitation, packaging, and ingredient functionality have shaped the industry. Advances in our understanding of the science of ice cream, particularly related to understanding the complex structures that need to be controlled to create a desirable product, have also enhanced product quality and shelf stability. Although significant advances have been made, there remain numerous opportunities for further advancement both scientifically and technologically., (Copyright © 2017 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The stability of shapes formed by three viscoelastic droplets during their arrested coalescence has been investigated using micromanipulation experiments. Addition of a third droplet to arrested droplet doublets is shown to be controlled by the balance between interfacial pressures driving coalescence and internal elasticity that resists total consolidation. The free fluid available within the droplets controls the transmission of stress during droplet combination and allows connections to occur via formation of a neck between the droplets. The anisotropy of three-droplet systems adds complexity to the symmetric case of two-droplet aggregates because of the multiplicity of orientations possible for the third droplet. When elasticity dominates, the initial orientation of the third droplet is preserved in the triplet's final shape. When elasticity is dominated by the interfacial driving force, the final shape can deviate strongly from the initial positioning of droplets. Movement of the third droplet to a more compact packing occurs, driven by liquid meniscus expansion that minimizes the surface energy of the triplet. A range of compositions and orientations are examined and the resulting domains of restructuring and stability are mapped based on the final triplet structure. A geometric and a physical model are used to explain the mechanism driving meniscus-induced restructuring and are related to the impact of these phenomena on multiple droplet emulsions.

Whey protein phospholipid concentrate (WPPC) and delactosed permeate (DLP) are 2 coproducts of cheese whey processing that are currently underused. Past research has shown that WPPC and DLP can be used together as a functional dairy ingredient in foods such as ice cream, soup, and caramel. However, the scope of the research has been limited to 1 WPPC supplier. The objective of this research was to fully characterize a range of WPPC. Four WPPC samples and 1 DLP sample were analyzed for chemical composition and functionality. This analysis showed that WPPC composition was highly variable between suppliers and lots. In addition, the functionality of the WPPC varies depending on the supplier and testing pH, and cannot be correlated with fat or protein content because of differences in processing. The addition of DLP to WPPC affects functionality. In general, WPPC has a high water-holding capacity, is relatively heat stable, has low foamability, and does not aid in emulsion stability. The gel strength and texture are highly dependent on the amount of protein. To be able to use these 2 dairy products, the composition and functionality must be fully understood., (Copyright © 2016 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Whey protein phospholipid concentrate (WPPC) and delactosed permeate (DLP) are 2 coproducts of cheese whey processing that are currently underutilized. Past research has shown that WPPC and DLP can be used together as a functional dairy ingredient in foods such as ice cream, soup, and caramel. However, the scope of the research has been limited to a single WPPC supplier. The variability of the composition and functionality of WPPC was previously studied. The objective of this research was to expand on the previous study and examine the potential applications of WPPC and DLP blends in foods. In ice cream, WPPC was added as a natural emulsifier to replace synthetic emulsifiers. The WPPC decreased the amount of partially coalesced fat and increased the drip-through rate. In caramel, DLP and WPPC replaced sweetened condensed skim milk and lecithin. Cold flow increased significantly, and hardness and stickiness decreased. In cake, DLP and WPPC were added as a total replacement of eggs, with no change in yield, color, or texture. Overall, WPPC and DLP can be utilized as functional dairy ingredients at a lower cost in ice cream and cake but not in chewy caramel., (Copyright © 2016 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Unlabelled: Commercial vanilla ice cream products from the United States (full fat, low fat, and nonfat) were analyzed for their structural, behavioral (i.e., melt rate and drip-through), compositional, and sensorial attributes. Mean size distributions of ice crystals and air cells, drip-through rates, percent partially coalesced fat, percent overrun and total fat, and density were determined. A trained panel carried out sensory analyses in order to determine correlations between ice cream microstructure attributes and sensory properties using a Spectrum(TM) descriptive analysis. Analyses included melt rate, breakdown, size of ice particulates (iciness), denseness, greasiness, and overall creaminess. To determine relationships and interactions, principle component analysis and multivariate pairwise correlation were performed within and between the instrumental and sensorial data. Greasiness and creaminess negatively correlated with drip-through rate and creaminess correlated with percent total fat and percent fat destabilization. Percent fat did not determine the melt rate on a sensorial level. However, drip-through rate at ambient temperatures was predicted by total fat content of the samples. Based on sensory analysis, high-fat products were noted to be creamier than low and nonfat products. Iciness did not correlate with mean ice crystal size and drip-through rate did not predict sensory melt rate. Furthermore, on a sensorial level, greasiness positively correlated with total percent fat destabilization and mean air cell size positively correlated with denseness. These results indicate that commercial ice cream products vary widely in composition, structure, behavior, and sensory properties., Practical Application: There is a wide range of commercial ice creams in the United States market, ranging from full fat to nonfat. In this research we showed that these ice creams vary greatly in their microstructures, behaviors (the melt/drip-though, collapse, and/or stand up properties of ice cream products at ambient temperatures), and sensory properties., (© 2014 Institute of Food Technologists®)

In the dairy industry, crystallization is an important separation process used in the refining of lactose from whey solutions. In the refining operation, lactose crystals are separated from the whey solution through nucleation, growth, and/or aggregation. The rate of crystallization is determined by the combined effect of crystallizer design, processing parameters, and impurities on the kinetics of the process. This review summarizes studies on lactose crystallization, including the mechanism, theory of crystallization, and the impact of various factors affecting the crystallization kinetics. In addition, an overview of the industrial crystallization operation highlights the problems faced by the lactose manufacturer. The approaches that are beneficial to the lactose manufacturer for process optimization or improvement are summarized in this review. Over the years, much knowledge has been acquired through extensive research. However, the industrial crystallization process is still far from optimized. Therefore, future effort should focus on transferring the new knowledge and technology to the dairy industry., (© 2014 Institute of Food Technologists®)

The crystallisation and polymorphic properties of three sunflower hard stearins (SHSs) and cocoa butter equivalents (CBEs) formulated by blending SHSs and palm mid fraction (PMF) were studied and compared with those from cocoa butter (CB), to explore their possibilities as confectionery fats. The isothermal crystallisation kinetics of these fats were examined by pNMR and DSC at three different temperatures. All samples studied displayed a two-step crystallisation profile that could be fitted to an exponential-Gompertz equation. Stop-and-return DSC studies showed that SHSs and CBEs exhibited different crystallisation mechanisms according to their triacylglycerol composition, with a quick formation of metastable crystals, followed by a polymorphic transition to the more stable β or β' forms. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to investigate the polymorphic forms of tempered SHSs and CBEs in the long term. In all cases the resulting fats displayed short spacing patterns associated with β polymorphism. These formulations based on SHSs and PMF met all the requirements to be considered as CBEs; therefore they could be used as an alternative to traditional confectionery fats., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Crystals often play an important role in food product quality and shelf life. Controlling crystallization to obtain the desired crystal content, size distribution, shape, and polymorph is key to manufacturing products with desired functionality and shelf life. Technical developments in the field have improved the tools with which we study and characterize crystals in foods. These developments also help our understanding of the physico-chemical phenomena that govern crystallization and improve our ability to control it during processing and storage. In this review, some of the more important recent developments in measuring and controlling crystallization are discussed.

Cocoa butter equivalents (CBEs) are produced from vegetable fats by blending palm mid fraction (PMF) and tropical butters coming from shea, mango kernel or kokum fat. In this regard, high oleic-high stearic (HOHS) sunflower hard stearins from solvent fractionation can be used in CBE production since their compositions and physical properties are similar to those found in the above-mentioned tropical butters. In this work, three sunflower hard stearins (SHS) ranging from 65% to 95% of disaturated triacylglycerols and a shea stearin (used as reference) were blended with PMF to evaluate their potential use in CBEs formulation. Isosolid phase diagrams of mixtures of PMF/SHS showed eutectic formation for SHS 65 and SHS 80, but monotectic behaviour with softening effect for SHS 95. Three CBEs from SHS and shea stearin were formulated according to phase behaviour diagrams and solid fat content data at 25 °C. Isosolid phase diagrams of mixtures of these CBEs with cocoa butter showed no eutectic behaviour. Therefore, CBEs elaborated from SHS exhibited full compatibility with cocoa butter., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

There are many new approaches to designing complex anisotropic colloids, often using droplets as templates. However, droplets themselves can be designed to form anisotropic shapes without any external templates. One approach is to arrest binary droplet coalescence at an intermediate stage before a spherical shape is formed. Further shape relaxation of such anisotropic, arrested structures is retarded by droplet elasticity, either interfacial or internal. In this article we study coalescence of structured droplets, containing a network of anisotropic colloids, whose internal elasticity provides a resistance to full shape relaxation and interfacial energy minimization during coalescence. Precise tuning of droplet elasticity arrests coalescence at different stages and leads to various anisotropic shapes, ranging from doublets to ellipsoids. A simple model balancing interfacial and elastic energy is used to explain experimentally observed coalescence arrest in viscoelastic droplets. During coalescence of structured droplets the interfacial energy is continuously reduced while the elastic energy is increased by compression of the internal structure and, when the two processes balance one another, coalescence is arrested. Experimentally we observe that if either interfacial energy or elasticity dominates, total coalescence or total stability of droplets results. The stabilization mechanism is directly analogous to that in a Pickering emulsion, though here the resistance to coalescence is provided via an internal volume-based, rather than surface, structure. This study provides guidelines for designing anisotropic droplets by arrested coalescence but also explains some observations of "partial" coalescence observed in commercial foods like ice cream and whipped cream.

From hardening of marshmallow to graining of hard candies, moisture plays a critical role in determining the quality and shelf life of sugar-based confections. Water is important during the manufacturing of confections, is an important factor in governing texture, and is often the limiting parameter during storage that controls shelf life. Thus, an understanding of water relations in confections is critical to controlling quality. Water content, which is controlled during candy manufacturing through an understanding of boiling point elevation, is one of the most important parameters that governs the texture of candies. For example, the texture of caramel progresses from soft and runny to hard and brittle as the moisture content decreases. However, knowledge of water content by itself is insufficient to controlling stability and shelf life. Understanding water activity, or the ratio of vapor pressures, is necessary to control shelf life. A difference in water activity, either between candy and air or between two domains within the candy, is the driving force for moisture migration in confections. When the difference in water activity is large, moisture migration is rapid, although the rate of moisture migration depends on the nature of resistances to water diffusion. Barrier packaging films protect the candy from air whereas edible films inhibit moisture migration between different moisture domains within a confection. More recently, the concept of glass transition, or the polymer science approach, has supplemented water activity as a critical parameter related to candy stability. Confections with low moisture content, such as hard candy, cotton candy, and some caramels and toffees, may contain sugars in the amorphous or glassy state. As long as these products remain below their glass transition temperature, they remain stable for very long times. However, certain glassy sugars tend to be hygroscopic, rapidly picking up moisture from the air, which causes significant changes that lead to the end of shelf life. These products need to be protected from moisture uptake during storage. This review summarizes the concepts of water content, water activity, and glass transition and documents their importance to quality and shelf life of confections.

Scraped surface heat exchangers (SSHEs) are commonly used in the food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries for heat transfer, crystallization, and other continuous processes. They are ideally suited for products that are viscous, sticky, that contain particulate matter, or that need some degree of crystallization. Since these characteristics describe a vast majority of processed foods, SSHEs are especially suited for pumpable food products. During operation, the product is brought in contact with a heat transfer surface that is rapidly and continuously scraped, thereby exposing the surface to the passage of untreated product. In addition to maintaining high and uniform heat exchange, the scraper blades also provide simultaneous mixing and agitation. Heat exchange for sticky and viscous foods such as heavy salad dressings, margarine, chocolate, peanut butter, fondant, ice cream, and shortenings is possible only by using SSHEs. High heat transfer coefficients are achieved because the boundary layer is continuously replaced by fresh material. Moreover, the product is in contact with the heating surface for only a few seconds and high temperature gradients can be used without the danger of causing undesirable reactions. SSHEs are versatile in the use of heat transfer medium and the various unit operations that can be carried out simultaneously. This article critically reviews the current understanding of the operations and applications of SSHEs.

Calcium lactate (CaL2) crystal formation on the surface of cheese continues to be a widespread problem for the cheese industry despite decades of research. To prevent those crystals from forming, it is necessary to keep the concentration of CaL2 below saturation level. The limited data available on the solubility of CaL2 at conditions appropriate for the storage of cheese are often conflicting. In this work, the solubility of L(+)-CaL2 in water was evaluated at 4, 10, and 24 degrees C, and the effects of salt and pH at those temperatures were investigated. The effects of additional calcium and lactate ions on solubility also were studied. The results suggested that temperature and the concentration of lactate ions are the main factors influencing the solubility of CaL2, with the other parameters having limited effect.

The physical characteristics of milk powders used in chocolate can have significant impact on the processing conditions needed to make that chocolate and the physical and organoleptic properties of the finished product. Four milk powders with different particle characteristics (size, shape, density) and "free" milk fat levels (easily extracted with organic solvent) were evaluated for their effect on the processing conditions and characteristics of chocolates in which they were used. Many aspects of chocolate manufacture and storage (tempering conditions, melt rheology, hardness, bloom stability) were dependent on the level of free milk fat in the milk powder. However, particle characteristics of the milk powder also influenced the physical and sensory properties of the final products.

Statistical models were developed to reveal which structural elements of ice cream affect melting rate and hardness. Ice creams were frozen in a batch freezer with three types of sweetener, three levels of the emulsifier polysorbate 80, and two different draw temperatures to produce ice creams with a range of microstructures. Ice cream mixes were analyzed for viscosity, and finished ice creams were analyzed for air cell and ice crystal size, overrun, and fat destabilization. The ice phase volume of each ice cream were calculated based on the freezing point of the mix. Melting rate and hardness of each hardened ice cream was measured and correlated with the structural attributes by using analysis of variance and multiple linear regression. Fat destabilization, ice crystal size, and the consistency coefficient of the mix were found to affect the melting rate of ice cream, whereas hardness was influenced by ice phase volume, ice crystal size, overrun, fat destabilization, and the rheological properties of the mix.

The effects of addition of the sucrose esters (SE) P-1670, P-170, and S-170 to a high-melting fraction of milk fat (HMF) and its blends with sunflower oil (SFO) on nucleation and growth were studied by laser polarized light turbidimetry and polarized light microscopy (PLM). The three SE delayed nucleation of HMF at the temperatures selected. P-1670 did not modify average crystal size after 3 h at crystallization temperature (T(c)) or crystal size distribution and modified crystallization kinetics only slightly. P-170 and S-170, however, markedly diminished crystal size and narrowed crystal size distribution. Activation free energies of nucleation at equivalent supercooling, calculated using the Fisher-Turnbull equation, significantly increased with addition of SE. According to these results, among the mechanisms described in the literature for fats or emulsions, the cocrystallization hypothesis is the one that better described the effects of sucrose esters on crystallization behavior in these systems.

Seasonal and regional variability in milk fat composition causes differences in crystallization behavior, which can, for example, result in variability in fractionation efficiency and physical properties of butter. However, the specific compositional causes of variability in milk fat crystallization behavior are still only poorly understood. In this work, the seasonal and regional variations in composition of anhydrous milk fat were analyzed and related to crystallization behavior. Although there were no clear-cut trends in chemical composition (triacylglycerol, fatty acid, and minor lipid profiles) among the milk fats, significant differences in crystallization behavior were observed. For anhydrous milk fat samples made from sweet cream and obtained from the same milk supply through a period of 14 mo, no significant trends in either composition or crystallization behavior were observed. This suggests that seasonal variability of milk fat may be reduced by current feeding strategies in the United States. More detailed examination of the triacylglycerol profiles led to the conclusion that the relative contents of certain triacylglycerol combinations correlated well with crystallization behavior. In particular, the ratio of higher-melting to lower-melting triacylglycerols could be used to predict crystallization behavior. Higher ratios of higher-melting triacylglycerols led to higher crystallization rate.

The effect of cooling rate on the crystallization behavior of mixes of high-melting milk fat fraction (HMF) and sunflower oil (SFO) was studied by following nucleation with laser-polarized turbidimetry. The initial crystals were photographed, and their thermal and polymorphic behaviors, as well as chemical composition, were investigated by calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and capillary gas chromatography. Activation energies of nucleation were calculated using the Fisher-Turnbull equation. Despite small differences in Mettler dropping points for different ratios of SFO to HMF, induction times were significantly different between samples and were shorter at a slow cooling rate for the same supercooling. Rapidly cooled samples required more time at crystallization temperature to crystallize than slowly cooled samples because molecular organization prior to nuclei formation took place under different conditions. Regardless of cooling rate or composition, all crystals were in the beta' polymorph. However, morphology, thermal behavior, and chemical composition showed differences with cooling rate. Activation free energies of nucleation were of the same order of magnitude as those published for hydrogenated SFO.

The objectives of this study were to provide a better understanding of the effects of triacylglycerol (TAG) and non-TAG components (minor lipids) of milk fat on phase and crystallization behavior of binary mixtures of palm kernel oil (PKO) and the physical properties of corresponding compound coatings. Binary mixtures of a fractionated PKO with the different milk fats were examined for melting profiles, crystallization kinetics, and crystalline microstructures, and polymorphic changes during storage. Compound coatings were made with equivalent binary fat mixtures and measured for hardness and bloom formation. Milk fat and milk fat fractions affected crystallization rates of fractionated PKO, depending on the melting point of the fat. High-melting components resulted in more rapid crystallization, whereas the original milk fat and low-melting components inhibited crystallization. The crystal structure (e.g., number, size, shape) of the PKO crystals was influenced significantly by the addition of milk fat fractions and was influenced by the presence or absence of the minor lipids in milk fat. Milk fat and milk fat fractions had a softening effect on fractionated PKO, which was apparent in the binary mixtures as well as the compound coatings. In general, as the solid fat content (at 25 degrees C) of the binary mixtures increased, the hardness of the respective coatings increased. This also was related to an increased rate of bloom formation during storage.

A review of the recent literature on crystallization of the commercial sugars (fructose, glucose, lactose, and sucrose) is presented. Topics include: NUCLEATION--The formation of the crystalline phase from supersaturated solutions can occur by either a spontaneous or a forced nucleation mechanism. Recent work on the mechanisms, kinetics, and impact of both heterogeneous and secondary (contact) nucleation is discussed. GROWTH--Recent studies on the mechanisms and kinetics of crystal growth will be reviewed. This discussion includes work on the growth rate dispersion exhibited by these sugars. EFFECTS OF IMPURITIES AND ADDITIVES--The presence of impurities and additives (including mixed sugar systems) affects both the nucleation and growth steps. A discussion of the recent work in this area is included. Emphasis is placed on the relationship between these crystallization phenomena and the solution structure for comparison purposes.