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Carob pulp flour has antidiabetic and antioxidant activities, is naturally sweet, and is rich in fibers. It is obtained from carob pod pulp from the evergreen tree Ceratonia siliqua L., which is grown in Mediterranean areas and is known for locust bean gum production. Despite its valuable effects on health, such as the modulation of the glycemic index, this ingredient has a tremendous impact on technological and hedonic features, mainly on color, flavor, and texture. In this paper, the qualitative features and consumers' acceptance of a carob-based gluten-free bakery product where rice flour was substituted at 40% with carob pulp flour were studied. A panel group of experts described the bread as dark, quite dense, sweet, aromatic, and with a limited bubble dispersion. On the other hand, the sensory assessment and the willingness to pay of consumers were assessed in two groups (a fully informed one about heathy attributes of the food and a blind one). The results indicated a moderate appreciation of the overall quality of the product (average score between 4 and 5 points on a 9-point Likert scale). The information about the food's healthy properties and the ability to maintain a low glycemic index did not enhance the consumers' perception of the product, while previous knowledge and involvement in the product consumption were perceived to have primary importance regarding the final consumers' choice. Finally, an accelerated shelf-life test was run on the packaged snack to evaluate the general quality and stability. The protective packaging helped in limiting bread decay and maintaining the textural characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao, L.) represents an important market that gained relevance and became an esteemed commodity thanks to cocoa powder, chocolate, and other related products. This work analyzed 59 cocoa powder samples from the European market. Three distinct subgroups were identified: organic or conventional, alkalized or not alkalized, and raw or roasted processing. The impact of the technological process on their pH, color, and compositional traits, as well as their content of biogenic amines and salsolinol, was evaluated. The phenolic fraction was also investigated through both common and emerging methods. The results depict that the influence of the agronomical practices (organic/conventional) did not significantly (p < 0.05) affect the composition of the cocoa powders; similarly, the roasting process was not a determinant of the compounds traced. On the other hand, the alkalinization process greatly impacted color and pH, no matter the cocoa's provenience or obtention or other processes, also resulting in reducing the phenolic fraction of the treated samples. Principal component analysis confirmed that the alkali process acts on pH, color, and phenolic composition but not on the content of other bioactive molecules (biogenic amines and salsolinol). All the samples were safe, while the alkalized powders saw a great reduction in beneficial biocompounds. A novel strategy could be to emphasize on the label whether cocoa powder is non-alkalized to meet the demand for more beneficial products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snacking outside of main meals is common and often a dietary requirement, especially for children and toddlers. This habit has both social and educative dimensions, as it has become an established moment in people's daily routines. We conducted an easy online survey involving students and their families from schools in the Abruzzo region, Italy. The aim of the survey was to understand the participants' habits, food choices, and meal composition during snack time. Additionally, we inquired about their general health state. Our interest lies in knowing more about this population, with sufficient data to observe whether habits and food choices may be accountable for exposure to biogenic amines (BAs). BAs are unavoidable natural compounds that come from the catabolism of amino acids in tissues. They are possibly involved in reactions such as allergic-like manifestations, abdominal pain, and more severe symptoms depending on individual sensitivity. The action of BAs can be augmented by the intake of foods, mainly fermented products, which are common in everyday diets. We collected 300 responses from students ranging from 11 to 18 years old. The most popular foods eaten were sweets (pastries, cakes) and sweet bakery products, followed by yogurt-based and milk-based products (30% and 23%, respectively). Most students (58%) reported having a snack moment daily. The population was generally in good health, but some reported experiencing light discomfort after snacking, such as transient gastrointestinal pain, headache, and dermatological symptoms (8.7%, 2%, and 0.7% of the total, respectively). All this information may be linked and added to the knowledge about BA content in foods and their potential impact on health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]