Effect of Sweeteners on the Quality and Acceptability of Yogurt

Abstract

Sweetened low fat plain and Swiss-style fruit-flavored yogurts were manufactured using cream and reconstituted nonfat dry milk. The Swiss-style yogurt was manufactured by adding commercial blueberry or strawberry fruit flavorings to the sweetened yogurt base. Sweeteners used in the study were sucrose, 36 dextrose equivalent corn syrup solids, and 42, 55, and 90% high fructose corn syrup. Varied combinations of sweeteners were used at 0, 2, 4, and 6%, by weight.Evaluations were conducted during incubation and after packaging. Analyses included rate of acid development (time required to reach pH 4.4), microbiological profile, and expert organoleptic evaluation. A consumer panel was used to compare yogurt made with sucrose with that utilizing 90% high fructose corn syrup.As amount of sweetener increased, the time required to get to breaking pH of 4.4 increased. There also appeared to be a preference for yogurt made with 90% high fructose corn syrup, especially in the strawberry yogurt. Most preferred was 4% added sweetener.