Physical Properties of Mixed Dairy Food Proteins

Abstract

Foods may contain more than one type of protein, and food formulators sometimes combine different proteins for desired synergistic textural benefits. Egg albumin, fish protein isolate, or soy protein isolate were blended with calcium caseinate or whey protein isolate and mixed in water adjusted to pH 2.5, 6.8, and 9.0 at 25 or 60°C. The effect of pH and temperature on solubility, viscosity, and the structure of the resulting gels were determined. The viscosity at the most soluble concentration at 25°C were: egg albumin (175.2 mPa.s/35 wt%), fish protein isolate (2207.4 mPa.s/30 wt%), soy protein isolate (2531.5 mPa.s/10 wt%), calcium caseinate (1115.8 mPa.s/15 wt%), and whey protein isolate (161.2 mPa.s/35%). In mixed protein systems viscosity values were reduced. The values for calcium caseinate or whey protein isolate with egg albumin, at the protein level of 15 g/100 g were: calcium caseinate/egg albumin (10:5 wt%) 535.1 mPa.s and whey protein isolate/egg albumin (10:5 wt%) 8.7 mPa.s. Microscopy imaging revealed changes in protein aggregation clusters during heating of calcium caseinate, egg albumin, and whey protein isolate. Egg albumin acted synergistically to increase viscosity, while fish protein isolate acted antagonistically to reduce viscosity. This knowledge is useful to manufacturers who may seek to enhance food texture by blending different proteins.