Synbiotic ice cream containing yacon flour and Lactobacillus acidophylus NCFM

Abstract

The food industry is continually seeking to provide healthy functional foods to satisfy increasing consumer demand. However, numerous challenges exist, such as the requirement for making technological improvements to the processing of these foods, in order to increase consumer acceptability. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of strawberry ice cream, processed to include yacon flour (YF) and Lactobacillus acidophylus NCFM culture, for its physicochemical, microbiological and sensory attributes, as well as its probiotic potential, over a 150-day storage period. Five formulations were developed: T1 (0% YF and 0% culture); T2 (1.5% YF and 0.06% culture); T3 (3% YF and 0.06% culture); T4 (1.5% YF and 0.13% culture) and T5 (3% YF and 0.13% lactic culture). The physicochemical and microbiological analyses showed suitability with standards required by legislation, and all formulations had acceptable sensory attributes. The formulations containing 3% YF (T3 and T5) had a higher mineral content and higher count of viable probiotic microorganisms compared to the other formulations (P < 0.05). During the 150-day storage period, the food matrix, acidity and pH maintained the viability of the probiotic microorganisms above to 107 cfu/g, therefore, demonstrating the potential of the developed synbiotic ice cream.