Confectionery Foods Research Articles

The Influence of Starch Sweeteners on Functional Properties of Cellulose Fat Mimetics: Rheological and Textural Aspects.

Starch sweeteners are commonly used in many confectionery food products. Usually, considering the trend of producing low-energy and low-fat products, these products include fat mimetics. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of fructose sweeteners on the development of functional properties of MCG fat mimetic, such as rheological and textural behavior. Fat mimetics made from Microcrystalline cellulose gel (MCG) consist of colloidal microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) and were observed in five different concentrations (1, 3, 5, 7, and 10%). The amount of starch sweetener in the mixture with the fat mimetics was 20%. The effect of pure crystalline fructose and a mixture of crystalline-fructose and high-fructose corn syrup in a ratio of 1:1 was analyzed. Rheological parameters significantly decreased with the application of starch sweeteners. By adding a mixture of starch sweeteners, this decrease was further increased by 10%. At higher gel concentrations of 5, 7, and 10%, the dominance of the elastic modulus G' was preserved. Texture parameters such as firmness, consistency, cohesiveness, and viscosity index were reduced accordingly. The presence of starch sweeteners significantly disrupted the networking of the three-dimensional structure of the MCG gel and the proper hydration process during the formation of fat mimetics.

Factors Affecting Waste Elimination: A Case of Confectionery Food

This research identified the factors related to waste elimination in the confectionery industry. The rationale for conducting this research is the increasing issue of waste elimination in the confectionary sector of Pakistan and the limited research being carried out on this particular topic. The methodology used in this research was based on quantitative data collected through surveys conducted by supply chain professionals. The data was analyzed with the help of using different statistical techniques such as reliability analysis, regression and correlation analysis, and factor analysis. The patterns of findings derived through regression analysis illustrated that various factors of production related to skilled labor, automation, material quality, and machine efficiency positively impact waste elimination in Pakistan's confectionary industry. On the other hand, the results of correlation illustrated that out of different factors of production, the factor which is most influential on waste elimination is skilled labor as its value was reported at 0.867, which was the highest amongst all the variables in the research. The theoretical implications of the findings are that they were very much aligned with the existing literature and contributed to it positively. On the other hand, practical implications are related to supply chain managers as these managers, in the context of the confectionary industry, can use these findings to improve the efficiency of the production process through waste elimination.

Quantitative Assessment of Indispensable Amino Acids in the Flour Confectionery Food Products of Plant Origin — Tofu Cake and Tofu Muffin with Chickpea Flour

Abstract The article provides a study of the quantitative composition of amino acids in some baked flour confectionery product of plant and animal origin. The objective of the study was to determine the profiles of indispensable amino acids in several products. Source materials with high content of protein, and which have been used for the production of these confectionery products were studied. A source of protein in final products that contain ingredients of animal origin is cottage cheese, the content of which in the products amounts to 25% and 50%. The sources of protein in products that contain ingredients of plant origin include tofu, soya protein isolate, chickpea flour, and coconut milk. The results showed evidence of the presence of a full profile of indispensable amino acids in all tested products. The source ingredients had high biological value with well-balanced content of indispensable amino acids. The only exception was coconut milk, which had the lowest calculated amino acid amounts among the tested raw materials. Tofu cake contained leucine with the highest concentration — 0.78 g/100 g of product, followed by lysine (0.5 g/100 g). Tofu muffin with chickpea flour contained 0.63 g/100 g leucine and 0.45 g/100 g lysine. The profiles of indispensable amino acids showed that these products can excellently help to supplement daily needs for indispensable amino acids.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG Ameliorated Long-Term Exposure to TiO2 Nanoparticles Induced Microbiota-Mediated Liver and Colon Inflammation and Fructose-Caused Metabolic Abnormality in Metabolism Syndrome Mice.

A huge number of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) exist in confectionery foods, which is a high-risk factor for development of diet-induced metabolism syndrome (MetS). In this study, we built a high fructose drinking-induced MetS mouse model, and oral intake of 20 mg/kg TiO2 NPs was administered for 8 weeks. Significant pathological changes and inflammatory factors of overproduction were detected in the liver and colon. The 16S rDNA sequencing analysis results indicated that TiO2 NPs evidently and further perturbed the gut microbiota diversity, compositions, and KEGG pathways in MetS mice. Fecal microbiota transplant experiment proved that TiO2 NPs-altered gut microbiota drives liver and colon inflammation damage. More importantly, oral supplementation of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) ameliorated not only the TiO2 NPs-induced inflammation but also the fructose-caused metabolic abnormality. LGG recovered the gut dysbiosis and decreased the abundance of inflammation-related bacteria (Desulfovibrionaceae, Clostridia, and Proteobacteria), thereby protecting against TiO2 NPs-induced severe inflammation damage. Our study suggests the necessity of assessing the toxic effects of foodborne nanoparticles on the chronic disease population and potential usefulness of probiotics as prophylactic and therapeutic.

Has Household Purchasing of Confectionery Products in Turkey Changed in the Last Decade?

Although consumption of confectionery and chocolate products per capita in Turkey is considerably lower than that of the developed counties, there has recently been a rising trend in sugar consumption. The purpose of this study was to identify how and to what extent the significant changes in socio-demographic and economic structures of households in Turkey during the period of 2002-2013 influence monthly real spending on sugar, jam-marmalade, and confectionery products. The data was obtained by the annual household budget surveys of the Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT) between 2002 and 2013. These surveys are annually conducted by TURKSTAT with nearly varying ten thousand randomly selected households throughout the nation for the period between January 1 and December 31. A multivariate Tobit model was used to determine factors affecting Turkish monthly household expenditure on three foods. Cross correlation coefficients among food pairs and marginal impacts of exogenous variables were also estimated. Almost 79% of households spend on confectionery foods, followed by 73% on sugar products and low 20% on jam-marmalade foods. According to results compared to the 2002 reference year, spending on sugar and jam-like food has declined over the years, while more spending on confectionery was emerging. Over the course of twelve years period, the sample households monthly spend 13.84, 3.73 and ₺ 12.91 on sugar, jam-marmalade and confectionery foods, respectively. The correlation coefficients among the food items were all positive and statistically significant, indicating that after controlling the role of independent variables in our model, uncontrolled variables along with measurement errors and any other functional forms induce both the spending on the two food pairs. Impacts of many socio-demographic and economic factors on monthly household spending of confectionery products including sugar were identified, and also years’ impacts on spending patterns were confirmed. By years, the age variable had different effects on the food spending of the three categories. Nonetheless, it has been identified that the families whose household heads have a green card spend different amounts both for sugar and confectionery products annually. It has also been identified that while only confectionery food product spending of the families who receive in-kind and financial aids differs annually, all three categories of food spending differ significantly as the numbers of working individuals changes yearly. Results permitted us to draw relevant policy implications and to shape policy formation for future effective food programs or policies.

Development of a Facile and Convenient Method for Sugar Determination in Low Moisture Confectioneries and Honeys Using Fourier Transform Infrared Attenuated Total Reflectance Spectroscopy and Chemometrics

A method using Fourier transform infrared with attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy and partial least squares (PLS) chemometric analysis to simultaneously quantify the mass percent concentrations of glucose, fructose, and sucrose, commonly found in honey and low moisture confectionery food products, was developed. A three-component full factorial design was generated as a training set (n = 64) to predict the sugar concentrations in a Box-Behnken testing set (n = 16). Analysis of the entire spectral region from 649.99 to 3996.38 cm−1 using Savitzky–Golay signal processing technique and PLS algorithm garnered optimal errors of prediction and better linearity between predicted and measured concentrations in the test set compared to analysis using a specific spectral region from 800 to 1500 cm−1 and using a wide array of signal processing techniques (first derivative, second derivative, moving average, binning, and standard normal variate). The model further detected these sugar concentrations in 3 standard honeys, 12 commercial honey samples, 8 honey adulterants, 13 low moisture confectionery food samples, and 15 unknown honey samples from Louisiana apiaries. Applying principal component and clustering analysis also enabled the discrimination of these honey samples based on their fructose:glucose ratios. Thus, the developed method represents a potentially novel, simple, accurate, nondestructive, and rapid means of quantifying concentrations of glucose, fructose, and sucrose in honey and low-moisture confectioneries in 1–2 minutes.

Beryl’s Chocolate and Confectionery Sdn Bhd to Enter Malaysia Market

Chocolate and confectionery food market is really competitive in Malaysia. This paper will elaborate ways how Beryl’s Chocolate and Confectionery Sdn Bhd to enter and introduce it product in local market. Beryl’s Chocolate is a brand name for high quality with affordable price overseas, especially Japan. But Beryl’s Chocolate is an unknown brand for local citizen.

Determination and identification of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in confectionery foods, marketed in South Korea, using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and transmission electron microscopy

ABSTRACTFood-grade titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a common and widespread food additive in many processed foods, personal care products, and other industrial categories as it boosts the brightness and whiteness of colours. Although it is generally recognised as safe for humans, there is a growing interest in the health risks associated with its oral intake. This study quantified and identified TiO2 nanoparticles present in confectionery foods, which are children’s favourite foods, with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A reliable digestion method using hot sulphuric acid and a digestion catalyst (K2SO4:CuSO4 = 9:1) was suggested for titanium analysis. Validations of the experimental method were quite acceptable in terms of linearity, recoveries, detection limits, and quantification limits. Of all the 88 analysed foods, TiO2 was detected in 19 products, all except three declared TiO2 in their labelling. The mean TiO2 content of candies, chewing gums, and chocolates were 0.36 mg g−1, 0.04 mg g−1, and 0.81 mg g−1, respectively. Whitish particles isolated from the confectionery foods were confirmed as TiO2 nanoparticles via TEM and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), in which nanosized particles (<100 nm) were identified.

Reducing consumption of confectionery foods: A post-hoc segmentation analysis using a social cognition approach

Considering confectionary consumption behaviour this cross-sectional study used social cognition variables to identify distinct segments in terms of their motivation and efforts to decrease their consumption of such foods with the aim of informing targeted social marketing campaigns. Using Latent Class analysis on a sample of 500 adults four segments were identified: unmotivated, triers, successful actors, and thrivers. The unmotivated and triers segments reported low levels of perceived need and perceived behavioural control (PBC) in addition to high levels of habit and hedonic hunger with regards their consumption of confectionery foods. Being a younger adult was associated with higher odds of being in the unmotivated and triers segments and being female was associated with higher odds of being in the triers and successful actors segments. The findings indicate that in the absence of strong commitment to eating low amounts of confectionery foods (i.e. perceived need) people will continue to overconsume free sugars regardless of motivation to change. It is therefore necessary to identify relevant messages or ‘triggers’ related to sugar consumption that resonate with young adults in particular. For those motivated to change, counteracting unhealthy eating habits and the effects of hedonic hunger may necessitate changes to food environments in order to make the healthy choice more appealing and accessible.

A Surveillance study on the presence and safety of different types of food additive in children’s foods available in the markets

Health risk of food additives is under debates throughout the world. Several studiesconfirmed harmful effects and health problems associated with their consumption, but nodata was published about this subject in Kurdistan and no awareness has been takenregarding this issue in the region. For this purpose 300 commercial food items consumedby children were collected from the markets and their labels analyzed for additivecontents. As a result, 286 items (95.3%) found to contain additives, and only 14 (4.6%)were free from additive. The 286 items contained 120 different types of food additivesand in 38 items (13.2%) the numbers and types of additives were not identified. From the120 additive, 75 (62.5%) were found harmful, but no adverse effect found for 45 foodadditives (37.5%). The adverse health effects; 28 (23.3%) recorded as carcinogenic, 17of them (14.4%) affected digestive as well as Respiratory Systems, and 15 of them(12.5%) were related to integumentary System problems. The most common additivesfound were color (27), followed by thickeners (25), and preservatives (12).The higher percentage of adverse effects for each of the color, thickener and acidityregulator were cancer-causing effects, however preservatives mostly affected therespiratory system. The more adverse health effects of additives related to coloradditives, and the higher percentage of color additive found in confectionery food items,so confectionery products were the more harmful food categories that children shouldavoid. Based on the results of this study, the quality of some food products meant forlocal markets is unsatisfactory. It needs to enforce and implement regulations on themanufacturers of products consumed by children to ensure the provision of excellentquality of products for the low-income population of the country.

Acting to self-regulate unhealthy eating habits. An investigation into the effects of habit, hedonic hunger and self-regulation on sugar consumption from confectionery foods

Many people are motivated to eat healthily but find it difficult to override established and less healthy habits. Habits by their nature are unconscious and cued by the environment, thus making them powerful determinants of behaviour. Limited research has explored the role of habit as a mediator between self-regulation and sugar consumption. This study investigated the relative importance of factors that support/impede the consumption of foods with high sugar content and the mediating effect of habit. The study sample was 500 Irish adult’s representative of the population. Sugar consumption, habit, hedonic hunger, self-efficacy, perceived need, dietary planning and dietary self-monitoring were assessed using self-reported measures. A path analysis of the data was used to test the direct and indirect effects of the independent factors on estimated sugar consumption grams per day (g/d). In addition, the interaction effects of self-efficacy and dietary planning/self-monitoring on sugar consumption was examined using simple slope analysis. The results showed that habit had the largest effect in the model and was positively related to sugar consumption g/d (b=12.09, p<0.01). While the direct effect of self-efficacy on sugar-consumption g/d was significant (b=−5.25, p<0.05), this effect was partially mediated by habit (−4.84, Bca CI −7.00, −3.00) and the direct effect of action control on sugar consumption (b=−1.30, p=0.311) was fully mediated by habit (b=−2.42, Bca CI −3.93, −1.20), which indicates that strong unhealthy habits compete against self-efficacy and can reduce the potential benefits of dietary planning and self-monitoring. The simple slope analysis revealed that action control has a significant negative effect on sugar intake when self-efficacy is weak (b=−5.48, p=0.01). The direct effect of hedonic hunger on confectionery sugar consumption (b=1.38, p=0.376) was fully mediated by habit (b=5.92, Bca CI 4.20, 8.08) indicating that the desire to eat tempting food may overrides one’s intended behaviour resulting in counter-intentional habits. It is apparent from the findings that a dual strategy of targeting behaviour and the underlying habits may be effective in improving dietary intake and self-regulation is likely to be sustainable only in an environment that facilitates healthy eating behaviour.

Testing Two Nutrient Profiling Models of Labelled Foods and Beverages Marketed in Turkey.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutrient profile of labelled foods and also understand the application of two international nutrient profiling models of labelled foods and beverages. WXYfm and NRF 9.3 nutrient profiling models were used to evaluate 3,171 labelled foods and beverages of 38 food categories and 500 different brands. According to the WXYfm model, pasta, grains and legumes and frozen foods had the best scores whereas oils had the worst scores. According to the NRF 9.3 model per 100 kcal, the best scores were obtained for frozen foods, grains and legumes and milk products whereas the confectionery foods had the worst scores. According to NRF 9.3 per serving size, grains and legumes had the best scores and flavoured milks had the worst scores. A comparison of WXYfm and NRF 9.3 nutrient profiling models ranked scores showed a high positive correlation (p=0.01). The two nutrient models evaluated yielded similar results. Further studies are needed to test other category specific nutrient profiling models in order to understand how different models behave.

Bacterial, SCFA and gas profiles of a range of food ingredients following in vitro fermentation by human colonic microbiota

It is now apparent that there is a strong link between health and nutrition and this can be seen clearly when we talk of obesity. The food industry is trying to capitalise on this by adapting high sugar/fat foods to become healthier alternatives. In confectionery food ingredients can be used for a range of purposes including sucrose replacement. Many of these ingredients may also evade digestion in the upper gut and be fermented by the gut microbiota upon entering the colon. This study was designed to screen a range of ingredients and their activities on the gut microbiota. In this study we screened a range of these ingredients in triplicate batch culture fermentations with known prebiotics as controls. Changes in bacteriology were monitored using FISH. SCFA were measured by GC and gas production was assessed during anaerobic batch fermentations. Bacterial enumeration showed significant increases ( P ≤ 0.05) in bifidobacteria and lactobacilli with polydextrose and most polyols with no significant increases in Clostridium histolyticum/perfringens. SCFA and gas formation indicated that the substrates added to the fermenters were being utilised by the gut microbiota. It therefore appears these ingredients exert some prebiotic activity in vitro. Further studies, particularly in human volunteers, are necessary.

Economic importance of licorice

Licorice is the root and stolon of the Glycyrrhiza plant, which belongs to the family Leguminosae. The licorice plant is an important medicinal herb, and the constituent—glycyrrhizin—is widely used as a natural sweetener and also as a pharmaceutical agent because of its anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective properties. Licorice is also an indispensable ingredient of traditional Japanese Kampo medicines. Furthermore, licorice extracts are used as cosmetics, food additives, tobacco flavors, and confectionery foods. In this article, we review the importance of licorice and its related products.

Talc: Occurrence, Characterization, and Consumer Applications

Talc is a mineral compound with unique attributes and significant commercial importance. As used in consumer products, talc has a long and proven history of safe use. Direct consumer applications include body powders, other cosmetic formulations, pharmaceutical tableting, and some confectionery food products. Production, characterization, and consumer applications of FDA-regulated talc products, particularly cosmetics, are described. The implementation of stringent safety and quality control measures designed to ensure the absence of asbestos fibers from consumer talc products is discussed. Consumer exposure to talc-containing products is at least 350 times lower than permissible industrial exposure.

Substitutability of fractionated beef tallow for other fats and oils in the food and confectionery industries: An economic evaluation

AbstractThe United States is the most important beef tallow producer in the world, supplying ca. 5.5 billion pounds annually. Approximately half of this beef tallow is exported at relatively low prices when compared to other fats and oils. Only ca. 10% of the total is used in domestic edible products. On the other hand, cocoa butter, coconut oil, palm oil, and palmkernel oil are imported oils whose demand for use in food and confectionery products has been increasing over the past few years. The first of these is the most expensive fat in the world. Beef tallow contains specific triglycerides which are also contained in these imported fats and oils. Through modern technology, beef tallow has been fractionated into products which are compatible with or superior to the imported fats and oils. It is visualized that products from fractionated beef tallow can be used as substitutes and extenders to cocoa butter, palm oil, and other fats and oils in the food and confectionery industries. The economic evaluation in this paper, analyzed through time series data and multiple regression techniques, established the past relationships between per capita consumption of confectionery food fat, beef tallow, cocoa butter, adjusted per capita disposable income, and adjusted costs of confectionery, beef tallow, and cocoa butter from 1956 to 1973. The substitutability of fats and oils was evaluated and the potential uses of fractionated beef tallow investigated.