Fat In Food Products Research Articles

Development and evaluation of a novel margarine using starch hydrogel combined edible wax oleogel bigels

With heightened health awareness and regulatory guidelines, consumer preferences have shifted towards low/no saturated fat food products. Bigel has emerged as a viable solution for replacing saturated fat. In this study, a system based on bigel was developed using a potato starch-based hydrogel and a walnut oil/candelilla wax-based oleogel, and its quality characteristics including sensory properties, texture, rheology, crystal structure, solid fat content (SFC), and distribution uniformity of bigel were evaluated. The results indicated that the optimum ratio of oleogel (oil/wax = 25) to hydrogel (distilled water/starch = 30) for the prepared bigel-based margarine was 2:1 (w/w). The melting point of the bigel-based margarine ranged from 36.23 ± 1.966 °C to 44.53 ± 0.503 °C, with good plasticity, hardness, good thixotropy recovery and viscosity properties. The content of SFC was lower than 4%, the major crystal types were β and β′ polycrystalline and possessed a good homogeneity. Generally, the preparation of nutritious and healthy margarine based on bigel is practicable. This research may provide a theoretical basis and also focus on the practical development and application of novel lower-temperature spreadable margarines.

Formation of small-granule starch oleogels based on capillary force: Impact of starch surface lipids on lubrication performance

Starch granule oleogels were prepared and their rheological properties were precisely tuned using the capillary bridging phenomenon. The addition of a small amount of water to an oily suspension of starch granules can lead to starch granule bridging and network formation, transitioning it from a fluid-like to a gel-like state. Small-granule starches with high specific surface area and interfacial area exhibited a greater number of liquid bridges and stronger starch granules interactions, making them more prone to forming structurally stable oleogel systems. By increasing the content of water and starch granule, the starch oleogels exhibited three distinct structural states: pendular state (water ≤ 3.28 %, starch ≤ 17.85 %), pendular bridging network (water: 4.92 %, starch: 24.59 %), and capillary aggregates (water ≥ 6.56 %, starch > 24.59 %). Furthermore, the influence of starch granule surface lipids on the lubrication performance of the oleogel system was investigated. Surface roughness increased after extraction of surface lipids, and the friction coefficient also showed a significant increase. Overall, capillary suspension system can potentially be used to design novel fat food products, and our findings have established the correlation between starch granule surface properties and sensory perception in food, providing valuable insights for adjusting the oral processing characteristics of food.

Fabrication and characterisation of Pickering emulsion‐based oleogel stabilised by citrus fibre and whey protein isolate colloidal complex: application in cookie formulation

SummaryIn this study, the oleogel was produced by Pickering emulsion‐based method by using citrus fibre (CF)‐whey protein isolate (WPI) colloidal complex. The obtained oleogels were characterised by rheological and textural properties, and then the oleogels were used in cookies as an alternative to palm oil. The four oleogels (1% to 5%) were fabricated using a CF‐10% WPI complex. Shear thinning rheological behaviour was observed in all emulsion and oleogel samples. The G values were greater than the G values, indicating that solid‐like behaviour dominated in all emulsion and oleogel samples. All oleogel samples had a higher than 90% oil‐holding capacity. The visual appearance of 3% CF‐10% WPI and 5% CF‐10% WPI showed no surface oil, and more integrity structure means that could well trap oil in a gel matrix. Increasing CF% concentration reduced oil droplets and created a more compact structure, particularly at 3% and 5% CF‐10% WPI. An increase in CF concentration from 2% to 5% led to an increase in the hardness value of the dried products and cookies that CF formed a 3D network structure with binds liquid oil. The oxidative stability showed that no significant changes were found between the 3% CF‐10% WPI and palm cookies (P < 0.05). Cookies containing oleogels with a 3% CF content exhibited a visual resemblance to this trait, suggesting a colour appearance that closely resembled cookies made with palm oil. The incorporation of oleogels into the cookie recipe proved to be an effective substitute for palm oil. CF‐10% WPI oleogels show promise for use in cookie preparation as a replacement for palm oil, offering potential as substitutes for saturated and trans fats in food products.

Effect of Tween 20, emulsification temperature and ultrasonication intensity on structured emulsions with monoglycerides

Structured emulsions are regarded as an innovative way to replace saturated fat in food products. Monoglycerides (MGs) as lipid-based surfactants could form mainly water-in-oil emulsions, which tend to phase separate. The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction of Tween 20 (0–6% w/w) in 3% (w/w) MGs-based emulsions, under various emulsification temperatures (−3–70 °C) and various ultrasonication intensities. Several analytical methods such as differential scanning calorimetry, confocal and polarized optical microscopy and rheometry were employed to characterize the structured systems. The presence of Tween 20 promoted the formation of oil-in-water structured emulsions and prevented the droplet coalescence and phase separation. The emulsification at low temperatures accelerated the secondary crystallization of the MGs to the coagel state, promoted the preference of the crystals to be located at the interface of the oil droplets and act as Pickering particles. The formed free-standing emulsion gels showed improved stability under freeze-thaw cycling. High ultrasonication intensities during emulsification formed firmer gels with fast crystallization rates, while at low intensities the coagel crystallization was delayed. The MGs/Tween 20 formed needle-like crystals in water, which were employed as Pickering type emulsifiers to form oil-in-water structured emulsions. The MGs/Tween 20 structured emulsions showed improved stability than the conventional emulsions, indicating that they could be utilized as animal fat substitute systems in plant-based alternative food products, as well as in cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications.

Encapsulation of grape seed oil in oil-in-water emulsion using multilayer technology: Investigation of physical stability, physicochemical and oxidative properties of emulsions under the influence of the number of layers

Many studies have shown that grape seed oil (GSO) is one of the vegetable fats that are plentiful in essential fatty acids and can be used as a fat substitute or to modify fat in food products to reduce saturated fatty acids. However, due to its low solubility and high sensitivity to oxidation, it is necessary to develop delivery systems that can distribute GSO in food more effectively. Recently, the preparation of emulsions using the layer-by-layer (LBL) method has many advantages in delivering lipid-soluble functional compounds. This research was used to check the formation of GSO oil-loaded primary, secondary and tertiary multilayer emulsions stabilized by mixture of anionic gelatin, cationic chitosan, and anionic basil seed gum (BSG) as the aqueous phase at pH 5, prepared using a layer-by-layer electrostatic deposition technique. Multilayer emulsions prepared by GSO and a mixture of gelatin, chitosan, and BSG as the aqueous phase at pH 5. Finally, the effect of the number of layers on the physicochemical properties (particle size, viscosity, turbidity, refractive index, and physical stability) and oxidative stability (peroxide value, thiobarbituric acid value, and fatty acid profile) during the storage time (30 days) at two temperatures 25 °C & 4 °C was investigated. Also, the zeta potential and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of mono-layer and multi-layer emulsions were investigated. The results revealed that by increasing the number of layers of multi-layer emulsion of GSO, the stability has improved. Thus, the tertiary emulsion has been more effective than the other two emulsions in maintaining the physicochemical characteristics and stability over time (P < 0.001). Morphological characterization and FTIR spectroscopy results confirmed that gelatin, chitosan, and BSG were successfully loaded into the LBL emulsions. This study can improve the original percept of multilayer emulsions and promulgate their potential applications for the entire encapsulation of essential fatty acids to enrich and prevent peroxide attack.

Production, health implications and applications of oleogels as fat replacer in food system: A review

AbstractVarious food formulations widely utilized solid fats to provide specific textural properties and sensory attributes. Partially hydrogenated oil was commonly used as solid fat before being banned by FDA recently because of the existence of trans fats. Oleogels, semi‐solid gel typically prepared from liquid vegetable oil and food‐grade oleogelators, is developed as an alternative for solid fats that is free of trans fat and low in saturated fats. Oleogels are prepared via indirect or direct oleogelation technology by which the liquid oil is entrapped in a three‐dimensional network with the aid of low molecular weight oleogelators (LMOGs) and high molecular weight oleogelators (HMOGs). Oleogels received tremendous attention from food scientists to be used in various food applications, particularly high‐fat products such as comminuted meat, chocolates, ice cream, shortening and margarine and even as a deep‐frying medium. They satisfy not only the current trends of consumers for healthy food products (free of trans fat and low in saturated fat) but also provide viscoelastic solid‐ and gel‐ like properties to structure high fat food products. More importantly, recent studies showed that oleogels tend to be metabolized differently from conventional fats and oils giving them an additional advantage in improving the nutritional value of high‐fat foods. Therefore, this review aims to provide an overview that captures the latest studies on oleogels from their production via direct dispersion and indirect dispersion methods, processing conditions that influence the physical properties, metabolism and health attributes as well as recent application in food products.

Impact of Combined Thermal Pressure Treatments on Physical Properties and Stability of Whey Protein Gel Emulsions.

Emulsion gels are gaining interest as fat replacers due to their benefits associated with calorie reduction and their versatility in a wide range of products. Their production process needs to be tailored to obtain the desired stability and physicochemical properties. This study investigated the effect of heat (70, 80, and 90 °C) and pressure (5, 10, and 15 MPa) to produce whey protein emulsion gels using a pilot-scale tubular heat exchanger equipped with a homogenization valve. Both temperature and pressure determined a significant effect (p < 0.05) on the rheological moduli, with the treated samples displaying a predominant elastic behavior. The treatments also showed an improved pseudoplasticity due to the significant reduction in the flow behavior index (p < 0.05). All the samples showed a bimodal particle size distribution; by increasing the temperature up to 80 °C, a reduction in Dv50 (50th percentile) values compared to the control samples was observed. At 90 °C, the Dv50 value increased because of coalescence and flocculation phenomena occurring during or immediately after processing. The greater aggregation and structural development obtained with stronger process conditions improved the stability of the emulsions. The results show the capability to produce gel emulsions with good physical properties that could be proposed as food ingredients to substitute fats in food products.

Chitosan-based multifunctional films reinforced with cerium oxide nanoparticles for food packaging applications

The current study discusses the use of nanoceria as a multifunctional filler in food packaging biopolymer films for the first time. Nanoceria was synthesized using co-precipitation method. Chitosan-based food packaging films incorporated with 1 wt% and 2 wt% nanoceria were prepared and characterized. The FTIR absorption spectra confirms the presence of hydrogen bonding between nanoceria and chitosan structure. The nanocomposite films displayed strong UV-A and UV-B blocking properties besides being mechanically strong, thermally stable and possessing high moisture barrier properties. Further, due to the switching of oxidation states by cerium between Ce3+ and Ce4+, nanoceria shows high photocatalytic activity. This results in strong antimicrobial activity against E. coli and L. monocytogenes, especially under visible light. Further, the nanocomposite films displayed ∼1.25 times and ∼2.3 times higher ABTS and DPPH free radical scavenging potential, respectively, compared to pristine chitosan films, which indicate their high antioxidant potential. Moreover, the films depicted good biocompatibility towards L929 cells indicating their safety for food contact applications. With all these properties, the nanoceria-added chitosan films display strong potential for use in active food packaging, especially for high fat food products such as nuts and meats.

Formulation of Palm Oil Based Fat Replacer and Its Application on Meat Analogue

Fat replacer is food ingredients used to mimic and replace animal fat in food products. The demand of low saturated fat in food products increase because of health concerns related to degenerative disease. Vegetable oil in a liquid state must be solidified to mimic animal fat by the emulsification process. This study aims to create and formulate fat replacer using palm olein and palm stearin as a source of unsaturated fatty acid. The formula was composed with vegetable oil concentration of 30% (K1), 35% (K2), 40% (K3), 45% (K4), and 50% (K5). A concentration of 15% fat replacers emulsion was added to make a meat analogue. Proximate analysis from all treatments showed that meat analogue has water content in the range of 53.90–57.56%, ash content of 2.87–3.10%, protein content of 9.04–15.32%, fat content of 13.22–19.13% and carbohydrate content of 2.35–2.53%. Oil concentration in fat replacer affected to the texture and sensory properties of meat analogue. The results indicate that the five treatments comply with the national quality standards for meat sausages.

Application of Structured Plant Oils in Selected Food Products

Abstract The joint statutory recommendations developed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the greater consumer awareness, and environmental considerations confirm the need to reduce the consumption of saturated fatty acids in the human diet. This has contributed to the development of innovative methods for replacement of saturated fats in food products. Oleogels obtained with various methods are such an alternative. Therefore, the study was focused on the analysis of the current applications of oleogels in selected food products and elucidation of the mechanisms of oleogel formation. As indicated by many researchers, oleogels (structured oils) can replace trans and saturated fats in food products and can be used in the production of spreads as well as bakery, confectionery, and dairy products. However, there are still many challenges and technological problems preventing commercial application of oleogels in the industry. It is also important to develop oleogels with higher physical and antioxidant stability, which will be used in a wide range of food products manufactured in varying production conditions and give the final products the desired sensory properties. Nevertheless, given its nutritional and environmental values, oleogelation has great potential for future industrial use.

Technological and sensory evaluation of pound cakes with reduced sugar and fat substituted by hydrated chia (Salvia hispanica L.)

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesThere is a growing demand for products with reduced sugar and fat contents, as excessive consumption has been associated with the development of several chronic noncommunicable diseases. However, both fat and sugar provide important technological and sensory characteristics, mainly in bakery products such as pound cakes. The use of ingredients with functional properties to reduce sugar and substitute fat in food products is an important approach. In this regard, the effect of reducing fat (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) and sugar (20%) on the physicochemical and sensory properties of pound cakes was evaluated, using hydrated chia seeds as fat replacer.FindingsThe specific volume of pound cakes decreased significantly with sugar reduction and fat replacement, also influencing their texture. Regarding crumb color, the values of the coordinates L*, a*, and b* were reduced with the increase of hydrated chia seeds, indicating cake darkening. The moisture content and water activity of pound cakes increased, while the number of alveoli decreased, with sugar reduction and fat replacement. Nevertheless, the sensory evaluation showed that all attributes had acceptance scores above 5, and all pound cakes had a good purchase intention.ConclusionsThe results showed an interesting potential for the use of hydrated chia seeds for fat replacement, requiring only a few adjustments. Future studies should be conducted to improve the texture and minimize the structural defects of these cakes.Significance and NoveltyHydrated chia seeds may be an interesting alternative as fat substitute in pound cakes.

Drug-Food Interactions with a Focus on Mediterranean Diet

There is a growing interest among people in western countries for adoption of healthier lifestyle habits and diet behaviors with one of the most known ones to be Mediterranean diet (Med-D). Med-D is linked with daily consumption of food products such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, seafood, beans, nuts, olive oil, low-fat food derivatives and limited consumption of meat or full fat food products. Med-D is well-known to promote well-being and lower the risk of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. On the other hand bioactive constituents in foods may interfere with drugs’ pharmacological mechanisms, modulating the clinical outcome leading to drug-food interactions (DFIs). This review discusses current evidence for food products that are included within the Med-Dand available scientific data suggest a potential contribution in DFIs with impact on therapeutic outcome. Most cases refer to potential modulation of drugs’ absorption and metabolism such as foods’ impact on drugs’ carrier-mediated transport and enzymatic metabolism as well as potential synergistic or antagonistic effects that enhance or reduce the pharmacological effect for some drugs. Adherence to Med-D can improve disease management and overall well-being, but specific foods should be consumed with caution so as to not hinder therapy outcome. Proper patient education and consultation from healthcare providers is important to avoid any conflicts and side effects due to clinically significant DFIs.

Influence of particle wettability on foam formation in honey

The rising level of obesity is often attributed to high sugar and/or fat consumption. Therefore, the food industry is constantly searching for ways to reduce or eliminate sugar or fat in food products. Therefore, honey foam, which contains little sugar and no fat, can be used as cake, cracker or bread spread instead of butter or margarine which contains a substantial amount of fat or jam that contains a substantial amount of sugar. Small solid particles (nanometers to micrometers) of suitable wettability are now considered outstanding foam-stabilizing agents. However, while the degree of particle wettability necessary to obtain very stable aqueous and nonaqueous foams is well-known, that needed to obtain very stable honey foam is unknown. In this study, the influence of the degree of wettability of fumed silica particles, indicated by their % SiOH (14–100), was investigated in honey in relation to foam formation and foam stability. The honephilic particles (61%–100% SiOH) formed particle dispersion in honey, while foams were obtained with the honephobic particles (14%–50% SiOH). The thread-off between particle dispersion and foam formation occurs at 50% SiOH, meaning foam formation in honey is possible when the particles are at least 50% honephobic. At relatively low particle concentration <1 wt.%, foam volume decreases with increasing honephobicity, but increases with honephobicity at relatively high concentration >1 wt.%. Also, as particle concentration increases, the shape of the air bubbles in the foam changes from spherical to non-spherical. After a little drainage, the foams remain stable to drainage and did not coalesce substantially for more than six months. These findings will guide the formulation of edible Pickering honey foams.

Composition and process approaches that underpin the mechanical properties of oleogels

AbstractConsumers are becoming aware of the relevance of eating low levels of trans and saturated fats in processed foods. In addition, many countries are adopting regulatory measures on the use of these ingredients. For this reason, the exploration of new technologies capable of producing structures that trap liquid oil (composed mainly of unsaturated fatty acids, which are considered healthier) has been widely investigated to replace saturated and trans fats in food products. One of the most promising technologies is the so‐called oleogels, which present a great challenge to mimic sensory attributes related to the texture of processed foods based on saturated fats. In this review, we discuss the influence of the production methods (direct or indirect) and composition of the oleogels on their mechanical properties that are related to the texture. An overview of the parameters that can interfere with these properties contributes to a better understanding of the building of the oleogels and their possible applications.

Edible oleogels as solid fat alternatives: Composition and oleogelation mechanism implications.

The growing awareness of the adverse health effects of trans-fats and saturated fats are driving researchers to seek healthy alternatives. A promising strategy to structure liquid oil, called oleogelation, has been a subject of great interest. In the development of oleogels, highly unsaturated oils can be structured through different gelation mechanisms by varying structuring agents (e.g., polymeric or low molecular weight oleogelators). Due to their potential to reduce saturated fat in food products while also providing solid texture without changing the oil's chemical composition and nutritional values, oleogels have been introduced into various products (meat, spread, and confectionary) as alternatives to traditional solid fats. However, the shortcomings of oleogels cannot be ignored, such as the softer texture and the poorer plasticity than traditional solid fat. As the physicochemical properties and functionalities of oleogels are highly dependent on their composition and structuring mechanism, it is possible to obtain a product with desirable functionality by choosing a suitable oleogelator or oil phase. Thus, comprehensive and detailed knowledge regarding the role of oleoglarors, oil phase, and oleogelation mechanism on oleogelation is needed. This review primarily focuses on published information within the last decades addressing how the composition and oleogelation mechanism affect the structure and functionality of oleogels and oleogel-based products. The factors affecting the oil gelation are summarized concerning three aspects: (i) oleogelator (chemical composition and molecular structure); (ii) oil phase (TAG composition and minor component); and (iii) oleogelation mechanism. Finally, the future perspectives toward oleogels are highlighted. This review aims to deepen the understanding of oleogelation and the rational design of oleogel-based products.

The amount and detection method of styrene in foods: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The ingredients in food packaging migrate to the food inside. One of the most common compounds used for packaging of food is polystyrene. This systematic review aimed to investigate the level of styrene's pollution in food packed with polystyrene. The original articles include keywords styrene, polystyrene, food, contamination, pollution, "food packaging" were searched in Web of science, Medline, Scopus, and Science Direct. A total of 227 studies were achieved. The articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded with the initial evaluation. The quality assessment was conducted for full paper and finally data were extracted from 8 selected articles. Mata analysis, meta-regression, subgroup analysis, and publication bias was also conducted with comprehensive meta-analysis (CMA) software. Most of the examined samples were dairy products. The amount of fat in dairy products is an important factor in increasing the migration of styrene. The shelf life of product also had effect on migration of styrene. The overall average was estimated as 91.53±26.18µg/kg in food matrix. This amount is less than the permissible level. The results of meta regression showed that the type of food affects the pooled mean of styrene in the food. There was no publication bias for the selected articles.

Impact of Cooling Profile on Refined Palm Oil Crystallization: Microscopic and Small and Wide‐Angle X‐Ray Scattering Investigations

AbstractAmong the different possible strategies, thermal control is a major lever to control fat structure (i.e., triacylglycerols (TAGs) molecules organization and crystals morphology). In this article, the impact of thermal treatments on TAGs packing tendency contained in refined palm oil (RPO) is determined. Three cooling profiles are considered: slow, intermediate, and fast. Slow cooling induces the formation of β’ polymorphic form in sequence as 2Lβ’ then 3Lβ’ configurations. RPO rapidly cooled first crystallizes in α form before turning into the 2Lβ’ structure. At intermediate cooling profile, 2Lβ’ and 3Lβ’ are observed and another original phase ϕ is formed around 0°C. This phase has similarities with the sub‐α phase observed in cocoa butter which corresponds to a β’ subcell and presents the capacity of adapting its composition during cooling, leading to an increase of its interplanar distances by decreasing temperature.Practical applications: In case of fats in food products, suitable cooling profile is a compromise between rheological properties of final product (thus, sensorial properties) and relative stability during storage. In this article, three different cooling profiles applied to RPO, leading to various crystal lattices are studied. These lead to systems with varying sensory properties and stability.

Influence of additives on rheological and textural properties of cellulose based fat mimetic

Cellulose based fat mimetics play important role in substitution of fat in reduced fat food products. Production of food often includes application of additives. This work examines the influence of additives on the obtaining stable fat mimetic based on fibers of microcrystalline cellulose. Applied additives affect to the durability of food products and increase their shelf life. The influence of added additives was observed trough the rheological and textural properties of MCG fat mimetic, thus its further functional characteristics. Increasing concentration of fibers positively influenced to crosslinking during hydration and increased strength and consistency of obtained gel. But, application of small hydrophilic molecules of additives disturbed rheological and textural properties of fat mimetics. Obtained gels were still with the thixotropic behavior, but with significantly reduced viscoelastic properties, consistency, firmness and cohesiveness. Based on results, in the aim to ensure obtaining of stable, cross–linked gel of fat mimetic with adequate rheological, textural and functional properties, the mixture of additives is added after the hydration of fat mimetic gels, because of competition for polar water molecules between small additives molecules and available hydroxyl groups of cellulose chains.

Assessing Whey Protein Sources, Dispersion Preparation Method and Enrichment of Thermomechanically Stabilized Whey Protein Pectin Complexes for Technical Scale Production

Whey protein pectin complexes can be applied to replace fat in food products, e.g., pudding and yogurt, contributing to creaminess while adding a source of protein and fiber. Production of these complexes is usually conducted on the laboratory scale in small batches. Recently, a process using a scraped-surface heat exchanger (SSHE) has been employed; however, dispersion preparation time, feasibility of using different whey protein sources and enrichment of the complexes for subsequent drying have not been assessed. Preparing whey protein pectin dispersions by solid mixing of pectin and whey protein powders resulted in larger complexes than powders dispersed separately and subsequently mixed after a hydration time. Dispersions without hydration of the mixed dispersions before thermomechanical treatment had the largest particle sizes. The targeted particle size of d90,3 < 10 µm, an important predictor for creaminess, was obtained for five of the six tested whey protein sources. Dispersions of complexes prepared using whey protein powders had larger particles, with less particle volume in the submicron range, than those prepared using whey protein concentrates. Efficiency of complex enrichment via acid-induced aggregation and subsequent centrifugation was assessed by yield and purity of protein in the pellet and pectin in the supernatant.

Antioxidant Activities of Lemongrass with Solvent Multi-Step Extraction Microwave-Assisted Extraction as Natural Food Preservative

The use of synthetic preservatives is considered to have an adverse effect (carcinogenic) upon prolong consumption. Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is a plant that has bioactive components to act as antioxidants and potential to use as a natural food preservative. Bioactive components can be non-polar, semi-polar and polar; therefore, to determine the dominant bioactive components, a solvent multi-step extraction carried out. This study aimed to determine the specific bioactive components of lemongrass (antioxidant activity, total phenolic content and total flavonoids) suitable of polarity in the leaves and stem of lemongrass extract obtained from solvent multi-step extraction with Microwave-Assisted Extraction. The solvent used is ethanol (polar), ethyl acetate (semi-polar) and n-hexane (non-polar). The result showed that the highest bioactive components obtained from the polar stem lemongrass with total phenolic content of 19.31 mg GAE/g, flavonoids of 3.31 mg GAE/g. This result related to antioxidant activity of the extract of 79.96 %. The high antioxidant activity showed that lemongrass has potential to be used as a natural food preservative, especially in high fat food products.