Yogurt as a Vehicle for Omega-3 Fatty Acid Enrichment

Consumer interest in supplementation with healthy omega-3 fatty acids (Ï 3 FA) has led to increased research in fortification of popular foods with these healthy fats. Yogurt, which is already popular, offers a functional food matrix to fortify with Ï 3 FA. Fish oil, a major source of two important long chain Ï 3 FA eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an excellent source of Ï 3 FA enrichment into foods but brings problems of oxidation and off-flavors or odors when added to foods. Encapsulation, deodorized fish oil, and flavoring have been investigated to reduce these off-flavors and odors in food products while producing a fish oil-fortified yogurt. Discrimination of butter, fish or oxidized fish oil at 0.5% (wt/wt) levels was investigated in unflavored low-fat (1%) yogurt using untrained panelists (n=31) and sensory triangle tests. Five sensory attributes (lime, sweet, heat, acid, oxidized) were analyzed by experienced sensory panelists (n=12) in chile-lime flavored yogurts with butter, fish or oxidized fish oils added at low (0.43%) and high (1% wt/wt) levels. Analytical analysis for composition, fatty acid profile, and volatile chemistry of the yogurts was conducted. Consumer acceptance of a low-fat (1.5%) chile-lime flavored yogurt enriched with fish oil was investigated using a 9-point hedonic scale (1="dislike extremely", 9="like extremely"). Untrained panelists (n=31) were unable to differentiate 0.5% (wt/wt) levels of fish and butter oils in unflavored yogurts but were able to detect oxidized fish oil compared to butter or fish oil under in the same conditions. Experienced panelists (n=12) found significant differences (p<0.05) in lime and acid attributes in chile-lime flavored yogurts containing 1% (wt/wt) oxidized fish oil compared with 0.43 and 1% (wt/wt) butter and fish oil yogurts and 0.43% (wt/wt) oxidized fish oil yogurts. Oxidized attributes were determined as significantly different (p<0.05) by experienced panelists in chile-lime yogurts with 1% (wt/wt) fish oil, 0.43 and 1% (wt/wt) oxidized fish oil added. The acceptance of a fish oil-enriched chile-lime flavored yogurt was neutral ("neither liked nor disliked") by consumers (n=100) but 44% rated the product "like slightly" (6 of 9) or greater. A successful chile-lime flavored yogurt offering a novel savory flavor was formulated from pre-pasteurization addition of fish oil to deliver more than 145 mg DHA+EPA/170 g serving of yogurt.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Food Science and Technology

Department dc:contributor.department

Food Science and Technology

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Rognlien, Marnie

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Duncan, Susan E.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• O'Keefe, Sean F.
• Eigel, William N. III

• sensory
• microencapsulation
• chitosan
• flavor
• omega-3 fatty acid
• yogurt

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-05062010-010844

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/42511