Physical and Sensory Characteristics of Extruded Products Made from Two Oat Lines with Different β‐Glucan Concentrations

The impact of extrusion on physical and sensory properties and on the in vitro bile acid (BA) binding was examined for N979 and Jim oat (Avena sativa) lines with 8.1 and 4.8% β‐glucan, respectively. Based on hardness and edibility of products made from Jim oats, moisture concentrations of 16–25% and temperatures of 165–180°C were selected for N979 extrusion. Jim‐based cereal had a significantly greater (P < 0.05) expansion ratio than did N979‐based cereal at most moistures. N979 cereal was browner, but not harder, than Jim cereal. Extruded products from N979 and Jim oats had 5.29–5.99% and 3.38–3.94% β‐glucan, respectively. Changing extrusion temperature or moisture content did not affect β‐glucan concentration in the products. N979 cereal made at 165°C and 16% moisture had greater BA binding than at other conditions, and had crunchiness comparable to cereals made at other conditions. BA binding of Cheerios brand breakfast cereal was close to that of N979 cereal made at 180°C and 18% moisture, but lower than cereals made at other conditions. Cereals made from Jim and N979 oats were browner, harder, coarser, and crunchier than Cheerios breakfast cereal. Proper processing and preparation techniques should be considered when producing extruded products from high β‐glucan oats.     

Effect of RS4 Resistant Starch on Extruded Ready‐to‐Eat (RTE) Breakfast Cereal Quality

A phosphorylated cross‐linked type 4 resistant wheat starch (RS4) containing 85.5% total dietary fiber (TDF) replaced 5–20% of the whole corn flour in an extruded ring‐shaped ready‐to‐eat breakfast cereal formulation. TDF content of the dry ingredient blend increased by roughly 3.6% for every 5% of added RS4. TDF loss during extrusion processing increased as RS4 level increased; however, a high percentage (78–89%) of the TDF content was retained in the final product. Product density increased as level of RS4 increased, but no effect on the specific mechanical energy was observed. X‐ray microtomography showed that RS4 addition did not affect internal air‐cell wall thickness, air‐cell size, or porosity. Moreover, addition of 5 or 10% RS4 did not affect expansion, physical appearance, initial crispness, or bowl life of the cereal rings. High levels of RS4 (15 and 20%) decreased cereal ring diameter but increased initial (dry) product crispness and extended bowl life. In general, RS4 addition level did not affect moisture content or moisture uptake of cereal rings during soaking in milk. Furthermore, moisture content and moisture uptake did not appear to influence the crispness of milk‐soaked cereal rings.     

Extrusion Processing of Rice‐Based Breakfast Cereals Enhanced with Tocopherol from a Chinese Medical Plant

Brown rice flour was mixed with a Chinese medical plant (Euryale ferox Salisb.) and processed to make ready‐to‐eat breakfast cereals using twin‐screw extrusion. Levels of 15 and 20% feed moisture in flour, and 200 and 250 rpm screw speed were set, and the physicochemical properties and content of α‐, β‐, γ‐, and δ‐tocopherols were determined. The data showed that 15% feed moisture gave a low bulk density and water absorption index but a high expansion ratio and water solubility index. High screw speed (250 rpm) produced a result similar to that of 15% feed moisture. A sample with 85% brown rice flour with 15% E. ferox Salisb. retained the highest content of α‐, β‐, γ‐, and δ‐tocopherols (125, 6, 78, and 9 μg/g), respectively. The optimum extrusion conditions determined were 15% E. ferox Salisb. mixed with brown rice at 15% feed moisture and at 250 rpm screw speed.     

Effect of Barley Flour on Development of Rice‐Based Extruded Snacks

This study was conducted to develop a ready‐to‐eat extruded food using a single‐screw laboratory extruder. Blends of Indian barley and rice were used as the ingredients for extrusion. The effect of extrusion variables and barley‐to‐rice ratio on properties like expansion ratio, bulk density, water absorption index, hardness, β‐glucan, L*, a*, b* values, and pasting characteristics of extruded products were studied. A central composite rotatable design was used to evaluate the effects of operating variables: die temperature (150–200°C), initial feed moisture content (20–40%), screw speed (90–110 rpm), and barley flour (10–30%) on properties like expansion ratio, bulk density, water absorption index (WAI), hardness, β‐glucan, L*, a*, b* values, and sensory and pasting characteristics of extruded products. Die temperature >175°C and feed moisture <30% resulted in a steep increase in expansion ratio and a decrease in bulk density. Barley flour content of 10% and feed moisture content of <20% resulted in an increased hardness value. When barley flour content was 30–40% and feed moisture content was <20%, a steep increase in the WAI was noticed. Viscosity values of extruded products were far less than those of corresponding unprocessed counterparts as evaluated. Rapid visco analysis indicated that the extruded blend starches were partially pregelatinized as a result of the extrusion process. Sensory scores indicated that barley flour content at 20%, feed moisture content at 30%, and die temperature at 175°C resulted in an acceptable product. The prepared product was roasted in oil using a particular spice mix and its sensory and nutritional properties were studied.     

Determination of total dietary fiber of intact cereal food products by near-infrared reflectance

Near-infrared reflectance spectra of cereal food products were acquired with a commercial dual-diode-array (Si, InGaAs) spectrometer customized to allow rapid acquisition of scans of intact breakfast cereals, snack foods, whole grains, and milled products. Substantial gains in the performance of multivariate calibration models generated from these data were obtained by a computational strategy that systematically analyzed the performance of various spectral windows. The calibration model based on 137 cereal food products determined the total dietary fiber (TDF) content of a test set of 45 intact diverse cereal food products with root-mean-squared error of cross-validation of between 1.8 and 2.0% TDF, relative to the laborious enzymatic-gravimetric reference method. The calibration performance is adequate to estimate TDF over the range of values found in diverse types of cereal food products (0.7-50.1%). The method requires no sample preparation and is relatively unaffected by specimen moisture content.     

Effect of Extruding Wheat Flour at Lower Temperatures on Physical Attributes of Extrudates and on Thiamin Loss When Using Carbon Dioxide Gas as a Puffing Agent

Wheat flour with 0.3% (w/w) thiamin was extruded on a twin‐screw laboratory‐scale extruder (19‐mm barrel) at lower temperatures and expanded using carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas at 150 psi. Extrusion conditions were die temperature of 80°C and screw speed range of 300–400 rpm. Control samples were extruded at a die temperature of 150°C and screw speed range of 200–300 rpm. Dough moisture content was 22% in control samples and 22 and 25% in CO₂ samples. Expansion ratio, bulk density, WAI, and %WSI were compared between control and treatment. CO₂ injection did not significantly increase expansion ratio. Bulk densities in the CO₂ extruded samples decreased when feed moisture decreased from 25 to 22%. The products using CO₂ had lower WAI values than products puffed without CO₂ at higher temperatures. The mean residence time was longer in CO₂ screw configurations than in conventional screw configurations. Thiamin losses were 10–16% in the control samples. With CO₂, thiamin losses were 3–11% at 22% feed moisture, compared with losses of 24–34% at 25% moisture. Unlike typical high‐temperature extrusion, thiamin loss in the low‐temperature samples decreased with increasing screw speed. Results indicate that thiamin loss at lower extrusion temperatures with CO₂ injection is highly dependent on moisture content.     

Effects of Thermomechanical Extrusion and Particle Size Reduction on Bioconversion Rate of Corn Fiber for Ethanol Production

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of thermomechanical extrusion and particle size (PS) reduction on the bioconversion rate of corn fiber for ethanol production. Extrusion was conducted at a screw speed of 300 rpm, feed rate of 120 g/min, feed moisture content of 30%, melt temperature of 140°C, and die diameter of 3 mm. Raw and extruded corn fiber were separated into three different PSs (1 > PS ≥ 0.5, 0.5 > PS ≥ 0.3, and 0.3 > PS ≥ 0.15 mm) with a wire sieve. Extrusion pretreatment and PS reduction resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) difference in physical properties and color values of extruded corn fiber as a result of accelerated degradation of corn fiber structure. Significant increase in water solubility index of extruded corn fiber at 0.3 > PS ≥ 0.15 mm was an indication of high degradation of starch during extrusion for higher release of polysaccharides. Moreover, extruded corn fiber at PS reduction 0.3 > PS ≥ 0.15 mm also significantly increased (P < 0.05) ethanol yield (69.11 g/L) and conversion (68.18%) by increasing protein digestibility and free amino nitrogen, which are essential for higher fermentation efficiency.     

Total and reactive lysine contents in selected cereal-based food products

The aim of the study was to determine and compare reactive and total lysine contents in a range of breakfast cereal products. Crude fiber, fat, ash, and crude protein contents of 20 breakfast cereal products ranged from 4 to 38, 14 to 144, 7 to 32, and 52 to 253 g/kg, respectively. The concentrations of glutamic acid (18.7-32.1 g/100 g protein) and proline (4.7-10.8 g/100 g protein) were high while those of the amino acids methionine (1.2-2.0 g/100 g protein) and histidine (1.2-3.3 g/100 g protein) were relatively low. There was a strong relationship between reactive lysine determined using the guanidination and fluorodinitrobenzene methods (R = 0.99). The total lysine content, determined after conventional acid hydrolysis, ranged from 0.8 to 3.7 g/100 g protein, while the reactive lysine content (guanidination) ranged from 0.4 to 2.8 g/100 g protein. Reactive lysine was 20-54% lower than total lysine in the cereal products. The large differences between total and reactive lysine suggest a considerable loss of lysine in the breakfast cereals tested.     

Effects of Extrusion on Dietary Fiber and Isoflavone Contents of Wheat Extrudates Enriched with Wet Okara

Okara is the residue left after soymilk or tofu production. In North America, okara is used either as animal feed, fertilizer, or landfill. The purpose of this study was to use wet okara to produce and enrich extruded cereal products and to study the effects of extrusion on the dietary fiber and isoflavone contents. Wet okara was combined with soft wheat flour to produce two different formulations (33.3 and 40% okara) and extruded using four combinations of two screw configurations and two temperature profiles. Various physicochemical properties, dietary fiber by enzymatic-gravimetric method, and isoflavone content by HPLC were analyzed. The radial expansion ratio decreased as fiber content increased. On the other hand, both bulk density and breaking strength increased as fiber content increased. Combining okara with soft wheat flour resulted in increased protein, dietary fiber, and isoflavone contents compared with soft wheat flour alone. Extrusion of the formulations resulted in decreased insoluble fiber (≤25.5%) and increased soluble fiber (≤150%) contents of extrudates. Extrusion decreased the total detectable isoflavones (≤20%) and altered the distribution of the six detected isoflavones.     

Effect of heat treatment of dietary fiber: interlaboratory study

The effects of thermal treatments on the dietary fiber composition of cereal and potato samples were studied at 8 laboratories using different analytical methods. Thermal treatments included extrusion cooking for cereals, and boiling and frying for potatoes. No changes in the amounts of dietary fiber or starch were observed in the extruded samples. Heat-treated potato samples contained significantly more water-insoluble dietary fiber (cellulose) and less starch than did raw potato. However, this may be due, at least in part, to the sample preparation procedure rather than the heat treatment alone. The study indicates that gravimetric and sequential hydrolysis methods give similar results, but the variation in most cases is still wide. Further standardization of methods is evidently needed, especially if legislative measures for setting limits on the fiber content of foods are to be introduced. Standardization of starch analysis should also be of primary importance in future work on carbohydrate methodology. This can be concluded from the variation in results concerning this extremely important food constituent. It should be noted that the sample matrix in the present study was simpler than that of complex meals or diets.     

Modifications to physicochemical and nutritional properties of hard-To-cook beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) by extrusion cooking.

The objective of this work was to evaluate extrusion cooking as a means to improve the nutritional properties of Phaseolus vulgaris L. that had been stored either at 42 degrees C and 80% relative humidity for 6 weeks or for periods >1 year in cereal stores in tropical conditions. Storage under these conditions resulted in an increase in cooking time increased (7.7- and 12-fold, respectively) as a result of development of the hard-to-cook (HTC) defect. Single-screw extrusion of the milled beans was carried out at four barrel temperatures and two moisture contents. The extrudate bulk density and water solubility index decreased with increasing temperature, whereas the water absorption index increased due to the higher proportion of gelatinized starch in the extruded samples. Both fresh and HTC beans contained nutritionally significant amounts of lectins, trypsin, and alpha-amylase inhibitors, which were mostly inactivated by extrusion. Extrusion also caused a considerable redistribution of insoluble dietary fiber to soluble, although the total dietary fiber content was not affected. Changes in solubility involved pectic polysaccharides, arabinose and uronic acids being the main sugars involved. Stored beans subjected to extrusion cooking showed physical and chemical characteristics similar to those of extrudates from fresh beans.     

Physical Characteristics,Nutritional Quality,and Antioxidant Potential of Extrudates Produced with Polished Rice and Whole Red Bean Flours

In Brazil, rice (Oryza sativa L.) and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are the basis of the population's diet, and their consumption together is a good strategy to improve protein biological value. The aim of this study was to produce extruded products with whole red bean (WRBF) and polished rice (PRF) flours and to evaluate the effects of extrusion temperature (T) and feed moisture content (FM) on technological properties and total phenolic compounds content. The extrudates were elaborated in a twin‐screw extruder following a 2² central composite rotatable design with FM (15–23%) and T (120–160°C) as independent variables. WRBF and PRF were used at a 1:3 ratio. Amino acid content and profile were evaluated in the optimum extrudate (produced at FM = 19% and T = 140°C). The total phenolic content identified in extruded products was provided by the red bean seed coat, and its quantification suggested the release of bound phenolics with the extrusion process (not temperature dependent). The extrusion of PRF and WRBF, in combination, produced extruded products of high protein quality, being complete in essential amino acids for the diets of people at least 48 months old. The results indicate that legume flours such as WRBF incorporated into rice flour can cause a positive impact on technological, nutritional, and functional quality of extrudates.     

The association between consumption of breakfast cereals and BMI in schoolchildren aged 12-17 years: the VYRONAS study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether consumption of breakfast cereals is associated with BMI in a sample of Greek adolescents. DESIGN: A cross-sectional health and nutrition survey.Setting and subjectsDuring 200417 years were selected from twelve schools located in Vyronas region (Athens metropolitan area). Height and weight were measured and BMI was calculated. A semi-quantitative FFQ was applied and multiple logistic regression analysis was used. RESULTS: Overall, 47 % of girls were obese, whereas 192 % of girls were overweight. Only 205 % of girls reported that they consume cereals as a first choice for breakfast. Consumption of breakfast cereals was associated with lower BMI in boys (P = 0019), irrespective of age and physical activity status. More prominent results were observed for daily cereal consumption or for more than two daily servings of cereals consumed for breakfast. Consumption of pre-sweetened breakfast cereals was associated with lower BMI compared with non-pre-sweetened or no intake of cereals, in both genders (P < 0.001). Consumption of breakfast cereals was associated with 33 % (95 % CI 14 %, 48 %) lower likelihood of overweight/obesity, irrespective of age, sex and physical activity status. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of breakfast cereals was associated with lower BMI levels and a lower likelihood of overweight/obesity in both genders; thus a solid basis for public health professionals could be built when issuing advice on weight management.     

Available (ileal digestible reactive) lysine in selected cereal-based food products

True ileal total lysine digestibility was determined and compared with true ileal reactive lysine digestibility when applied to 20 cereal-based breakfast foods. Semisynthetic diets each containing a breakfast cereal as the sole protein source were formulated and fed to growing rats. Titanium dioxide was included as an indigestible marker. Digesta were collected from the rats and total (conventional amino acid analysis) and reactive (guanidination) lysine were determined in both diets and digesta. The true ileal reactive lysine digestibility ranged from 53 to 108% and was significantly higher than the true ileal total lysine digestibility for most of the breakfast cereals. Available lysine content (digestible reactive lysine content) ranged from 0.21 to 3.5 g/kg across the breakfast cereals. The conventional measure of digestible total lysine content significantly overestimated (on average 37%) available lysine for the majority of the cereals. Breakfast cereals undergo a significant degree of lysine modification probably as a result of processing during manufacture.     

Identification of Powdery Mildew Resistance Genes in Selections from Moroccan Barley Landraces

Abstract

The formation of yield in two different combinations: vetch with wheat or oats, and the effect of vetch on yield potential of cereals has been investigated in Estonian field experiments over three years. We found that the inclusion of vetch seed in cereal seed and increase of its seed density led to considerable decrease in the yield of the cereal component (R=0.980–0.998). The adverse effect of vetch on cereal yield led to a reduction in wheat yield by up to 1861?kg?ha^?1 on average for the three years, and in oats yield by up to 1413?kg?ha^?1. One reason for the decreases in cereal yields was the formation of smaller grains in cereals under increased vetch seed densities. As a three-year average, the wheat 1000-seed weight decreased by up to 6.3 g while the corresponding figure for oats under identical conditions was 2.5 g. The inclusion of vetch in a crop and the increase of its seed density led to a substantial increase in the protein content of cereal grains. In oats, the change in grain protein content was smaller. At the same time, the maximum protein yield per area unit in cereals was obtained from their monocultures. In a mix with vetch, the amounts of nitrogen consumed by cereals decreased and protein yield of cereals per area unit reduced at higher vetch seed densities. Vetch-cereal mixes had an advantage over cereal monocultures as far as protein yield was concerned. In vetch-wheat and vetch-oats mixes the maximum protein yield was 500?kg?ha^?1 and 438?kg?ha^?1, respectively, on average for the three years. Of the two combinations, vetch-oats mixed crop gave the highest yield of grain, whereas the higher mixed crop yield resulted from the oats component. Oats is somewhat more competitive with vetch than wheat. Vetch-wheat mixed crop gave the highest protein yield because the protein content of wheat grains was higher than oat grains. Legume-cereal mixes are particularly suited for the conditions of organic farming as they ensure a relatively good harvest and a high protein yield.     

Twin‐Screw Extrusion Processing of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Feeds Using Various Levels of Corn‐Based Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS)

Increasing demand for seafood products and rising demand for fish meal for commercial fish feeds is driving the search for effective alternative protein sources. Twin‐screw extrusion trials were conducted to study the production of nutritionally balanced feeds for rainbow trout fingerlings (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Six isocaloric (≈4.61 kcal/g) ingredient blends with a target protein content of >45% db were formulated with 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and other feed ingredients. The moisture contents of the diets were initially adjusted to 5–7% db, and then extruded at 250 rpm using dual 1.9 mm dies with varying amounts of steam (7.2–7.7 kg/hr) injected into the conditioner and water (4.3–6.5 kg/hr) into the extruder. Mass flow rates, moisture contents, and temperatures were measured during processing and moisture content, water activity, unit density, bulk density, expansion ratio, compressive strength, compressive modulus, pellet durability index, water stability, and color were analyzed to quantify the effects of varying DDGS content on the extrudate physical properties. Significant differences (P < 0.05) among the blends were observed for color and bulk density for both the raw and extruded materials, respectively, and for the unit density and pellet durability index of the extruded products. There were also significant changes in redness and yellowness, but only minor changes in brightness, among the final products with increasing DDGS content. The compressive strength of the extrudates increased significantly with increasing DDGS. Expansion ratio of all pellets was low. All extruded diets achieved very good water stability.     

Extrusion-induced changes to the chemical profile and viscosity generating properties of citrus fiber

Each of 8 variants in extrusion conditions was applied to a commercially available citrus fiber. Extrusion under conditions where the specific mechanical energy (SME) exceeded 400 kJ·kg(-1) was able to solubilize up to 30% of the fibers. Where the SME was ～200 kJ·kg(-1) the degree of fiber solubilization was between 8 and 12%. All extruded fibers showed a loss of water-retaining capacity compared to the reference fiber, and this was attributed to the disruption of the integrated cell wall structure during the extrusion process. Nevertheless, within the 8 extruded variants there was a wide range of viscosity generating capacity which depended on the level of SME to which the fibers were subjected. The SME also had a pronounced effect on the nature of the solubilized fibers in terms of both their monosaccharide composition and their molecular weight profile. Both pectic and hemicellulosic polysaccharides were solubilized. It is concluded that extrusion has promise as a physical process for manipulating both the technological functionality and the health promoting properties of dietary fibers.     

Folic Acid Content of Ready‐to‐Eat Cereals Determined by Liquid Chromatography‐Mass Spectrometry: Comparison to Product Label and to Values Determined by Microbiological Assay

Twelve popular ready‐to‐eat breakfast cereals fortified with folic acid were sampled in the United States in 2006, and the data have been incorporated into the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference. Cereals were collected from three statistically selected retail outlets in each of four primary census regions, and four composites of each product were prepared using random groupings of three locations each. Folic acid was determined using a validated LC‐MS method, with ¹³C‐folic acid as an internal standard, after trienzyme treatment and solid phase extraction. A cereal reference material (AACC VMA399) was analyzed as a control. Selected samples were also assayed using the standard microbiological method, with and without trienzyme extraction, to generate an estimate of endogenous folate. On average, as shown on the label, folate content was underestimated. In seven cereals, folate was within 5% of the declared value; in four cereals, it was 5–20% higher; and in two cereals, it was >20% greater, representing –75 to +69 μg/serving (mean 17) of the label value, equivalent to –19% to +17% of the 400 μg/daily value. The microbiologically determined folic acid was higher than LC‐MS by 10–67% (mean 40%). Therefore, use of label values might underestimate folate intake from some breakfast cereals.     

Preparation of High‐Quality Protein‐Based Extruded Pellets Expanded by Microwave Oven

The aim of this work was to study the effects of extrusion barrel temperature (75–140°C) and feed moisture (16–30%) on the production of third‐generation snacks expanded by microwave heating. A blend of potato starch (50%), quality protein maize (QPM) (35%), and soybean meal (SM) (15%) was used in the preparation of the snacks. A laboratory single extruder with a 1.5 × 20.0 × 100 mm die‐nozzle and a central composite routable experimental design were used. Expansion index (EI) and bulk density (BD) were measured in expanded pellets, viscosity at 83°C (V₈₃), thermal properties, and relative crystallinity were measured in extruded pellets. EI increased and BD decreased when the barrel temperature was increased, while the feed moisture effect was not significant. V₈₃ increased when feed moisture increased. Extrusion modified the crystalline structures of the pellets and the X‐ray data suggests the formation of new structures, probably due to the development of amylose‐lipid complexes. The maximum expansion of pellets was found at barrel temperatures of 123–140°C, and feed moisture of 24.5–30%. It is possible to obtain a functional third‐generation snack with good expansion characteristics using a microwave oven, and this snack has health benefits due to the addition of QPM and SM.