Methodologies for the Characterization of the Quality of Dairy Products

A New Comprehensive Index for Evaluating the Quality of Infant Formula under the Framework of Chinese Food Standards

Objective:

We proposed a new comprehensive index, the food quality index (FQI), to effectively evaluate food quality.

Methods:

The food quality index is based on chemical and biological indicators of the Chinese food standards framework. We evaluated the limit value regulations for infant formula standards and then established a comprehensive index and grading standard. Finally, we applied the index to evaluate data obtained from the Shenyang Product Quality Supervision and Inspection Institute.

Results:

The results showed that the quality of older infant and young children formula (OF) was good, and the infant formula (IF) was acceptable.

Conclusion:

The quality of OF was observably higher than that of IF, and they were significantly different with a p-value < 0.01. The most influencing factor of the IF and OF was minerals, followed by major components, optional ingredients, vitamins, and pathogenic bacteria had no effect. In IF, The number of the main influencing single indicators were 36 and 20 in IF and OF, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that index values of vitamins in the two kinds of milk powders were significantly different, with a p-value < 0.01. Optional ingredients were significantly correlated, with a p-value < 0.05.

Greek Graviera Cheese Assessment through Elemental Metabolomics-Implications for Authentication, Safety and Nutrition

This study presents the comprehensive elemental profile of Greek Graviera (Gruyère) cheeses. In total, 105 samples from nine different geographic regions produced from sheep, goat and cow milk and their mixtures were assessed. Elemental signatures of 61 elements were investigated for determination of geographic origin and milk type. Regional and milk type classification through Linear Discriminant Analysis was successful for almost all cases, while a less optimistic cross validation exercise presented lower classification rates. That points to further research using a much larger sample set, increasing confidence for cheese authentication utilizing also bioinformatics tools under development. This is the first study reporting signatures of 61 elements in dairy products including all sixteen rare earth elements and all seven precious metals. Safety and quality were assessed regarding toxic and nutritive elements. According to both EU and USA regulations and directives, Graviera is a nutritional source for trace and macro elements with low levels of toxic elements.

Research of Fatty Acid Composition of Samples of Bio-Drink Made of Camel Milk

Adequate nutrition is the most important determinant of the human health. Taking into account this factor, development of the technology for special purpose dairy products based on camel milk using probiotic starter cultures that will have the ability to destroy toxic metabolites, produce amino acids, volatile fatty acids and synthesize vitamins is the urgent task. In connection with the objective set, we have developed 4 samples of dairy products based on camel milk, and examined fatty acid composition thereof on the basis of the Scientific Research Institute of Biotechnology FSBEI HE Kemerovo Institute of Food Science and Technology (University). In the scientific article four samples of the product based on milk are considered. The first sample of the fermented Bacterial leaven of thermophilic lactic acid lactococcus, propionic acid and acetic acid bacteria and Bacterial leaven of thermophilic lactic acid sticks АНВ. The second sample was prepared using Bacterial leaven of thermophilic lactic acid sticks АВ and Bacterial leaven of thermophilic lactic acid lactococcus, propionic acid and acetic acid bacteria. The third sample fermented Bacterial leaven of thermophilic lactic acid sticks Бн and Bacterial leaven of thermophilic lactic acid sticks АНВ. The fourth sample prepared with the addition of Bacterial leaven of thermophilic lactic acid sticks АВ and Bacterial leaven of thermophilic lactic acid sticks Бн. Using the method of chemical ionization with positive and negative ions recording on a chromatographic mass-spectrometer, we determined the content of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in the samples studied. High content of these acids was found in samples № 1 and № 2. In samples 3 and 4, the acid content was low.