Development of gluten-free wafer sheet formulations

Effect of Rice Flour Fermentation with Lactobacillus spicheri DSM 15429 on the Nutritional Features of Gluten-Free Muffins

Lactobacillus Spicheri DSM 15429 strain was used to ferment rice flour, aiming at exploiting its influence on the amino-acids, minerals, lactic acid, total phenols, and antioxidant activity of the rice sourdough and gluten-free muffins. Gluten-free muffins were prepared by using 15% rice sourdough fermented with the above strain of lactic acid bacteria and compared with rice spontaneous fermentation. Methods like LC-MS (Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry), AA (atomic absorption), HPLC (High-performance liquid chromatography), Folin–Ciocalteu, and 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (DPPH) were used to fulfill the aim of the study. The addition of rice sourdough fermented with LAB was reflected in the chemical composition of the final baked good, improving its amount on bioactive compounds such as amino acids, mineral bioavailability, total phenols, and antioxidant activity. Total phenols and antioxidant activity increased their amount by 70.53% and 73.70%, respectively, meanwhile, lactic acid, minerals, and amino-acids increased their values at least twice. Thus, rice fermented with Lactobacilus spicheri DSM 15429 strain could be a tool to further increase the nutritional value of gluten-free baked products.

AN INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY OF WAFFLES WITH FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES

The high-priority tasks of today’s confectionery industry include the development and introduction of functional-purpose confections. These products are supposed to be of high technological qualities, be effective in production to the extent possible, and have physiological functional properties due to the physiologically valuable ingredients in their composition. These ingredients include the synbiotic complex composed of probiotics (bifidobacteria, lactobacilli) and prebiotics (inulin and lactulose). This complex has been studied in this research. The paper gives reasons why waffles with fatty fillings are the ones to which the synbiotic complex should be added. It has been established what mass fraction of the ingredients at what stage of fatty filling production should be added. It has been studied how the synbiotic complex affects the structural and mechanical properties of the fatty filling: its effective viscosity, adhesive strength, and critical shear stress. It has been found that the maximum shear rate that still allows obtaining a high-quality filling is 5.4 s-1. The specific pull-off force of the fatty filling with the synbiotic added becomes lower compared to that of the control sample. This helps reduce the energy consumed in the course of moulding waffles. An innovative manufacturing technology for waffles with synbiotic supplements has been developed and proved practical. It includes the stages of preparing microencapsulated microorganisms and adding prebiotics, and provides the technological parameters of fatty filling preparation. It has been established that the synbiotic included into the composition of the new fatty filling decreases the maturation of waffle blocks by 40–45%, and allows reducing the layer of filling to 1–1.5 mm. It has been proven that the synbiotic complex as an ingredient in the fatty filling of waffles will allow developing and manufacturing confections that improve human microflora. These new specialised products will be socially significant, as they will help solve a topical and important task of the confectionery industry: prevent gastrointestinal diseases.

Pseudocereal grains: Nutritional value, health benefits and current applications for the development of gluten-free foods

Nowadays, consumers are more conscious of the environmental and nutritional benefits of foods. Pseudocereals grains, edible seeds belonging to dicotyledonous plant species, are becoming a current trend in human diets as gluten-free (GF) grains with excellent nutritional and nutraceutical value. Pseudocereals are a good source of starch, fiber, proteins, minerals, vitamins, and phytochemicals such as saponins, polyphenols, phytosterols, phytosteroids, and betalains with potential health benefits. The present review aims to summarize the nutritional quality and phytochemical profile of the three main pseudocereal grains: quinoa, amaranth and buckwheat. In addition, current evidence about their health benefits in animal models and human studies is also provided in detail. Based on the accumulating research supporting the inclusion of pseudocereals grains in the diet of celiac persons, this review discusses the recent advances in their application for the development of new GF products. Future directions for a wider cultivation and commercial exploitation of these crops are also highlighted.