The objective of the present study was to develop a stable flaxseed oil emulsion for the delivery of omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids through food fortification. Oil-in-water emulsions containing 12.5 % flaxseed oil, 10 % lactose and whey protein concentrate (WPC)-80 ranging from 5 to 12.5 % were prepared at 1,500, 3,000 and 4,500 psi homogenization pressure. Flaxseed oil emulsions were studied for its physical stability, oxidative stability (peroxide value), particle size distribution, zeta (ζ)-potential and rheological properties. Emulsions homogenized at 1,500 and 4,500 psi pressure showed oil separation and curdling of WPC, respectively, during preparation or storage. All the combinations of emulsions (homogenized at 3,000 psi) were physically stable for 28 days at 4-7ºC temperature and did not show separation of phases. Emulsion with 7.5 % WPC showed the narrowest particle size distribution (190 to 615 nm) and maximum zeta (ζ)-potential (−33.5 mV). There was a slight increase in peroxide value (~20.98 %) of all the emulsions (except 5 % WPC emulsion), as compared to that of free flaxseed oil (~44.26 %) after 4 weeks of storage. Emulsions showed flow behavior index (n) in the range of 0.206 to 0.591, indicating higher shear thinning behavior, which is a characteristic of food emulsions. Results indicated that the most stable emulsion of flaxseed oil (12.5 %) can be formulated with 7.5 % WPC-80 and 10 % lactose (filler), homogenized at 3,000 psi pressure. The formulated emulsion can be used as potential omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids delivery system in developing functional foods such as pastry, ice-creams, curd, milk, yogurt, cakes, etc.

Low‐cholesterol ghee with 90% less cholesterol was prepared using β‐cyclodextrin. The physico‐chemical properties such as Reichert‐Meissl (RM) value, Polenske value, Butyro‐refractometer (BR) reading at 40°C, Iodine value and free fatty acids (FFA) as oleic acid in cow standard ghee and the corresponding low‐cholesterol ghee remained almost unaltered. A similar trend was also observed in buffalo ghee. Fat soluble vitamins (β‐carotene, A and E) in both cow and buffalo low‐cholesterol ghee were very similar to that of respective standard ghee samples. However, 65 to 70% loss of vitamin D was observed in low‐cholesterol ghee.

Two type of adulterants i.e. soybean oil (SO) and buffalo depot fat (BDF) along with pure cow and buffalo milk fats, collected and prepared after every two months of interval for a complete one year, were analyzed for their fatty acid composition using gas liquid chromatography. Both the adulterants were added individually at 5, 10 and 15 percent levels (v/v) as well as in their combinations at 5+5 (10), 10+10 (20) and 15+15 (30) percent levels (v/v) in both types of milk fat separately. It was observed that soybean oil consisted of high amount (51.86 percent) of linoleic (C 18:2 ) acid, while buffalo depot fat possessed high content (49.17 percent) of oleic (C 18:1 ) acid. Milk fats from both the species of cow and buffalo were found containing more of myristic (C 14:0 ), palmitic (C 16:0 ), stearic (C 18:0 ) and oleic (C 18:1 ) acids. The results revealed that the SO was detected even at 5 percent level using linoleic (C 18:2 ) acid as marker, while BDF was detectable at 5 percent level using oleic (C 18:1 ) acid as the base. When the ratios of some fatty acids (C1 4:0 /C 16:0, C 14:0 /C 18:1 , C 14:0 /C 18:2 , C 16:0 /C 18:1 , C 16:0 /C 18:2 and C 18:0 /C 18:2 ) were calculated for detecting adulteration, it was noticed that two fatty acid ratios (C 14:0 /C 18:1 and C 14:0 /C 18:2 ) were found more useful in detecting adulteration in maximum number (78 percent) of samples. Whereas, on the basis of the ratios of sum of C 4:0 to C 14:1 /sum of C 15:0 to C 20:0 fatty acids and vice-versa, addition of both the adulterants at all the levels (added individually as well as in their combinations) in both the milk fats was easily detected.

Detection of milk fat adulteration with foreign fats/oils continues to be a challenge for the dairy industry as well as food testing laboratories, especially in the present scenario of rampant adulteration using the scientific knowledge by unscrupulous persons involved in the trade. In the present investigation a rapid reversed-phase thin layer chromatographic (RP-TLC) protocol was standardized to ascertain the purity of milk fat. RP-TLC protocol did not show any false positive results in the genuine ghee (clarified butter fat) samples of known origin. Adulteration of ghee with coconut oil up to 7. 5 %, soybean oil, sunflower oil and groundnut oil up to 1 %, while, designer oil up to 2 % level could be detected using the standardized RP-TLC protocol. The protocol standardized is rapid and convenient to use.

Differential scanning calorimetry was used to detect adulteration of pure ghee with caprine body fat when added singly (at 5, 10 and 15%) and in combination with groundnut oil (GNO) (at 5, 10 and 15%). Samples were analysed for transition behaviour in terms of crystallising and melting curves. When compared to pure ghee, adulterated ghee samples showed a shift in the midrange temperature of thermal curves, indicating the presence of foreign fats. The results revealed that the detection of adulteration was possible at the lowest level of the study (5%), irrespective of the nature of the adulterants.