No abstract

Background: Due to the effects that chemical and inorganic foods have on the human body system and cause a variety of diseases, including cancer, the use of functional foods is highly recommended for people. In this study, the attitudinal factors affecting the acceptance of functional dairy foods by urban consumers in Rasht, located in Guilan province, have been investigated. Methods: Data were obtained from 223 households in Rasht City, Northern Iran. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to investigate the effects of the general components of purchasing, the bene ts of functional dairy food, the need of functional dairy foods, con dence in functional dairy foods, safety of functional dairy foods, health consciousness and healthy lifestyle, components on the willingness to buy of functional dairy foods. Results: The components of attitude towards healthy lifestyle and the general components of purchasing were the most effective factors in determining the acceptance of functional dairy foods by the households of Rasht City. Conclusions: Lifestyle changes and promotion of healthy lifestyle among urban consumers will increase the acceptance of functional dairy foods in Iran.

Bifidobacterium bifidum (ATCC 15696) was grown in MRS broth containing cysteine.HCl at 37 degrees C, and the cells were harvested by centrifuging at 1300 x g for 15 min at 4 degrees C. Equal volumes of the cell slurry and a 2.5% solution of kappa-carrageenan were mixed and transferred by drops into a solution of .3 M KCl at 20 degrees C under an atmosphere of nitrogen. The gelled beads were separated, frozen, and lyophilized immediately. This preparation and a commercial powder preparation were added to Cheddar cheese curd at milling as two treatments. Treatments did not affect cheese composition. Soluble protein increased during ripening at 7 degrees C but without differences between treatments; SDS-PAGE patterns of proteolysis were also similar. Lactic acid content of cheeses increased during ripening, but differences between treatments were minor. Acetic acid and ethanol, common metabolites of bifidobacteria, were not detected during ripening. Bifidobacteria remained viable and increased in numbers in cheese during this 24-wk study but did not affect the flavor, flavor intensity, texture, or appearance of the cheese compared with that of the control.

Cream was homogenized in a two-stage homogenizer (17.25 MPa in the first stage and 3.43 MPa in the second stage); blended with skim milk to produce milk containing 1.25% fat, which was pasteurized (63 degrees C for 30 min); and then manufactured into reduced fat Cheddar cheese. After milling, the curd was divided into three equal portions of 13 kg each. Three salting rates, 2.3, 3.8, and 5%, yielded cheeses with 1.3, 1.7, and 2.0% salt and 2.7, 3.7, and 4.5% salt in the moisture phase. Cheese moisture contents ranged from 45% (2.0% salt) to 47.7% (1.3% salt), and fat contents ranged from 14.6 to 15.1%. In the texture profile analysis, the hardness and fracturability of the cheeses increased as the salt content increased. Both parameters decreased during ripening, but cheeses with 4.5% salt in the moisture phase remained the hardest. Cheeses with the most salt had the least desirable body characteristics, but there were no differences in flavor. Intensity of bitterness was lowered as the amount of salt in cheese increased. During ripening, the number of lactic acid bacteria decreased more slowly in cheese with 2.7% salt in the moisture phase than in those with 3.7 or 4.5% salt in the moisture phase. As the salt content increased, proteolysis and the general rate of ripening decreased. Degradation of alpha s-casein was reduced by higher percentages of salt, but no differences were found in the degradation of beta-casein.

Nonfat yogurts were manufactured from skim milk fortified with a new high milk protein powder. The powder, containing approximately 84% milk protein, was added to skim milk to obtain 5.2 to 11.3% total protein, 11.1 to 15% total solids, and 1.6 to 7.9% lactose in the yogurt mix. Mixes were homogenized, pasteurized at 90 degrees C for 10 min, and fermented with a yogurt culture at 42 degrees C to pH 4.6. Controls were made from the same skim milk fortified with NDM to approximately 14% total solids. Yogurts made with the protein powder and containing 5.6% protein were similar in firmness to the control and had good flavor when fresh and after 2 wk of storage. Yogurts with more than 5.6% protein were too firm and had an astringent flavor. Acetaldehyde content of all yogurts was comparable with that of the control, and fat content ranged from .18 to .33%. As the protein content of yogurts increased, the porosity of yogurts, as seen by scanning electron microscopy, decreased. Good quality nonfat yogurts can be produced by supplementing skim milk with a high milk protein powder up to 5.6% protein. The added protein assists in providing a firm body and minimal whey separation without the use of stabilizers.