Search

The addition of brewer’s spent grain (BSG), sugar beet pulp (SBP) and apple pomace (AP), on the nutritional properties of directly expanded snack products based on corn grits was investigated. Snack products were produced in a laboratory single screw extruder with the addition of 5, 10 and 15% d. m. of these by-products in corn grits. Chemical composition, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, dietary fiber, resistant starch, starch damage and pasting properties of the mixtures and extruded samples were determined. Extrusion process and by-product additions had a significant effect on the proximate chemical composition. All three by-products increased contents of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber, while the extrusion caused a reduction of insoluble fiber and increase of soluble fiber. After the extrusion process starch damage and antioxidant activity increased, while resistant starch content and total polyphenol content decreased. According to obtained results, it can be concluded that the investigated by-products can be used in the production of nutritionally more valuable corn snacks.

Cocoa shell is a by-product of the chocolate industry that is rich in dietary fiber and bioactive components. In this research, the influence of high voltage electric discharge (HVED) treatment on chemical and physical characteristics of the cocoa shell, i.e., the effects of applied time and frequencies on grinding ability, water binding capacity (WBC), dietary fibers and tannin content was investigated. HVED had a significant influence on the chemical and physical properties of cocoa shell, all of which could be linked to changes in fiber properties. Along with the fiber content, grinding ability and water binding capacity were increased. These properties have already been linked to fiber content and soluble/insoluble fiber ratio. However, this research implies that change in fiber properties could be linked to tannin formation via complexation of other polyphenolic components. Additional research is needed to verify this effect and to establish mechanisms of tannin formation induced by HVED and its influence on fiber quantification.