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The fatty acid composition including trans fatty acids of 12 brands of nut-nougat creams were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography. The creams consisted mainly of sugar and partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. The lipid content, which was quantified gravimetrically, amounted to between 30 and 38.2% in the different brands. The fatty acid composition varied considerably between the different creams. Linoleic acid, the major polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), ranged from 12 to 39%. Palmitic acid (16:0), which was the main fatty acid, varied from 9 to 27%. The total trans fatty acid content of the 12 creams ranged from 0.9 to 12.3%. Only two of the creams contained less than 1% of trans fatty acids; 18:1t was the trans fatty acid found in the greatest amounts, whereas 16:1t and 14:1t were only found in trace amounts. Three samples had amounts of 18:2tt, 18:2ct, and 18:2tc between 0.7 and 1.06%; only small amounts of linoleate isomers were detected in the other creams. Our results show that trans fatty acids are present in every brand of chocolate cream tested. Since the potential risk of arteriosclerosis and cancer resulting from the consumption of trans fatty acids is not yet clear, different ways of production should be used in order to eliminate them from the creams that are a preferred bread spread of infants and children.

The physical and chemical constants of cocoa shell fat (a by-product resulted during the production of cocoa butter at chocolate factories) were almost identical with those of cocoa butter obtained from the same cocoa beans except for their high acid value. Shell fat contained more amount of phospholipid content (as cephalin) than cocoa butter. The lipid classes were almost the same in cocoa butter and shell fat, however, the latter contained an unidentified constituent which was not found in cocoa butter. The fatty acids were determined quantitatively by GLC, and the results showed that the predominant acids in cocoa butter were palmitic, and oleic. Less amounts of capric, myristic, palmitoleic and linoleic were found in cocoa butter, whereas more amounts of these acids were found in shell fat. Cocoa butter gave higher values of stearic and myristic acids than those of shell fat. Seventeen compounds were detected by GLC in the unsaponifiable matter of both cocoa butter and shell fat from which eight were identified as C30 hydrocarbon, C32 hydrocarbon, squalene, alpha-tocopherol, cholesterol, campsterol, stigmasterol and beta-sitosterol in the two samples. The sterols were determined quantitatively, and it was found that the predominant sterol in cocoa butter and shell fat was B-sitosterol. Cocoa butter contained higher values of stigmasterol than that of shell fat, which contained increasing values of campsterol, low values of cholesterol were found in both samples. Stability of cocoa butter and shell fat towards oxidative rancidity at 100 degrees C was the same (10.5 hrs).