Alkaline phosphatase activity in pasteurized milk: a quantitative comparison of Fluorophos and colourimetric procedures

Fluorophos and colourimetric procedures for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) testing were compared using milk with raw milk additions, purified bovine ALP additions and heat treatments. Repeatability was between 0.9% and 10.1% for Fluorophos, 3.5% and 46.1% for the Aschaffenburg and Mullen (A&M) procedure and 4.4% and 8.8% for the Scharer rapid test. Linearity (R-2) using raw milk addition was 0.96 between Fluorophos and the Scharer procedure. Between the Fluorophos and the A&M procedures, R-2 values were 0.98, 0.99 and 0.98 for raw milk additions, bovine ALP additions and heat treatments respectively. Fluorophos showed greater sensitivity and was both faster and simpler to perform.

Effects of calcium-chelating agents and pasteurisation on certain properties of calcium-fortified soy milk

Addition of 25 mM calcium chloride to soy milk reduced pH, increased ionic calcium and caused it to coagulate. The effects of different chelating agents were investigated on selected physicochemical properties of soy milk and on preventing coagulation. The soy milks were then pasteurised to examine how heat treatment changed some of these properties as well as to evaluate their effects on heat stability. Sediment formation and susceptibility to coagulation could be reduced by decreasing ionic calcium and increasing pH. To achieve this, the most effective chelating agents were tri-sodium citrate and disodium hydrogen phosphate. These chelating agents also reduce absolute viscosity and particle size. Sodium hexa meta phosphate was also effective, but less so; it reduced ionic calcium but had a less noticeable effect on pH. The disodium salt of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid was not effective, as it decreased the pH of soy milk. Ionic calcium and pH are useful indicators of heat stability of calcium-fortified soy beverages. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of milk urea nitrogen as a diagnostic of protein feeding

An evaluation of milk urea nitrogen (MUN) as a diagnostic of protein feeding in dairy cows was performed using mean treatment data (n = 306) from 50 production trials conducted in Finland (n = 48) and Sweden (n = 2). Data were used to assess the effects of diet composition and certain animal characteristics on MUN and to derive relationships between MUN and the efficiency of N utilization for milk production and urinary N excretion. Relationships were developed using regression analysis based on either models of fixed factors or using mixed models that account for between-experiment variations. Dietary crude protein (CP) content was the best single predictor of MUN and accounted for proportionately 0.778 of total variance [ MUN (mg/dL) = -14.2 + 0.17 x dietary CP content (g/kg dry matter)]. The proportion of variation explained by this relationship increased to 0.952 when a mixed model including the random effects of study was used, but both the intercept and slope remained unchanged. Use of rumen degradable CP concentration in excess of predicted requirements, or the ratio of dietary CP to metabolizable energy as single predictors, did not explain more of the variation in MUN (R-2 = 0.767 or 0.778, respectively) than dietary CP content. Inclusion of other dietary factors with dietary CP content in bivariate models resulted in only marginally better predictions of MUN (R-2 = 0.785 to 0.804). Closer relationships existed between MUN and dietary factors when nutrients (CP to metabolizable energy) were expressed as concentrations in the diet, rather than absolute intakes. Furthermore, both MUN and MUN secretion (g/d) provided more accurate predictions of urinary N excretion (R-2 = 0.787 and 0.835, respectively) than measurements of the efficiency of N utilization for milk production (R-2 = 0.769). It is concluded that dietary CP content is the most important nutritional factor influencing MUN, and that measurements of MUN can be utilized as a diagnostic of protein feeding in the dairy cow and used to predict urinary N excretion.

Roman diet and trade: evidence from organic residues on pottery sherds recovered at the Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester Hants.)

The analysis of organic residues from pottery sherds using Gas-Chromatography with mass-spectroscopy (GC-MS) has revealed information about the variety of foods eaten and domestic routine at Silchester between the second and fourth–sixth centuries A.D. Two results are discussed in detail: those of a second-century Gauloise-type amphora and a fourth-century SE Dorset black-burnished ware (BB1) cooking pot, which reveal the use of pine pitch on the inner surface of the amphora and the use of animal fats (ruminant adipose fats) and leafy vegetables in cooking at the Roman town of Silchester, Hants.

Measurement of ionic calcium in milk

There are many reports in the literature regarding the effects of ionic calcium on reactions related to casein micelle stability, such as heat stability, ethanol stability and susceptibility to gelation, sediment formation and fouling. However, experimental evidence supporting these assertions is much less readily available. This paper evaluates three selective ion electrode systems for measuring ionic calcium directly in milk as well as looking at the effects on pH reduction and addition of calcium chloride. The best electrode system was the Ciba Corning 634 system, which was designed for blood but has been modified for milk. This was found to be reproducible and stable when calibrated daily and allowed direct measurements to be taken on milk in 70 s. This has been found to perform well now for 3 years. The other systems were not so useful, as they took longer to stabilize, but may be useful for higher ionic calcium concentrations, which are found in acidified milk products. Reducing the pH increased ionic calcium and reduced ethanol stability. Calcium chloride addition reduced pH, increased ionic calcium and reduced the ethanol stability. Readjusting the pH to its value before calcium addition reduced the ionic calcium, but not back to its original value. Milks from individual cows showed wide variations in their ionic calcium concentrations. This establishes the methodology for a more detailed investigation on measurement of ionic calcium in milks from individual cows and from bulk milks, to allow a better understanding of its role in casein micelle stability.

Calcium removal from milk by ion exchange

Calcium removal, using Duolite C433 ion exchange resin, was faster from permeate than from milk. Almost all calcium could be removed, suggesting a fairly rapid conversion from both soluble calcium phosphate and from micellar calcium to ionic calcium. Calcium reduction from milk is accompanied by an increase in pH, a reduction in ionic calcium, an increase in ethanol stability and an increase in the rennet coagulation time. There is a gradual increase in the average casein micelle size with calcium removal, up to a point where the micelle size increases dramatically. Zeta potential becomes more negative with calcium removal. At higher levels of calcium removal, the changes are not reversible, on reducing pH to its original value. For goat's milk, over the range 0-20% total calcium removal, relatively small reductions in total calcium gave rise to proportionally larger reductions in ionic calcium in a ratio of about 1:3.2.

Assessment of the quality of cottage cheese produced from standard and protein-fortified skim milk

The effects of milk protein fortification on the texture and microstructure of cottage cheese curd were evaluated. Protein powder (92.6% protein) was added to the skim milk at a level of 0.4% (w/w) to produce curds. Control curds with no protein powder addition were also produced. These curds were analysed for differences in yield, total solids, curd size, texture and structure. It was found that the addition of protein powder contributed to a significant yield increase, which can be attributed to increased water retention, with better curd size distribution. Control curds were firmer than the fortified curds and the structure showed less open-pore structure as revealed by electron microscopy. However, the addition of dressing masked the textural differences, and a sensory panel was unable to distinguish between cheeses produced from fortified milk and controls.

Alternative strategies for activation of the natural lactoperoxidase system in cows' milk: trials in Tanzania

Thiocyanate content and lactoperoxidase activity of individual cow's milk of different breeds were determined, and the effects of different lactoperoxidase system (LP-s) activation strategies were compared. Lactoperoxidase activity varied significantly between Friesian and both Ayrshire and Tanzania Short Horn Zebu (TSHZ), but differences between Ayrshire and TSHZ were not significant. There was no significant variation in SCN- content between breeds. The LP-s was activated using three strategies based on SCN-: namely; equal concentrations of SCN- and H2O2 (7:7, 10:10, 15 :15 mg/l), excess SCN- concentrations (15:10, 20:10, 25:10 mg SCN-: H2O2/I), and excess H2O2 concentrations (10:15, 10:20, 10:25 mg SCN-: H2O2/I), plus a fourth strategy based on I- (15 : 15 mg I- : H2O2/I). The keeping quality (KQ) was assessed using pH, titratable acidity, clot on boiling and alcohol stability tests. All activation strategies enhanced the shelf life of milk (typically increasing KQ from around 10 to around 20 h), but it was clear that the effectiveness of the LP-s depends on the type and concentrations of the activators of the system. The LP-s activated using I- as an electron donor was more effective than the LP-s activated using SCN- as an electron donor, increasing the KQ by a further 6-8 h compared with SCN-.

The keeping quality of LPS-activated milk in the western highlands of Cameroon

The potentials of applying the lactoperoxidase system (LPS) in extending the shelf life of raw milk at ambient temperatures was investigated in the western highlands of Cameroon. Raw milk was LPS-activated by adding various concentrations (ppm) of thiocyanate and peroxide and denoted as 0:0, 7:10 ppm, 10:10 ppm and 20:20 ppm. The keeping quality of the activated milk samples was assessed by the alcohol stability and clot-on-boiling tests, pH changes and titratable acidity. The milk in all the treatments remained fresh during the first 12 hours but the control was spoiled by the 15th hour. There was a continuous drop in pH values matched by a steady rise in titratable acidity. For all parameters measured, 20:20ppm was the last treatment to spoil, suggesting that the shelf life of milk increases with increasing concentrations of thiocyanate and peroxide. With small amounts of thiocyanate (20 ppm) and peroxide (20 ppm) the shelf life of raw milk can effectively be extended under Cameroonian conditions by approximately 9 hours without refrigeration. Thus LPS-activated milk can be stored for as long 21 hours, allowing sufficient time for its appropriate disposal.

The effect of free Ca2+ on the heat stability and other characteristics of low-heat skim milk powder

Low-heat skim milk powder (SMP), reconstituted to 25% total solids, was found to have poor heat stability. This could be improved by reducing the free Ca2+ concentration to 1.14 mm, or lower, by the addition of either Amberlite IR-120 ion-exchange resin in its sodium form or tri-sodium citrate in skim milk prior to evaporation and spray drying. Reduction in Ca2+ concentration was accompanied by increases in pH, particle size, and kinematic viscosity, and by a reduction in zeta-potential and changes in colour. In-container sterilisation of the reconstituted powder increased particle size, zeta-potential, kinematic viscosity and a* and b* values. However. Ca2+ concentration, pH and whiteness decreased. This study elucidated the importance of Ca2+ concentration and pH on heat stability of low-heat SMP, suggesting that Ca2+ concentration and pH in bulk milk are useful indicators for ensuring that spray dried milk powder has good heat stability. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A novel technique for differentiation of proteins in the development of acid gel structure from control and heat treated milk using confocal scanning laser microscopy

The incorporation of caseins and whey proteins into acid gels produced from unheated and heat treated skimmed milk was studied by confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM) using fluorescent labelled proteins. Bovine casein micelles were labelled using Alexa Fluor 594, while whey proteins were labelled using Alexa Fluor 488. Samples of the labelled protein solutions were introduced into aliquots of pasteurised skim milk, and skim milk heated to 90 degrees C for 2 min and 95 degrees C for 8 min. The milk was acidified at 40 degrees C to a final pH of 4.4 using 20 g gluconodelta-lactone/l (GDL). The formation of gels was observed with CSLM at two wavelengths (488 nm and 594 nm), and also by visual and rheological methods. In the control milk, as pH decreased distinct casein aggregates appeared, and as further pH reduction occurred, the whey proteins could be seen to coat the casein aggregates. With the heated milks, the gel structure was formed of continuous strands consisting of both casein and whey protein. The formation of the gel network was correlated with an increase in the elastic modulus for all three treatments, in relation to the severity of heat treatment. This model system allows the separate observation of the caseins and whey proteins, and the study of the interactions between the two protein fractions during the formation of the acid gel structure, on a real-time basis. The system could therefore be a valuable tool in the study of structure formation in yoghurt and other dairy protein systems.

Effects of probiotic or prebiotic supplemented milk formulas on fecal microbiota composition of infants

The aim of the study was to evaluate whether supplementation of milk-formulas with prebiotic fructooligosaccharides or a probiotic, Lactobacillus johnsonii La1 (La1), could modulate the composition of the fecal microbiota of formula-fed infants, compared to breastfed (BF) infants. Ninety infants close to 4 months of age were randomized into one of three groups to be blindly assigned to receive for 13 weeks: a) an infant formula (Control), b) the same formula with fructo-oligosaccharides (Prebio), or c) with La1 (Probio). At the end of this period, all infants received the control formula for 2 additional weeks. Twenty-six infants, breastfed throughout the study, were recruited to form group BF. Fecal samples were obtained upon enrolment and after 7 and 15 weeks. Bacterial populations were assessed with classical culture techniques and fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH). Seventy-six infants completed the study. On enrolment, higher counts of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus and lower counts of enterobacteria were observed in BF compared to the formula-fed infants; these differences tended to disappear at weeks 7 and 15. No major differences for Clostridium, Bacteroides or Enterococcus were observed between the groups or along the follow up. Probio increased fecal Lactobacillus counts (P<0.001); 88% of the infants in this group excreted live La1 in their stools at week 7 but only 17% at week 15. Increased Bifidobacterium counts were observed at week 7 in the 3 formula groups, similar to BF infants. These results confirm the presence of higher counts of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in the microbiota of BF infants compared to formula-fed infants before dietary diversification, and that La1 survives in the infant digestive tract.