The impact and relative relevance of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, processing temperature (room temperature or 180 °C), and gelling agent (GA) (carrageenan and alginate) on the bioactive compounds and oxidation status of olive and echium oils gelled formulations with 40% lipid incorporation was assessed. In vitro digestion was not affected by the GA, with >90% lipolysis in all formulations, but was the most relevant variable, promoting oxidation (MDA) regardless of the oil type, GA or temperature applied. Tocopherols and phenolic decreased with digestion, which could be interpreted as a protective response to pro-oxidative conditions during digestion. Temperature decreased olive oil phenolics. Gelification of echium oil using alginate reduced secondary oxidation products formation in comparison with carrageenan, with oxidation degrees after digestion equivalent to those shown with olive oil. The use of alginate with olive oil resulted in the most stable formulations, although not protecting its minor bioactive compounds from thermal degradation.

New sources of bioactive compounds are constantly explored for reformulating healthier foods. This work aimed to explore and characterize the fatty acid profile and sterol content of three non-conventional oils used in functional food products (hempseed oil, moringa oil, and echium oil) and to compare them with two conventional ones (extra virgin olive oil [EVOO] and linseed oil). Oxidative stability was assessed by determining their acidity value and peroxide content. All oils showed adequate values for acidity and oxidation status. Echium and hempseed oils showed a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (>70%), especially omega-3 fatty acids, while moringa oil was rich in oleic acid. Echium oil, hempseed oil, and moringa oil presented higher sterol content than EVOO, but lower than that of linseed oil. Sitosterol was the most abundant sterol in all samples (97.88¿275.36 mg/100 g oil), except in echium oil, where campesterol (170.62 mg/100 g oil) was the major sterol. Squalene was only found in significant amounts in EVOO. In conclusion, non-conventional oils seem to be interesting sources of bioactive compounds and have great potential for the food industry. Practical Application: Non-conventional vegetable oils can be used as alternative sources of lipids in a variety of food products. Additionally, these oils have great potential to be included in the formulation of functional ingredients for the delivery of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, fiber, among others.

Alternative plant-derived fat replacers have experimented a rising interest in the food industry for their versatility and functionality. The aim of this work was to optimize the formulation of a gelled oil-in-water emulsion using echium oil (EO) or extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and different hydrocolloids (alginate, cellulose with collagen and k-carrageenan) as a butter substitute, and assess their technological properties and oxidative stability. Out of 36 initial formulations, 6 were ultimately selected using a two steps process: firstly, on basis on hardness value (considering hardness of butter at room temperature as reference), and secondly searching for minimum syneresis. Oxidative stability of selected formulations was assessed after Schaal oven test. Oxidation parameters were influenced by the unsaturation degree of the oils (with statistically lower values for TBARs for gelled emulsions elaborated with EVOO as compared to those elaborated with EO), as well as by the required heating for the preparation of each gel type (with carrageenan showing statistically higher values in EO gels). Volatile profile of samples was characterized by the presence of aldehydes (35-45% of total area identified), followed by alcohols (11-21%) and esters (21-27%), with a statistically significant increase in aldehydes after 24 h in EO gels.

The addition of different amounts of a functional ingredient composed of water, inulin, chia seeds, and hemp or flaxseed oil was examined as butter replacer to improve the nutritional value of muffins. Nutritional, technological, and sensory characteristics of the reformulated products were assessed, as well as the stability under storage at room temperature. One control and six modified formulations with three levels of butter replacement (50%, 75%, and 100%) were analyzed. Modified muffins improved their nutritional profile, reducing up to 78% of fat and increasing fiber (up to 62.5%) and omega¿3 fatty acids content (from 0.12 g/100 g of product to 0.62 g and 1.55 g in hemp and flaxseed oil samples, respectively). Sensory analysis revealed that flaxseed oil samples were indistinguishable from the control in all evaluated attributes, even in the highest level of replacement. During storage, texture of modified samples behaved similar to the control and no oxidation problems were observed in any of the formulations. Therefore, the functional ingredient proved to be a feasible alternative for replacing butter in muffins, preserving the quality attributes and making them healthier foods.

Bakery products have been traditionally considered an important source of trans (TFA) and saturated fatty acids (SFA), which are strongly related to cardiovascular and other chronic diseases. This study aimed assessing the quantity and quality of the lipid fraction in artisan and industrial biscuits. Seven artisan and five industrial brands of biscuits were analyzed. Total fat was statistically higher for the artisan biscuits (29.46%) than for the industrial ones (26.85%). Lipid profile revealed significant differences in TFA and SFA between both types of products, with lower values in industrial biscuits (0.75 g and 44.15 g/100 g of total fat, respectively) compared to artisan biscuits (1.81 g and 51.24 g/100 g of total fat). Artisan biscuits showed TFA values between 0.99 and 3.50 g/100 g fat, including 2 brands showing mean values higher than 2%. All industrial biscuits showed TFA values lower than 1% and a healthier lipid fraction as compared to artisan ones.