Production of Reduced-fat Mayonnaise Using Electrostatic and Covalent Complexes of β-lactoglobulin and Farsi Gum

Manipulation of protein-polysaccharide interactions provides an opportunity to control the stability and texture of food emulsions. Proteins are surface-active ingredients and can function as effective emulsifying agents also polysaccharides with polyelectrolytes capacity can impart excellent colloidal stability to emulsion droplet by a combination of electrostatic and steric mechanisms. The aim of this study is production of reduced-fat mayonnaise using electrostatic and covalent of &beta-lactoglobulin and Farsi gum as stabilizer, as well as elimination of cholesterol and reducing application of other stabilizers.

At first, electrostatic and covalent complexes of &beta-lactoglobulin and Farsi gum with dry and wet heat treatment were produced. Then Farsi gum and all of the complexes with 1% wt concentration were used in the mayonnaise. The samples were compared in terms of droplet size distributions, apparent viscosity, firmness, color and microscopic analysis.

Comparison of mean droplet size of the samples showed that mayonnaise contained dry-heated (for one week at 60 ºC and relative humidity of 75%, 1:1 biopolymer mixing ratio) &beta-lactoglobulin-Farsi gum complex (D1/11) had the smallest size. Mayonnaise containing Farsi gum and W/1:2/6.69 (wet-heated &beta-lactoglobulin-Farsi gum complex with 1:2 biopolymer mixing ratio and pH=6.69) had mean droplet size similar to commercial mayonnaise. Mayonnaise containing Farsi gum showed non-uniform microstructure by microscopy observation. Commercial mayonnaise had the highest apparent viscosity followed by mayonnaise containing Farsi gum. Firmness result also had the same trend (P<0.05). Commercial samples showed significant differences and the highest yellowness compared to others due to the presence of egg.

According to the above results, &beta-lactoglobulin-Farsi gum complexes can be used as emulsifier and stabilizer in mayonnaise and salad dressing.