Abstract Kefir is a fermented beverage that deserves special attention, since it has probiotic activity and unique sensory, nutritional, and therapeutic properties. Given that both kefir and soymilk are beneficial to human health, this study aimed to assess the physicochemical characteristics and acceptability of soymilk Kefir-based functional beverages (SKB) properly inoculated with lactobacilli strain after 16h of incubation at 37 °C. It was monitored lactobacilli cell viability, yeasts count, pH, titratable acidity, lipids, proteins, ash, total solid, carbohydrates, caloric values and acceptability of the products. Additionally was conducted a shelf-life study of SKB added of peach-flavor. The lactobacilli cell count ranged from 7.0 to 8.0 Log10 CFUmL-1 and pH values from 4.5 to 4.6. SKB samples with higher soymilk kefir percent presented higher lactobacilli cell count and lower lipid, ash, total solid, carbohydrate and caloric value. Results showed similar preferential rates for the SKB up to 30% of added soymilk kefir. The functional peach-flavored beverage presented appropriate pH value (4.3) and high viable cells count (7.0 Log10 CFUmL-1) up to the 28th day of cold storage, showed high acceptability (94.5%) and positive purchase intention (83.4%) among consumers.

RESUMO O umbu é um fruto muito apreciado pela população da região Nordeste brasileira, porém apresenta grande perecibilidade. A produção de barras alimentícias à base de frutas torna-se interessante por permitir o aproveitamento tecnológico de matérias-primas nobres, além de reduzir perdas pós-colheita de umbus. Os objetivos deste estudo foram produzir barras de cereais sem adição de açúcar e com sabor de umbu, e realizar a caracterização química, física e sensorial dos produtos desenvolvidos. Foram estudados quatro tratamentos dietéticos, usando gomas como agentes ligantes e sucralose e acessulfame como adoçantes: BUA (goma arábica), BUC (carragena), BUT (tara), BUX (xantana) e o tratamento-controle BUCT (com xarope de glicose e sacarose). Os resultados das avaliações realizadas foram analisados por ANOVA e teste de Tukey (p=0,05). Os produtos apresentaram elevados teores de proteínas, fibra alimentar, lipídios e matéria mineral. O tratamento BUX apresentou melhor aceitação pelos consumidores quanto aos atributos aroma, sabor, textura, qualidade global, e mais alto percentual de intenção positiva de compra (58 %), seguido pelo tratamento BUT (33%). Os tratamentos BUCT, BUC e BUA foram menos aceitos pelos consumidores, devido a menores escores para sua qualidade global. O uso da polpa de umbu e goma na produção de barras de cereais dietéticas mostrou ser uma boa alternativa para reduzir as perdas da fruta e para agregar valor ao produto, que demonstrou potencial para o mercado consumidor em geral e, também, para indivíduos com restrição ao uso da sacarose.

ABSTRACT Umbu is a fruit very appreciated by the Brazilian Northeast people, but these fruits show great perishability. Cereal bars production with fruits addition is interesting because allow the technological use of noble raw materials, besides to reduce umbu post-harvest losses. The aims of this study were the production of diet bars with umbu pulp and to carry out the chemical, physical and sensory characterization of these products. Different gums were studied as binder agents and sucralose and acesulfame-K as sweeteners, in the elaboration of four treatments of diet bars: BUA (Arabic gum), BUC (carrageenan), BUT (tara), BUX (xanthan) and the control treatment BUCT (with glucose syrup and sucrose). The chemical, physical and sensory data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey test (p=0.05). The results revealed that the products presented high contents of protein, dietary fibers, lipids and ash. The BUX treatment reached better acceptance by the consumers related to odor, flavor, texture and overall quality attributes; it revealed higher positive purchase intention (58 %), followed by the BUT treatment (33%). The BUCT, BUC and BUA treatments reached lower acceptance by the consumers due to lower score to overall quality. The use of umbu pulp and gum in the preparation of diet cereal bar showed to be a good alternative to reduce fruit loss and to increase market value of the products that presented potential for consumers in general or with restriction to the use of sucrose.

Ceratitis capitata is one of the most important pests of fruits for exportation, and Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) has been the most efficient and environmental friendly technique used to control fruit fly populations around the world. A key goal in achieving a successful SIT program is a mass rearing system producing high quality insects at low cost. Providing adults with an artificial diet containing hydrolysed protein has been the major obstacle for bio-production facilities in Brazil, because it is expensive and has to be imported. Two other commercial products, autolysed yeast (AY) and yeast extract (YE), of domestic origin and low cost, were tested as substitutes of the imported hydrolyzed protein. To compare their efficiency we observed the female fecundity, adult survival and egg viability of flies raised on diets containing one of each of the different protein products. Flies reared on the domestic yeast products had equivalent or superior performance to the flies reared on imported protein. Both AY and YE can be a possible substitute for imported hydrolyzed protein for C. capitata mass-rearing, as they are cheaper and are readily available in the national market.