Os alimentos funcionais constituem hoje prioridade de pesquisa em todo mundo com a finalidade de elucidar as propriedades e os efeitos que estes produtos podem apresentar na promoção da saúde. As bactérias probióticas são microrganismos vivos que, quando consumidos, exercem efeitos benéficos sobre o hospedeiro conferindo propriedades à microbiota endógena. Algumas propriedades benéficas atribuídas às culturas probióticas necessitam de estudos mais controlados para serem definitivamente esclarecidas. Neste artigo são enfocados os aspectos tecnológicos dos probióticos, os efeitos associados ao consumo de produtos contendo probióticos e as principais cepas empregadas. São apresentados resultados experimentais originais para ilustrar os aspectos tecnológicos da fabricação de alimentos contendo probióticos buscando descrever suas limitações e alternativas.

Functional food science is being considered priority of research nowadays and studies are directed towards attempts to elucidate their proprieties and effects in promoting health. Probiotics are viable microbial dietary supplements that have beneficial effects over the health of the host by means of modulation of the intestinal microflora. Some beneficial properties attributed to probiotic microorganisms still need more controlled studies to be definitely established. This article deals with technology aspects related to probiotics, the effects associated with the consumption of food products containing these microorganisms and the main strains employed for that purpose. Experimental data are also presented in order to illustrate technological aspects of the manufacture of food products containing probiotics, intending to describe their limitations and alternatives.

Face ao aumento de peso e ao aparecimento de doenças cardiovasculares na população mundial devido ao consumo de alimentos altamente calóricos, o desenvolvimento de alimentos com baixo ou reduzido teor de gordura torna-se essencial. Estudou-se o efeito da adição de "fat replacers" (Litesse e Dairy-lo) na vida-de-prateleira de bebidas lácteas. No presente trabalho as variáveis independentes Litesse (X1) e Dairy-lo (X2) foram empregadas nas concentrações 0,50,1,50, 2,50% em peso, com 7 combinações calculadas e 3 repetições do ponto central utilizando a metodologia de superfície resposta. As bebidas lácteas foram avaliadas através de análises químicas (valor de pH, acidez total titulável, teores de sólidos totais e tirosina) e sensoriais (aparência, sabor e consistência) aos 0, 7, 14, 21 e 28 dias de armazenamento a 5ºC. Durante a vida-de-prateleira a utilização de diferentes concentrações de Litesse e Dairy-lo não influenciou o comportamento físico-químico e a aparência das bebidas lácteas estudadas. Entretanto, o sabor foi afetado com o armazenamento. Pode-se estabelecer 28 dias como o tempo ideal para a vida-de-prateleira das bebidas lácteas estudadas. Os resultados indicam que a utilização do Litesse e Dairy-lo em formulações de bebidas lácteas é perfeitamente viável.

The development of low fat foods is essential, due to the remarkable increase in the levels of overweight and clinical obesity and of cardiovascular health problems worldwide. Were have studied the effect of adding fat replacers (Litesse and Dairy-lo) on the shelf-life of lactic beverages. In the present work, the independent variables Litesse (X1) and Dairy-lo (X2), ranging from 0.50 to 2.50% (w/w) were studied by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) in a total number of 7 assay combinations and 3 repetitions of the central point. Chemical determinations (pH, total acidity, total solids and tyrosine) and sensorial analyses were carried out in lactic beverages after 0, 7, 14 and 28 days of storage at 5ºC. It was observed that, during shelf-life, the use of different concentrations of fat replacers did not affect the physical and chemical behavior, and the appearance of the lactic beverages studied. On the other hand, taste was considered the most affected attribute during storage. A shelf-life of 28 days was established as the best one for the lactic beverages studied. The results indicate that the use of fat replacers in lactic beverage formulations is feasible.

Penicillium citrinum grown in orange juice processing wastes medium under continuous agitation was studied in order to establish optimal conditions (incubation period, incubation temperature, initial pH and nitrogen addition) for biomass and ribonuclease production, as well as, biological depuration of the wastes. Nitrogen addition to wastes medium increased the biomass and ribonuclease production and provides COD reduction. The soy meal shows to be the best nitrogen source. The conditions for a more favorable enzyme and biomass production and COD reduction were initial pH 6.0 and temperature of 27°C. The maximum value obtained for these parameters on optimal conditions of cultivation was 11 U/mL of enzyme, 4 mg/mL of biomass (dry matter) and 55% of COD reduction, in 96 hours of incubation.