Oatrim-5 as fat substitute in low calorie salad cream: Nutritional and microbiological qualities

This research was attempted to modify low calorie salad cream substituted with 12 percent oatrim-5 gel for soybean oil and to ensure safety for consumption of the salad cream. Three levels of oatrim-5 gel replacement at 50, 70 and 90 percent compared to control of salad cream were evaluated by descriptive and preference tests. The results demonstrated that the highest intensity of characteristics such as aroma, sourness, viscosity and flavor belonged to the control sample and the intensity became lower when the Oatrim-5 was substituted more, except color and smoothness. The preference toward characteristics except viscosity of the salad cream substituted with 50 percent Oatrim-5 were not significantly different from the sample with 70 percent substitution, and the 90 percent substituted sample seemed to be unacceptable to panelists. Addition of xanthan gum as thickening agent at 0.3-0.5 percent showed an improvement of stability, which could prevent breakage of the emulsions. When viscosity of the 70 percent level was measured, the sample with addition of 0.5 percent xanthan gum was more viscous than the others, reaching a value at 3070 cp. close to the control at 3740 cp. Moreover, analysis of proximate composition of the control compared to all substituted samples indicated a remarkable reduction in fat and energy content, which were 59.39, 29.81, 18.71 and 7.24 gram; as well as 595.21, 341.00, 242.00 and 144.00 kcal, respectively. In contrast, soluble fiber showed some increase at the higher oatrim-5 substitution. For safety test during shelf-life storage of 3 and 6 months, total viable count, molds, coliforms and aciduric spoilage bacteria were not detected in all the samples kept at both room temperature and at 4 deg C. Lastly, little change of acidity of the 90 percent substituted salad cream was observed, but still remained below 4.1.