Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
2
Department of biology, College of Education for Pure Science Ibn-Alhaitham university of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
10.30476/ijns.2025.107662.1518
Abstract
Background: Date press cake (DPC) as a fibrous by-product of date syrup contains high levels of dietary fiber, minerals, and antioxidant compounds; while a large volume of it is still discarded. This study assessed the nutritional quality of low calorie biscuits enriched with DPC.
Methods: DPC was added to standard tea-biscuit dough at 0 (Control), 5, 10, 15 and 20% (w/w) concentrations. Dietary fiber, energy (Kcal/100 g), color, and sensory acceptability were measured later. Antimicrobial assay was also undertaken.
Results: Dietary fiber increased from 1.3% (control) to 5.7%, 10.0%, 14.3%, and 18.6% when 5, 10, 15 and 20% concentrations of DPC were added, respectively. The energy decreased from 457.8 Kcal/100 g (control) to 444.4, 430.7, 417.4, and 403.8 Kcal/100 g at 5, 10, 15, and 20% (w/w) concentrations of DPC, respectively. Antimicrobial assay demonstrated dose-dependent inhibitory effects of DPC against food spoilage microorganisms of Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae with its alcoholic extract (200 mg/mL) and exhibits a strong activity appeared as a12 mm inhibition zone. Sensory evaluation (n=10) showed an overall acceptability and remained high (8 out of 10) at 10% concentration of DPC; but declined markedly at 15% and 20% concentrations.
Conclusion: It was shown that incorporation of DPC into tea-biscuit dough up to 10% (w/w) can effectively increase (3 times) the dietary fiber content, reduce the caloric density (~3%), and retains a high sensory acceptability. Higher levels of ≥15% can impair the color and the texture acceptability. DPC valorization in biscuits was shown to offer an ecofriendly route to reduce agro-industrial waste, enrich bakery products with functional fiber, and contribute to healthier diets.
Highlights
Jasim M Awda (Google Scholar)
Keywords
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