Developing a Recommendation for Home-Canned Peaches with a Sucralose Sugar Substitute

Abstract

Sugar substitutes are important in controlling calorie intake for consumers with health problems including obesity and diabetes. Among these, Splenda® (sucralose) is popular and suitable for inclusion in heat processed products. Consumer driven demands for safe, acceptable, shelf-stable home-canned fruit containing sugar substitute, necessitated a research based recommendation for home canned peaches containing Splenda®.
The objective was to recommend a process for peaches canned in Splenda® sugar substitute, based on product development and analysis of consumer sensory preferences.
Selected ‘Ruston Red’ peaches were canned in water, medium sugar syrup, full-strength ‘medium’ Splenda® syrup and half-strength ‘medium’ Splenda® syrup, using the USDA boiling water process for peaches. Physicochemical characteristics of fresh, canned and pre-consumption peaches were recorded, including pH, firmness, titratable acidity, percent soluble solids, and color. Peaches were stored in a temperature-monitored environment for 15 months and a consumer preference study followed. 42 respondents indicated their preferences for each sample using a 9-point hedonic scale and took a short survey providing information about their food preparation and consumption practices. Attributes scored included appearance, color, aroma, flavor, texture, sweetness, tartness, aftertaste and overall acceptability.
Overall acceptability was highest for peaches canned in sugar syrup, followed by full strength Splenda®, half strength Splenda®, and lastly, water. Full-strength Splenda® rated higher than half strength Splenda® on appearance, color, aroma, flavor, and texture while the half strength product scored higher on tartness and sweetness. There was no difference in aftertaste detection between the two. One-third respondents would be willing to buy either Splenda® product. The products were acid, hence suitable for boiling water canning.
A safe process for home-canning peaches using a sugar substitute is both timely and necessary. This study provides a research- and consumer-endorsed home-canning recommendation for peaches canned with medium strength Splenda® syrup that is both safe and acceptable.

Introduction

Home-canning of home-grown or locally purchased produce is a popular practice in the U.S (Andress, 2001). Abundant availability of summer fruits, especially peaches, prompts consumers to preserve these through canning. However, increasingly, a demand (fueled by health concerns about obesity and diabetes) has arisen for alternatives to sugar used in home-canned foods. The objective of this project was to develop a high-quality home-canned peach product using a non-nutritive sweetener, and to carry out a consumer preference study to determine the ideal level of sweetener to be added. Storage monitoring of the product determined the shelf-life that would be recommended for this product.

Materials and Methods

Canning Methods: The USDA recommended Boiling Water process for home canning peaches was followed (USDA, 1994). ‘Ruston Red’ Elberta-type peaches ideal for cooking were obtained from a local peach orchard (Washington Farms, Watkinsville, GA). The peaches were sorted for quality and ripeness. Care was taken to maintain equivalency in peach ripeness stage (assessed by tactile firmness).

1. The peaches were washed and hand-peeled, cut into halves, and the pits removed. Peach quarters were soaked in an ascorbic acid solution (3000 mg/gallon water) until used, to prevent darkening.
2. Four types of covering liquid were used. The solutions were prepared by dissolving the sweetener in water and heating until dissolved. The packing liquids include:
   • water
   • medium strength (30%) sugar syrup (1¾ cups sugar per quart water)
   • full-strength ‘medium’ Splenda® syrup (1¾ cups Splenda® per quart water)
   • half-strength ‘medium’ Splenda® syrup (7/8 cup Splenda® per quart water)
3. Peaches were hot-packed (brought to a boil in covering liquid from above) into prepared quart home canning jars. Canning lids were prepared according to manufacturer’s directions. Headspace was adjusted to ½ inch, air bubbles were removed and lids applied. Jars were processed for 25 minutes (altitudes up to 1,000 ft) in a Boiling Water Bath canner on a household gas range (Frigidaire Gallery Model ES III). Jars were cooled, undisturbed, for 12-24 hours & seals were checked. Jars were stored in covered boxes for 15 months in a temperature-monitored environment maintained at 65°F.
4. Physical and chemical characteristics of fresh and canned peaches were measured:
         firmness – Penetrometer Fruit Pressure Tester QA Supplies, Model FT 327
         pH – Orion 520 A+ pH meter
         titratable acidity
         % soluble solids – Leica Abbe Mark II Refractometer Model 13104940
         color - Hunter Miniscan XE plus

Sensory Analysis

A Consumer Sensory Preference study was conducted with 42 respondents including University students, staff and faculty. A 9-point Hedonic scale was used for the respondents to score several attributes (see Table 1) for each of the 4 canned peach products mentioned above.

Respondents also answered a questionnaire that covered their fruit consumption and buying practices; home-canning experience; use of sugar substitutes, and demographic questions.

Results

Figure 1: Overall Sensory Acceptability Scores of Panelists for Four Canned Peach Products

Significant Characteristics of Sensory Preferences

• The product with sugar obtained the highest scores for all positive attributes (Table 1).
• The ‘full-strength’ Splenda® product received higher scores for 6/9 attributes as compared to ‘half-strength’ Splenda® .
• For ‘Overall Acceptability’, the preference order was Sugar ‘Full-strength’ Splenda® ‘Half-strength’ Splenda® Water.
• A strong product delineation was seen in the ‘Buying Inclination’ category, where 73.8% respondents indicated that they would buy the ‘full-sugar’ product, 33.3% indicated that they would buy the ‘full-strength’ Splenda® product, but there was a strong negative buying inclination towards the ‘water’ product (85.7%), and the ‘half-strength’ Splenda® (40.5%) product. This indicates that consumers do not want to compromise on the quality factors in their purchase of canned fruit.

Demographic Results

• 88% respondents (37/42) were female
• 52.38% (22/42) were employed full-time
• 45.23% (19/42) were students
• 76.19% (32/42) were natives of GA
• 2 each from Michigan and Tennessee
• and one each from SC, FL AK, NV, IN, China

Figure 2: Age Range of Respondents

Fruit Canning and Consumption Practices of Respondents

Conclusions

• Both full-strength ‘medium’ Splenda® syrup and half-strength ‘medium’ Splenda® syrup are suitable for use in home-canning peaches. However, ‘full-strength’ is preferred overall by most consumers participating in a Sensory Preference study. The ‘standard’ sugar syrup product was the most preferred, and the product canned in water was the least preferred.
• Peaches canned with Splenda® using the USDA canning instructions for fruit retain quality and shelf life for at least one year when stored under recommended conditions, between 50-70°F, in a dry place away from strong light.

References

This project was partially funded through a grant from the National Integrated food Safety Initiative (Grant No. 00-51110-9762) of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The authors acknowledge Dr. Ruthann Swanson, Department of Foods & Nutrition, University of Georgia, for her assistance with the experimental design of the Sensory Preference study.

Document Use:

Permission is granted to reproduce these materials in whole or in part for educational purposes only (not for profit beyond the cost of reproduction) provided the authors and the University of Georgia receive acknowledgment and this notice is included:

Reprinted with permission of the University of Georgia. E. M. D'sa and E. L. Andress. 2006. Developing a Recommendation for Home-Canned Peaches with a Sucralose Sugar Substitute. Athens, GA: The University of Georgia, Cooperative Extension Service.

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