Development of sweet confectioneries produced from pilot‐scale UV‐C treated orange juice, low‐methoxyl pectin and different sugar‐substitute blends. Impact on physicochemical, rheological and sensory properties

This study was aimed at investigating the impact of different non-caloric and reduced-calorie sugar blends on the physicochemical, rheological and sensory properties of sweet confectioneries. The systems were formulated using low-methoxyl pectin (1% wt/vol) and orange juice processed by pilot-scale UV-C light (Dean-Vortex reactor; 390 mJ/cm(2); Reynolds number: 3824). Consumer perception was measured using the conjoint, difference from control and CATA tests. A control, elaborated with sucrose (S:10% wt/vol), and 27 systems containing blends of S (0-6.0% wt/vol), erythritol (E:0-11.0% wt/vol), rebaudioside A (RA:0-0.038% wt/vol) and polydextrose (P:0%-20% wt/vol) were prepared according to a Box-Behnken design. Multiple combinations of sweeteners that predicted water holding capacity (WHC) and hardness 1 (H1) like control were found using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). P increased degrees Brix while lowered H1; whereas, E decreased WHC and increased pH. The confectionery was perceived as very healthy and with a high willingness to try. All the evaluated systems displayed a solid/gel behavior dominating the viscoelastic response. Two systems (S5 = 3.0% wt/vol S-0.019% wt/vol RA and S7 = 0.019% wt/vol RA-5.5% wt/vol E) were selected according to RSM, PCAs, MANOVA and sensory tests as both resembled the full-sucrose sample. This study proposes interesting formulations of sugar-reduced and sugar-substitute blends for being used in sweet confectioneries produced from UV-C preserved orange juice and low-methoxyl pectin, with physicochemical, rheological and sensory characteristics like the full-sucrose options. Practical applications Consumers are becoming fully aware of the significant role that food and beverages play in overall health. This trend has a decisive impact on the food industry in terms of innovation and the development of better-for-you products. The present study involves firstly, a conjoint study to investigate the interest of local consumers in a new sweet confectionery produced by gentle means and secondly, the use of sugar substitute blends, combined or not with sucrose, for the development of sweet confectioneries produced from low-methoxyl pectin and orange juice processed by pilot-scale short-wave ultraviolet light (UV-C) a promising emerging technology proposed for the replacement of the traditional thermal treatments, which severely affect fruit juice quality.