Effect of rice bran oil spread on the physical, sensory and fatty acid profile of cake.

Studies were carried out to replace hydrogenated fat (HF) with rice bran oil (RBO) and two varieties of rice bran oil spread RBOS1 and RBOS2 in the preparation of cake. Physico-chemical properties, sensory properties, scanning electronic microscopic (SEM) study and fatty acid estimation with reference to trans fatty acids of cake made with control and experimental samples were studied. The best acceptable cake among the four i.e., RBOS2 cake was selected for consumer evaluation along with control (HF) cake. Results revealed that there was no significant difference in overall acceptability of cake made with HF and RBOS2. The internal structure and pore structure of RBOS2 cake was finer and smoother than the control cake as per SEM imaging. The pores within the core varied in diameter between 13.9 and 29.6 µm in control cake and between 16.9 and 58.6 µm in RBOS2 cake at 500 × magnification indicating good textural properties compared to HF cake. The fatty acids analysis results showed that the amount of total trans fatty acids (TFA) was 15.46% in HF cake, 3.56% in RBO cake, 4.54% in RBOS1 cake, and 3.78% in RBOS2 cake. The major trans fatty acids observed in all samples were elaidic acid (C18:1 trans-9) and Linolelidic acid (C18:2, trans-6). Elaidic acid was the highest in HF cake (6.64%) and the least in RBO cake (2.62%). Linolelidic acid was the highest in HF cake (8.48%) and the least in RBOS2 cake (0.91%). Trans Vaccenic acid was detected only in HF cake (0.34%). TFA content assumes significance in terms of its ill effects on the health of consumers, only if fat content is also high. Hence, consumption of the HF products might prove to be harmful, if consumed in large amounts and at higher frequencies. Therefore RBOS can be promoted as healthy fat for production of baked products.