Evaluation of physico-chemical changes in the production of breakfast margarines in terms of nutrition and health

In this study, the changes in the physical structure and chemical composition of margarine caused by modification techniques such as hydrogenation, interesterification and fractional crystallisation applied in the production of edible vegetable breakfast margarine were evaluated in terms of nutrition, health and food safety. In this context, iodine number, total polar compounds (TPC), melting point, fatty acid and sterol compositions of breakfast margarine samples were analysed. It was determined that the iodine number ranged between 69.33 ±0.58 and 75.33 ±0.58, and the melting points ranged between 33.00 ±1.04°C and 36.00 ±1.00°C. In the fatty acid composition, unsaturated fatty acids are mainly oleic acid (C18:1) (40.33 ±0.15%; 54.30% ±0.20%), followed by linoleic acid (C18:2) (11.05-26.52%) and linolenic acid (C18:3) (0.83-3.50%). In sterol composition, β-Sitosterol (60.28 ±0.19%; 73.90 ±0.20%) was the most dominant component followed by Campesterol (12.30 ±0.33%; 27.05 ±0.15%), Stigma sterol (3.82 ±0.18 %; 11.30 ±0.70 %), ∆7-stigma sterol (2.47 ±0.03 %; 6.00 ±0.50%). In conclusion, it was determined that total polar compounds in breakfast margarine samples were close to the upper limit determined by the World Health Organisation, and omega-3 fatty acids were very low. Within the scope of these parameters, it is thought to pose long-term risks regarding healthy nutrition and food safety. These parameters, which are used for the first time in the evaluation of breakfast margarine, will contribute to the development of healthy nutrition scientists and raise awareness among producers and consumers.