Gluten and lactose-free ingredient substitute found for low-fat white sauces

Consumers with celiac disease often find that gluten-free products are of inferior quality compared with their traditional, non-gluten-free counterparts. Traditional white sauce is made with milk, flour or starch, oil, and salt. The study looks at how the use of vegetable protein source and gluten-free starches can make a type of sauce suitable for vegetarian, lactose intolerant and consumers with celiac disease.

The researcher replaced milk with soy protein which improves the structure of the sauce as well as makes it consumable for lactose-intolerant consumers, and at the same time, lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease and breast cancer. Traditional flour was replaced with gluten-free waxy starches such as corn and rice that each improves the structure of the sauce with minimal effects on color and taste. Inulin, a well-known functional ingredient that is known for reducing the risk of gastrointestinal and cardiovascular diseases, was used to replace the oil.

The results have shown that these sauces have a high degree of stability under refrigeration storage and good consumer acceptability.

Journal reference: Journal of Food Science

Provided by Institute of Food Science & Technology