Physical and oxidative stability of high fat fish oil‐in‐water emulsions stabilized with combinations of sodium caseinate and sodium alginate

A systematic study was carried out in order to evaluate the physical and oxidative stability of high fat omega‐3 delivery fish oil‐in‐water emulsions stabilized with combinations of sodium caseinate (NaCas) and sodium alginate (NaAlg). The influence of three factors related to emulsion composition (fish oil content: 50, 60, and 70%; total amount of NaCas and NaAlg: 1.4, 2.1 and 2.8%; and ratio NaCas:NaAlg: 0.4, 1.2, and 2) on physical (droplet size, viscosity, and zeta potential) and oxidative (primary and secondary oxidation products) parameters was evaluated. It was possible to produce emulsions with a combination of NaCas and NaAlg, except when the ratio between NaAlg and aqueous phase was high (0.047 or 0.054). Viscosity of the emulsions significantly increased with increasing fish oil and total stabilizer content. Zeta potential was significantly affected by total stabilizer content. The content of primary oxidation products in the emulsions was very low (0.93 meq peroxides/kg oil). Secondary oxidation products were detected in small amounts (<60 ng/g emulsion). Even though the optimum formulation concerning physical parameters was suggested as 61.8% fish oil content, 1.4% total stabilizer, and 1.2 ratio NaCas:NaAlg by Box‐Behnken's design, the formulae 70%‐1.4%‐1.2 was decided due to high fish oil content's decreasing effect on droplet size and peroxide value. Practical applications: Physically and oxidatively stable high fat (50–70%) omega‐3 delivery fish oil‐in‐water emulsions are of high interest to food industry for the production of omega‐3 fortified products. Our results show the feasibility to stabilize high fat delivery fish oil‐in‐water emulsions using combinations of NaCas and NaAlg. As these emulsions had high amount of fish oil, food products can be enriched with smaller amounts of high fat emulsions when compared to low fat delivery emulsions. This results in minor changes of the product's original structure. Examples for enrichment of food products with omega‐3 are dressings, cream cheese, yoghurt, and mayonnaise. Optimization of emulsion composition which maximizes the physical and oxidative stabilities of high fat fish oil‐in‐water emulsions stabilized with combinations of sodium caseinate and sodium alginate.