CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF ICE POPS PRODUCED IN A MICROINDUSTRY FROM HIDALGO, MEXICO

Abstract

The chemical composition of water and milk based ice pops produced by a microindustry in Hidalgo, Mexico were determined. Fifteen samples of several flavors were analyzed. The proximate composition was carried out according AOAC techniques. The identification and quantification of fatty acids in the milk based ice pops was performed by Gas Chromatography provided with a flame ionization detector. Water based ice pops did not present a significant nutritional value. Regarding milk based ice pops all samples contained from 6.83 to 12.7% of fat and some samples showed interesting contents of protein (3.55 and 4.21%). The fatty acid profile revealed higher contents of unsaturated fatty acids compared with saturated fatty acids. Trans fatty acids were detected in five of seven milk based samples, representing 20-60% of total fatty acids. Analysis showed that the mixes used to prepare ice pops are different according to their flavor, kind, and amount of fruit which alters their nutritional value and the levels of trans-fatty acids. Key words: chemical composition, fatty acids, gas chromatography, ice pops.