Effect of encapsulated vitamin E on physical, storage and retention parameters in cookies

Microencapsulated α-tocopherol and wheat germ oil (WGO) were incorporated as WGO (5.0 ml) in liquid: WGO-L, encapsulated: WGO-E, encapsulated α-tocopherol as E1, E2 and E3 at 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 g respectively in cookies and evaluated for physical, sensory and shelf life parameters. Spread ratio was decreased, whereas hardness was increased with encapsulated formulations and observed least in WGO-L (40.52 N) formulated cookies. During storage moisture content was observed increased (2.51-4.78%), vitamin E was retained in all formulations except WGO-L and was found maximum in E3 (4.45 mg/100 g) formulated cookies. Formulations brought the peroxide value to nil, free fatty acid development was very less, better antioxidant activity (41.1% maximum), total plate count was observed least in E3 (25 × 10² cfu/g) and good sensory acceptance of cookies up to 4 months of storage. The study concluded that encapsulated vitamin E elevated the antioxidant activity and consequently shelf life and nutritive value of cookies.