Physical and nutritional properties of baby food containing menhaden oil (Brevoortia tyrannus) and microencapsulated menhaden oil

Purified menhaden oil (PMO) was characterized and microencapsulated. Baby foods containing PMO and microencapsulated purified menhaden oil (MPMO) were evaluated and compared. PMO had higher total omega-3, total saturated, total monounsaturated, DHA, and EPA contents than MPMO. Emulsion containing PMO (EPMO) exhibited viscoelastic characteristic and droplet size of EPMO was around 2–10 μm. The DHA and EPA in the PMO were reduced in MPMO. All baby-food samples with added fish oils had similar FFA values and color. DHA and EPA of baby food were significantly increased by adding PMO and/or MPMO. Total percent values for omega-3 fatty acids of extracted fat from commercial baby food (CB), commercial baby food containing PMO (BPMO), and commercial baby food containing MPMO (BMPMO) were 4.5, 9.8 and 10.1%, respectively.