Apple Pomace as a Functional Food Ingredient: Scoping Review

Introduction: Apple pomace is a by-product formed during juice production. The weight of apple pomace, depending on the method of juice production and the equipment used, can range from 28 to 60% of the weight of the original raw material.

Purpose: This review article presents an analysis of the possibility of using apple pomace as a functional component of food products.

Materials and Methods: A review of the existing literature on the issue over recent years was conducted using the RINC, Pubmed databases and the Google Scholar system. Data on the content of biologically active substances in apple pomace and the quantity introduced into various food products were analyzed, as well as an assessment of the possibility of enriching the diet with biologically active substances based on the standards of physiological need of the body in dietary fibers.

Results: In essence, apple pomace is a concentrate of dietary fibers containing a significant amount of natural antioxidants (phenolic compounds) bound to the carbohydrate matrix. In terms of the human body, apple pomace combines the properties of two types of substances – dietary fibers and antioxidants. Technologically, apple pomace is a functional ingredient with moisture and oil retention capacity, improving texture and increasing the antioxidant activity of the product.

Conclusions: Incorporating apple pomace into the recipe not only improves the technological properties of bread and flour confectionery products (cakes, cookies, biscuits, crackers), dairy fermented products (yogurts), meat products (sausages, salami, minced meat products), extruded and other products, causing some darkening of the final product, but also enhances the nutritional value due to the increased content of dietary fibers and antioxidant properties of the product. Including apple pomace in the diet of rats with high fat and sucrose content leads to an improvement in the blood serum lipid profile and prevents weight gain. Apple pomace is a functional, economical, and beneficial ingredient in food product recipes. 

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