In the present study, the impact of conventional or ohmic heat processing on the
amino acid profile was investigated in vegetable baby foods. Results revealed that
neither of the two processes affected the total protein content however, differences were
observed in the amino acids profile after treatment. Retorted baby foods contained
around 20% less total amino acids than in unsterilized samples (35% essential amino
acids and 9% non-essential amino acids). On the contrary, ohmic heating did not
decrease total amino acids in the baby puree, maintaining the same content of essential and non-essential amino acids as in unsterilized samples. These findings were likewise
observed in the protein quality of the different samples. In conclusion, ohmic heating
promotes less nutrient loss than the conventional method in vegetable baby purees
maintaining the amino acids profile and therefore the protein quality of the sample
before sterilization. Therefore, ohmic treatment may be successfully used as an
alternative method to ensure microbiological and nutritional quality of infant foods.