Samples of 14 brands, including commercial household margarine, butter and bakery margarine, were maintained at 5°C and 25°C for 12 months, and the content of vitamin A and β-carotene were measured every month, together with measurement of peroxide value (P.O.V.) and acid value (A.V.) and color observations.
1) Mean values of residual vitamin A after 3, 6, 9 and 12 months were 98.7, 96.3, 94.2 and 92.2%, respectively, when stored at 5°C and 92.9, 86.2, 80.5 and 71.5% when stored at 25°C. Mean values of residual β-carotene were 97.7, 95.0, 89.7 and 78.5% when stored at 5°C, and 91.5, 81.7, 68.0 and 57.2% when stored at 25°C and these results indicate that β-carotene is slightly less stable.
2) Presence of milk products gives better effect on the preservation of vitamin A and β-carotene. β-Carotene in bakery margarine, which did not contain any milk products, was found to destroy quickly.
3) Presence of metals and large content of water gave adverse effect on the retention of vitamin A and this effect was especially marked when margarine was stored at 25°C.
4) Acorrelation existed between the increasing order of P.O.V. and order of residual rate of vitamin A and β-carotene, but there seemed to be no special correlation between A.V. and residual rates.
5) Artificial colorings seemed to be more stable and there was virtually no color fading at low temperatures.
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