Incorporating Fresh Durum Wheat Semolina Pasta Fortified with Cardoncello (Pleurotus eryngii) Mushroom Powder as a Mediterranean Diet Staple.

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Pasta made from durum wheat semolina has a medium-high glycemic index score, high starch digestibility, and limited nutritional value due to its low fiber, vitamin, and bioactive compound content. This study aimed to enhance pasta's nutritional and functional qualities by incorporating Pleurotus eryngii (PE) powder at various substitution levels to achieve one nutritional claim at least. This research involved two phases: evaluating the chemical/physical, nutritional, functional, and sensory properties of laboratory-scale samples and validating the selected formulations through industrial-scale production and shelf-life analyses. The pasta sample with 8.62% PE substitution (SPE8-P) demonstrated significantly improved nutritional qualities, including high fiber content sufficient for a "high fiber content" claim, and potential prebiotic activity indicated by increased bifidobacterial density during simulated fecal microbiota fermentation. Despite its enhanced riboflavin and antioxidant content, regulatory constraints limited the inclusion of claims for vitamin B2 richness and antioxidant activity. Although significantly affecting the color, taste, and odor profiles, the sensory analysis revealed high overall acceptability, supporting the product's potential for consumer acceptance. This study confirms the feasibility of producing innovative, nutritionally enriched pasta with PE powder as a functional ingredient. Future research will focus on in vivo evaluation to establish the potential for classifying this pasta prototype as a functional food.