Future Foods最新文献

Seaweed phenolics are an attractive, sustainable source of natural phenolic antioxidants, and have potential for stabilising complex food and feed systems. In the present study, three seaweeds collected along the Victoria coastline of Australia were extracted and screened for phenolic content and antioxidant activity. A 70/30 ethanol/water extract of Ecklonia radiata was selected and major phenolics were characterised using LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS, with eckol-type phlorotannins being the identified as the most abundant in this extract. This Ecklonia radiata extract was able to oxidatively stabilise tuna oil-in-water emulsion at low concentrations but showed some pro-oxidant effects in at higher concentrations in both emulsions and microcapsules omega-3 delivery systems. Ecklonia radiata phenolics are useful for oxidative stabilisation but results indicate that phenolic levels need to be specifically tailored for each application, particularly for complex food delivery systems.

Fresh produce is traditionally labeled with plastic Price LookUp (PLU) stickers that are environmental contaminants and can easily detach during handling and disrupt traceability. The CO2 laser-labeling technology (LLT), an alternate method of produce labeling, has been gaining attention. However, the performance of this technology varies by produce, and consumer perception and acceptability remain understudied. The study evaluated consumers' perception and acceptability of the laser-labeled apple fruit that were purchased locally, laser-printed with a QR code, and coated with edible wax. A consumer study (N = 75) was conducted using 1) Apple with QR-code, 2) Apple with PLU plastic sticker, and 3) non-labeled control. Respondents received randomized treatment samples and completed questionnaires. The study revealed that QR-code labels were less preferred than sticker labels and no labels. Overall liking, label liking, and purchase intent were significantly lower for QR-code labels. However, after providing information about the QR-code benefits, rankings for all labels became statistically similar. Despite 52 % of respondents preferring QR-code labels for their sustainability benefits, they were less likely to recommend them than sticker labels. Laser labeling technology has the potential for industrial application from the consumers' perspectives, and providing consumer education is crucial for its success.

The application of cold plasma technology has demonstrated promise in addressing fruit and vegetable waste, providing several advantages such as waste minimization, elimination of microorganisms, and value addition. The core concept of cold plasma involves generating gas that is partially ionised and consists of charged particles, free radicals, and reactive species. The fruits and vegetable processing industry generates substantial quantity of waste through storage, processing, pulping, and juicing. The cold plasma approach disintegrates cellular structures and liberates bioactive compounds by subjecting the waste material to high-energy electrons and ions generated within the plasma. This review evaluates the application of cold plasma technology to enhance the utilisation of fruit and vegetable waste. The process of optimising parameters for cold plasma treatment, including power, voltage, treatment duration, gas selection, flow rate, exposure mode, and product composition, is illustrated. This article explores the significant effects of cold plasma on several forms of fruit and vegetable waste, such as extraction of bioactive compounds, the process of enhanced drying, inactivation of harmful microbes, and enzyme preservation. This study investigates the utilisation of cold plasma in hurdle treatments, focusing on the kinetics, modelling, and optimisation aspects of applying cold plasma to treat fruit and vegetable waste.

This review was conducted to provide basic knowledge in developing new culture media for cultured meat production by compiling research on how the main media components affect cell proliferation and muscle differentiation. The culturing process can be divided into five processes: cell acquisition, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, myotube formation, and muscle maturation. To date, cultural media research has shown that amino acids, fatty acids, and carbohydrates mainly act as energy and nutrient sources for cell proliferation and muscle production, and minerals mainly play roles as regulators of cell proliferation and muscle production. Vitamins not only protect cells from oxidative stress but also promote cell growth and regulate cell growth-related genes. Additionally, cytokines play a role in regulating genes related to muscle proliferation and regeneration, and hormones, such as growth factors, insulin, and thyroid hormones, benefit muscle growth and regulation.

Adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) and mung bean (Vigna radiata) were investigated for their potential as plant-based milk alternatives. Their nutritional, anti-nutrient, stability, and organoleptic characteristics were compared with commercial soymilk and bovine milk. Results showed that both adzuki bean milk (ABM) and mung bean milk (MBM) demonstrated lower protein (ABM: 2.19 ± 0.10 %; MBM: 1.63 ± 0.05 %) and carbohydrate contents compared to soymilk. Additionally, they exhibited magnesium contents similar to bovine milk and iron levels comparable to both soymilk and bovine milk. While total amino acid content was lower in ABM and MBM, their phytic acid and purine contents were significantly lower than in soymilk. Fewer volatile compounds associated with beany flavours were also present in ABM and MBM, and ABM emerged as a palatable choice from the sensory analysis. These findings suggest that ABM and MBM have the potential to offer diverse and palatable plant-based milk options for consumers.

In a cellular agriculture context, the possibility of producing milk components using tissue derived bovine mammary epithelial cells (MEC) is an upcoming strategy being considered. As an essential step, development of an in-vitro model for optimizing lactogenic activity of cultured MEC is needed. MECs were isolated from bovine mammary tissue and cultured in a trans-well system. Treatment with differentiation media (DM) was performed for 7-days. Conditioned media containing the cell secretions (the “secretomes”) were collected, and the trans-epithelial-resistance (TEER), measured. On day 7 the cells were lysed, and expression of lactation associated genes were examined using qPCR. Proteomic analysis of the secretomes was performed using timsToF Pro LC-MS/MS. DM treated cells had significantly higher TEER for several days but a general decreasing trend started on day 4. Expressions of CSN1S1, CSN2, CSN3, ELF5 and PRLR were significantly increased after DM treatment. DM significantly altered the secretome's protein compositions. Numerous proteins involved in lactogenic activity of the MEC were identified. However, the DM did not significantly impact their peak intensities. These findings shed light on areas requiring additional refinement of the in-vitro model to enhance the production of milk components. These aspects primarily comprise the DM composition and experimental length.

The food packaging industry is seeking innovative ways to extend product shelf life and ensure food safety and quality through real-time monitoring. The bioactive properties and halochromic transitions of bioactive compounds make them suitable candidates for active and intelligent packaging, respectively. Starch is considered a potential matrix for developing food packaging materials. However, starch in its native form possesses poor mechanical stability and barrier properties. Thus, this review comprehends the conversion of native starch to a suitable matrix through plasticizing and composting. Furthermore, various film casting techniques are discussed and the suitability of such techniques for developing smart packaging is evaluated. Besides, the techno-functional changes in the starch matrix upon impregnating berry bioactive compounds are discussed in detail. In addition, the bioactive properties and epistemic values of the berry-impregnated starch-based films are elaborated. The feasibility of using berry-impregnated starch-based films in a micro-gravity environment is evaluated for space foods. The review concludes with a futuristic view of using these films for commercial applications.

The search for a sustainable food system represents a major scientific challenge, as the food products and especially the waste/residues generated, in the various stages of the food chain, continue to grow. Almonds are appreciated worldwide for their sensory, nutritional and functional properties, but also for their great versatility. The expanding market for almonds and almond products (almond oil, almond milk, almond butter etc.) has led to generation of tons of by-products along the processing chain (hull, shell, skin, blanched water etc.). Various scientific papers proved that almond by-products contain an interesting amount of bioactive compounds, thus increasing the scientific interest in their potential reuse. Almond by-products have been examined mainly for their phytochemical composition, for bioethanol production, and for animal feed. Therefore, this review seeks to complete the knowledge dedicated to the valorization of such by-products especially for the food sector, suggesting further applications for reformulating traditional food products or to develop the new ones.

This study aimed to investigate and evaluate the effect of processing (soaking, boiling, and roasting) on the phytochemical content of melon seeds. Two varieties of melon seeds (Galia and Cantaloupe) were processed by three processing methods including soaking, boiling, and roasting, and analysed in terms of their proximate composition, mineral content, anti-nutritional compounds, as well as fatty acid and amino acid contents. Soaking and boiling reduced the tannins content by 13 % - 20 %, 10 % - 26 %, respectively. Boiling had a positive effect on the extractability of lipid, while it resulted in a slight decrease in protein content (by approximately 6 %) and a significant potassium loss (up to 36 % decrease; p < 0.05). Roasting enhanced mineral content (especially in zinc and iron), but increased tannins by 40 % - 114 % and phytic acid contents by 3 % - 5 %. Of the three processing methods, roasting was most effective in remaining the nutritional value of melon seeds, and boiling was most effective in reducing tannins content. Overall, this study could guide the development of appropriate melon seed processing method to retain high nutritional value.

Osteopontin (OPN), a bioactive milk protein in breast milk, has diverse applications in food and medicine. OPN is predominantly extracted from fresh bovine milk; however, the concentration of OPN in bovine milk is exceedingly low. To address these issues, in the present study, we used Komagataella phaffii for the recombinant expression of human OPN (hOPN). The results of host cell screening revealed that X33 cells were more suitable than other K. phaffii hosts for hOPN expression, yielding a titer of 340.5 μg/L. Subsequently, it was observed that the extracellular production of hOPN significantly increased to 8.02 mg/L from strain XPSA01 using the P_AOX1 promoter and the hybrid signal peptide PROSCW10-α. Meanwhile, the co-expression of transcription factors, translation factors, and molecular chaperones resulted in a 2.94-fold enhancement in extracellular hOPN production compared with that in XPSA01, resulting in a titer of 23.6 mg/L. Finally, the above strategies were combined to obtain the recombinant strain XPSA01-CP, which achieved titers of 35.6 and 128.5 mg/L hOPN in shake-flask fermentation and 3-L bioreactor, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest extracellular yield of hOPN ever reported.