Annual review of food science and technology最新文献

Interest in fermented foods is increasing because fermented foods are promising solutions for more secure food systems with an increased proportion of minimally processed plant foods and a smaller environmental footprint. These developments also pertain to novel fermented food for which no traditional template exists, raising the question of how to develop starter cultures for such fermentations. This review establishes a framework that integrates traditional and scientific knowledge systems for the selection of suitable cultures. Safety considerations, the use of organisms in traditional food fermentations, and the link of phylogeny to metabolic properties provide criteria for culture selection. Such approaches can also select for microbial strains that have health benefits. A science-based approach to the development of novel fermented foods can substantially advance their value through more secure food systems, food products that provide health-promoting microbes, and the provision of foods that improve human health.

Lipid modifications play a crucial role in various fields, including food science, pharmaceuticals, and biofuel production. Traditional methods for lipid modifications involve physical and chemical approaches or enzymatic reactions, which often have limitations in terms of specificity, efficiency, and environmental impact. In recent years, nonconventional technologies have emerged as promising alternatives for lipid modifications. This review provides a comprehensive overview of nonconventional technologies for lipid modifications, including high-pressure processing, pulsed electric fields, ultrasound, ozonation, and cold plasma technology. The principles,mechanisms, and advantages of these technologies are discussed, along with their applications in lipid modification processes. Additionally, the challenges and future perspectives of nonconventional technologies in lipid modifications are addressed, highlighting the potential and challenges for further advancements in this field. The integration of nonconventional technologies with traditional methods has the potential to revolutionize lipid modifications, enabling the development of novel lipid-based products with enhanced functional properties and improved sustainability profiles.

Medium- and long-chain triacylglycerol (MLCT) is a structured lipid with both medium- and long-chain fatty acids in one triacylglycerol molecule. Compared with long-chain triacylglycerol (LCT), which is mainly present in common edible oils, and the physical blend of medium-chain triacylglycerol with LCT (MCT/LCT), MLCT has different physicochemical properties, metabolic characteristics, and nutritional values. In this article, the recent advances in the use of MLCT in food formulations are reviewed. The natural sources and preparation of MLCT are discussed. A comprehensive summary of MLCT digestion, absorption, transport, and oxidation is provided as well as its health benefits, including reducing the risk of overweight, hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic effects, etc. The potential MLCT uses in food formulations, such as infant formulas, healthy foods for weight loss, and sports foods, are summarized. Finally, the current safety assessment and regulatory status of MLCT in food formulations are reviewed.

Berries are highly regarded as flavorful and healthy fruits that may prevent or delay some chronic diseases attributed to oxidative stress and inflammation. Berries are low in calories and harbor diverse bioactive phytochemicals, antioxidants, dietary fibers, and vitamins. This review delves into the main characteristics of fresh berries and berry products as foods and the technologies associated with their production. The main effects of processing operations and related variables on bioactive components and antioxidants are described. This review critically discusses why some health claims based on in vitro antioxidant data and clinical studies and intervention trials are difficult to assess. The review suggests that the beneficial health effects of berries are derived from a multifactorial combination of complex mixtures of abundant phenolic components, antioxidants, and their metabolites acting synergistically or additively with other nutrients like fibers and vitamins and possibly by modulating the gut microbiota.

Owing to environmental, ethical, health, and safety concerns, there has been considerable interest in replacing traditional animal-sourced foods like meat, seafood, egg, and dairy products with next-generation plant-based analogs that accurately mimic their properties. Numerous plant-based foods have already been successfully introduced to the market, but there are still several challenges that must be overcome before they are adopted by more consumers. In this article, we review the current status of the science behind the development of next-generation plant-based foods and highlight areas where further research is needed to improve their quality, increase their variety, and reduce their cost, including improving ingredient performance, developing innovative processing methods, establishing structure-function relationships, and improving nutritional profiles.

Animal-based agriculture and the production of protein-rich foods from animals, particularly from ruminants, are not sustainable and have serious climate effects. A new type of alternative proteins is now on the menu, namely animal proteins produced recombinantly by microbial fermentation. This new technology, precision fermentation, is projected to completely disrupt traditional animal-based agriculture. Certain milk and egg proteins along with specific meat substitute analog components produced by precision fermentation are already entering the market. This first wave of precision fermentation products targets the use of these proteins as protein additives, and several commercial players are already active in the field. The cost-efficiency requirements involve production titers above 50 g/L which are several orders of magnitude higher than those for pharmaceutical protein manufacture, making strain engineering, process optimization, and scale-up critical success factors. This new development within alternative proteins defines a new research direction integrating biotechnology, process engineering, and sustainable food protein production.

Gellan, an anionic heteropolysaccharide synthesized by Sphingomonas elodea, is an excellent gelling agent. However, its poor mechanical strength and high gelling temperature limit its application. Recent studies have reported that combining gellan with other polysaccharides achieves desirable properties for food- and biomaterial-related applications. This review summarizes the fabrication methods, functional properties, and potential applications of gellan-polysaccharide systems. Starch, pectin, xanthan gum, and konjac glucomannan are the most widely used polysaccharides in these composite systems. Heating-cooling and ionic-induced cross-linking approaches have been used in the fabrication of these systems. Composite gels fabricated using gellan and various polysaccharides exhibit different functional properties, possibly because of their distinct molecular interactions. In terms of applications, mixed gellan-polysaccharide systems have been extensively used in texture modification, edible coatings and films, bioactive component delivery, and tissue-engineering applications. Further scientific studies, including structural determinations of mixed systems, optimization of processing methods, and expansion of applications in food-related fields, are needed.

Because the feeding of our body through the oral route can be associated with many drawbacks due to the degradation of natural molecules during transit in the gastrointestinal tract, a transdermal delivery strategy, usually employed in the pharmaceutical field, can present an effective alternative for delivery of bioactives and nutrients from foods. In this review, the chance to feed the body with nutritive and bioactive molecules from food through transdermal administration is discussed. Various nanotechnological devices employed for topical and transdermal delivery of bioactive compounds are described. In addition, mechanisms underlying their potential use in the delivery of nutritive molecules, as well as their capability to efficaciously reach the dermis and promote systemic distribution, are detailed.

The growing demand for sustainable and healthy food alternatives has led to a significant increase in interest in plant-based protein products. Among the various techniques used in creating meat analogs, high-moisture extrusion (HME) stands out as a promising technology for developing plant-based protein products that possess desirable texture and mouthfeel. During the extrusion process, plant proteins undergo a state transition, causing their rheological properties to change, thereby influencing the quality of the final extrudates. This review aims to delve into the fundamental aspects of texturizing plant proteins using HME, with a specific focus on the rheological behavior exhibited by these proteins throughout the process. Additionally, the review explores the future of HME from the perspective of novel raw materials and technologies. In summary, the objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the potential of HME technology in the development of sustainable and nutritious plant-based protein products.