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Volume 12
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Foods, Volume 12, Issue 4 (February-2 2023) – 225 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): Lactobacillaceae rhamnosus is a widely used probiotic. To date, many studies have investigated its probiotic effects. This paper reviews the literature on Lactobacillaceae rhamnosus for the relief of inflammatory bowel disease and discusses the possible mechanisms from different perspectives, as well as its safety and prospects for use. It also adds new evidence to the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. View this paper
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20 pages, 2104 KiB  
Review
Capsicum Waste as a Sustainable Source of Capsaicinoids for Metabolic Diseases
by Mursleen Yasin, Li Li, Michelle Donovan-Mak, Zhong-Hua Chen and Sunil K. Panchal
Foods 2023, 12(4), 907; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040907 - 20 Feb 2023
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 6943
Abstract
Capsaicinoids are pungent alkaloid compounds enriched with antioxidants, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, analgesics, anti-carcinogenic, anti-obesity and anti-diabetic properties. These compounds are primarily synthesised in the placenta of the fruit and then transported to other vegetative parts. Different varieties of capsicum and chillies contain different capsaicinoid [...] Read more.
Capsaicinoids are pungent alkaloid compounds enriched with antioxidants, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, analgesics, anti-carcinogenic, anti-obesity and anti-diabetic properties. These compounds are primarily synthesised in the placenta of the fruit and then transported to other vegetative parts. Different varieties of capsicum and chillies contain different capsaicinoid concentrations. As capsicums and chillies are grown extensively throughout the world, their agricultural and horticultural production leads to significant amount of waste generation, in the form of fruits and plant biomass. Fruit wastes (placenta, seeds and unused fruits) and plant biowaste (stems and leaves) can serve as sources of capsaicinoids which can provide opportunities to extract these compounds for development of nutraceutical products using conventional or advanced extraction techniques. Capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin are two most abundantly found pungent compounds. Considering the health benefits of capsaicinoids, these compounds can help in reducing metabolic disease complications. The development of an advanced encapsulation therapy of safe and clinically effective oral capsaicinoid/capsaicin formulation seem to require evaluation of strategies to address challenges related to the dosage, limited half-life and bioavailability, adverse effects and pungency, and the impacts of other ligands antagonising the major capsaicinoid receptor. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Recycling of Food Waste and Its Valorisation)
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17 pages, 8062 KiB  
Article
Impact of Aging Microbiome on Metabolic Profile of Natural Aging Huangjiu through Machine Learning
by Huakun Yu, Shuangping Liu, Zhilei Zhou, Hongyuan Zhao, Yuezheng Xu and Jian Mao
Foods 2023, 12(4), 906; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040906 - 20 Feb 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2028
Abstract
Aging is a time-consuming step in the manufacturing of fermented alcoholic beverages. Natural-aging huangjiu sealed in pottery jars was taken as an example to investigate the changes of physiochemical indexes during aging and to quantify intercorrelations between aging-related factors and metabolites through machine [...] Read more.
Aging is a time-consuming step in the manufacturing of fermented alcoholic beverages. Natural-aging huangjiu sealed in pottery jars was taken as an example to investigate the changes of physiochemical indexes during aging and to quantify intercorrelations between aging-related factors and metabolites through machine learning methods. Machine learning models provided significant predictions for 86% of metabolites. Physiochemical indexes well reflected the metabolic profile, and total acid was the most important index that needed to be controlled. For aging-related factors, several aging biomarkers of huangjiu were also well predicted. Feature attribution analysis showed aging year was the most powerful predictive factor, and several microbial species were significantly associated with aging biomarkers. Some of the correlations, mostly connected to environmental microorganisms, were newly found, showing considerable microbial influence on aging. Overall, our results reveal the potential determinants that affect the metabolic profile of aged huangjiu, paving the way for a systematical understanding of changes in metabolites of fermented alcoholic beverages. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
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17 pages, 3468 KiB  
Article
New Insights into the Inhibition of Hesperetin on Polyphenol Oxidase: Inhibitory Kinetics, Binding Characteristics, Conformational Change and Computational Simulation
by Xinyue Hong, Xiaoqiao Luo, Langhong Wang, Deming Gong and Guowen Zhang
Foods 2023, 12(4), 905; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040905 - 20 Feb 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2203
Abstract
The inhibitory activity of hesperetin on polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and their interaction characteristics were investigated using multiple spectroscopic methods and computational simulation. Hesperetin, a mixed inhibitor, reversibly inhibited PPO activity, and its half-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) values on monophenolase and diphenolase [...] Read more.
The inhibitory activity of hesperetin on polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and their interaction characteristics were investigated using multiple spectroscopic methods and computational simulation. Hesperetin, a mixed inhibitor, reversibly inhibited PPO activity, and its half-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) values on monophenolase and diphenolase were 80.8 ± 1.4 μM and 776.0 ± 15.5 μM, respectively. Multivariate curve resolution–alternate least squares (MCR–ALS) analysis suggested PPO interacted with hesperetin and formed PPO–hesperetin complex. Hesperetin statically quenched PPO’s endogenous fluorescence, and hydrophobic interactions mainly drove their binding. Hesperetin affected the polarity of the microenvironment around the Trp residues in PPO, but had no effect on that around Tyr residues. Circular dichroism (CD) results showed that hesperetin increased α-helix content and decreased β-fold and random coil contents, thus tightening PPO’s structure. Molecular docking showed that hesperetin entered the hydrophobic cavity of PPO, bound near the dinuclear copper active center, interacted with Val283, Phe264, His85, Asn260, Val248, and His263 via hydrophobic interactions, formed hydrogen bonds with Met280, His89, and His259 residues and also interacted with Phe292, His61, Phe90, Glu256, His244, Asn260, Phe264, and Gly281 via van der Waals forces. The molecular dynamics simulation results also demonstrated that the addition of hesperetin reduced the stability and hydrophobicity of PPO and increased PPO’s structural denseness. Thus, the inhibition of hesperetin on PPO may be because hesperetin bound near the active center of PPO, interacted with the surrounding residues, occupied the binding site for substrate, and induced the changes in PPO’s secondary structure, thus inhibiting the catalytic activity of PPO. This study may provide novel views for the inhibition of hesperetin on PPO and theoretical guidance for developing flavonoids as new and efficient PPO inhibitors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Latest Advances and Prospects into Sources and Potential Applications of Antioxidants, Bioactive and (Poly)Phenolic Compounds in Foods)
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17 pages, 2344 KiB  
Review
Disease Occurrence in- and the Transferal of Zoonotic Agents by North American Feedlot Cattle
by Osman Y. Koyun, Igori Balta, Nicolae Corcionivoschi and Todd R. Callaway
Foods 2023, 12(4), 904; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040904 - 20 Feb 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3400
Abstract
North America is a large producer of beef and contains approximately 12% of the world’s cattle inventory. Feedlots are an integral part of modern cattle production in North America, producing a high-quality, wholesome protein food for humans. Cattle, during their final stage, are [...] Read more.
North America is a large producer of beef and contains approximately 12% of the world’s cattle inventory. Feedlots are an integral part of modern cattle production in North America, producing a high-quality, wholesome protein food for humans. Cattle, during their final stage, are fed readily digestible high-energy density rations in feedlots. Cattle in feedlots are susceptible to certain zoonotic diseases that impact cattle health, growth performance, and carcass characteristics, as well as human health. Diseases are often transferred amongst pen-mates, but they can also originate from the environment and be spread by vectors or fomites. Pathogen carriage in the gastrointestinal tract of cattle often leads to direct or indirect contamination of foods and the feedlot environment. This leads to the recirculation of these pathogens that have fecal–oral transmission within a feedlot cattle population for an extended time. Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, and Campylobacter are commonly associated with animal-derived foods and can be transferred to humans through several routes such as contact with infected cattle and the consumption of contaminated meat. Brucellosis, anthrax, and leptospirosis, significant but neglected zoonotic diseases with debilitating impacts on human and animal health, are also discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foodborne Pathogens Management: From Farm and Pond to Fork)
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15 pages, 3072 KiB  
Article
Production of a Fungal Punicalagin-Degrading Enzyme by Solid-State Fermentation: Studies of Purification and Characterization
by Pedro Aguilar-Zárate, Gerardo Gutiérrez-Sánchez, Mariela R. Michel, Carl W. Bergmann, José J. Buenrostro-Figueroa, Juan A. Ascacio-Valdés, Juan C. Contreras-Esquivel and Cristóbal N. Aguilar
Foods 2023, 12(4), 903; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040903 - 20 Feb 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2127
Abstract
The present work describes the purification of an enzyme capable of degrading punicalagin. The enzyme was produced by Aspergillus niger GH1 by solid-state fermentation, and the enzyme production was induced by using ellagitannins as the sole carbon source. The purification steps included the [...] Read more.
The present work describes the purification of an enzyme capable of degrading punicalagin. The enzyme was produced by Aspergillus niger GH1 by solid-state fermentation, and the enzyme production was induced by using ellagitannins as the sole carbon source. The purification steps included the concentration by lyophilization, desalting, anionic exchange, and gel filtration chromatography. The enzyme kinetic constants were calculated by using punicalagin, methyl gallate, and sugar beet arabinans. The molecular mass of the protein was estimated by SDS-PAGE. The identified bands were excised and digested using trypsin, and the peptides were submitted to HPLC-MS/MS analysis. The docking analysis was conducted, and a 3D model was created. The purification fold increases 75 times compared with the cell-free extract. The obtained Km values were 0.053 mM, 0.53% and 6.66 mM for punicalagin, sugar beet arabinans and methyl gallate, respectively. The optimal pH and temperature for the reaction were 5 and 40 °C, respectively. The SDS-PAGE and native PAGE analysis revealed the presence of two bands identified as α-l-arabinofuranosidase. Both enzymes were capable of degrading punicalagin and releasing ellagic acid. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Functional Compounds from Fermented Foods)
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15 pages, 2182 KiB  
Article
Study of the Technological Properties of Pedrosillano Chickpea Aquafaba and Its Application in the Production of Egg-Free Baked Meringues
by Paula Fuentes Choya, Patricia Combarros-Fuertes, Daniel Abarquero Camino, Erica Renes Bañuelos, Bernardo Prieto Gutiérrez, María Eugenia Tornadijo Rodríguez and José María Fresno Baro
Foods 2023, 12(4), 902; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040902 - 20 Feb 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3872
Abstract
Aquafaba is a by-product derived from legume processing. The aim of this study was to assess the compositional differences and the culinary properties of Pedrosillano chickpea aquafaba prepared with different cooking liquids (water, vegetable broth, meat broth and the covering liquid of canned [...] Read more.
Aquafaba is a by-product derived from legume processing. The aim of this study was to assess the compositional differences and the culinary properties of Pedrosillano chickpea aquafaba prepared with different cooking liquids (water, vegetable broth, meat broth and the covering liquid of canned chickpeas) and to evaluate the sensory characteristics of French-baked meringues made with the different aquafaba samples, using egg white as a control. The content of total solids, protein, fat, ash and carbohydrates of the aquafaba samples were quantified. Foaming and emulsifying capacities, as well as the foam and emulsions stabilities were determined. Instrumental and panel-tester analyses were accomplished to evaluate the sensory characteristics of French-baked meringues. The ingredients added to the cooking liquid and the intensity of the heat treatment affected the aquafaba composition and culinary properties. All types of aquafaba showed good foaming properties and intermediate emulsifying capacities; however, the commercial canned chickpea’s aquafaba was the most similar to egg white. The aquafaba meringues showed less alveoli, greater hardness and fracturability and minimal color changes after baking compared with egg white meringues; the meat and vegetable broth’s aquafaba meringues were the lowest rated by the panel-tester and those prepared with canned aquafaba were the highest scored in the sensory analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physicochemical, Sensory and Nutritional Properties of Foods Affected by Processing and Storage Series II)
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15 pages, 3636 KiB  
Article
Chemometric Discrimination of Cichorium glandulosum Boiss. et Huet and Cichorium intybus L. via Their Metabolic Profiling, Antioxidative, and Hypoglycemic Activities
by Maoru Li, Guoyong Xie, Yadong Ding, Ji Ma, Qiuyan Liu, Yuqin Wang, Zan Peng, Jianbo Sun and Jing Shang
Foods 2023, 12(4), 901; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040901 - 20 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2136
Abstract
Cichorium glandulosum Boiss. et Huet (CG) and Cichorium intybus L. (CI) are widely used as the main raw material of functional food with hepatoprotective and hypoglycemic effects. Due to the lack of comparison on the chemical ingredients and efficacy, they were often used [...] Read more.
Cichorium glandulosum Boiss. et Huet (CG) and Cichorium intybus L. (CI) are widely used as the main raw material of functional food with hepatoprotective and hypoglycemic effects. Due to the lack of comparison on the chemical ingredients and efficacy, they were often used imprecisely and interchangeably. It is necessary to distinguish between them. With the plant metabolomics based on high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-QTOF-MS) and multivariate chemometric techniques, the chemical ingredients were characterized and 59 compounds between CG and CI were classified. As for antioxidative and hypoglycemic activities in vitro, CI extraction exhibited better antioxidant activity than CG, while CG extraction showed stronger hypoglycemic activity. Furthermore, a bivariate correlation between the chemical composition and efficacy of the extract was also analyzed, and three differentially strong correlation components between CI and CG were prepared, and the antioxidative and hypoglycemic efficacies were compared in vivo and different active phenotypes were obtained. Finally, we revealed chemical and biological differences between CG and CI, providing a basis for achieving better quality control and developing more effective functional foods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Food Analytical Methods)
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16 pages, 271 KiB  
Article
Opportunities to Strengthen Fish Supply Chain Policy to Improve External Food Environments for Nutrition in the Solomon Islands
by Senoveva Mauli, Anne-Marie Thow, Georgina Mulcahy, Grace Andrew, Anouk Ride and Jillian Tutuo
Foods 2023, 12(4), 900; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040900 - 20 Feb 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2840
Abstract
Malnutrition and food insecurity have significant social and economic impacts in small island developing states, such as the Solomon Islands. Enhancing the domestic supply of fish, the main source of local protein, can contribute to improved nutrition and food security. This research aimed [...] Read more.
Malnutrition and food insecurity have significant social and economic impacts in small island developing states, such as the Solomon Islands. Enhancing the domestic supply of fish, the main source of local protein, can contribute to improved nutrition and food security. This research aimed to improve understanding of the policy interface between the fisheries and health sectors and identify opportunities to strengthen fish supply chain policy to improve domestic (particularly urban) access to fish in the Solomon Islands. The study design drew on theories of policy learning and policy change and analysed policies using a consumption-oriented supply chain approach. Interviews were conducted with 12 key informants in the Solomon Islands, and 15 policy documents were analysed. Analysis of policy documents and interview data indicated that there were strengths as well as opportunities in the existing policy context. In particular, community-based fisheries management approaches and explicit recognition of the links between fisheries and nutrition were key strengths. Challenges included gaps in implementation, variations in capacities across government actors and communities, and limited attention to domestic monitoring and enforcement. Improving the effectiveness of resource management efforts may result in sustainable outcomes for both livelihoods and health, which will accomplish priorities at the national and sub-national levels and support the achievement of the Solomon Islands’ commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Food Systems)
21 pages, 3731 KiB  
Article
Dietary Fibre Impacts the Texture of Cooked Whole Grain Rice
by Siriluck Wattanavanitchakorn, Rungtiva Wansuksri, Ekawat Chaichoompu, Wintai Kamolsukyeunyong and Apichart Vanavichit
Foods 2023, 12(4), 899; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040899 - 20 Feb 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3275
Abstract
Consumers’ general preference for white rice over whole grain rice stems from the hardness and low palatability of cooked whole grain rice; however, strong links have been found between consuming a large amount of white rice, leading a sedentary lifestyle, and acquiring type [...] Read more.
Consumers’ general preference for white rice over whole grain rice stems from the hardness and low palatability of cooked whole grain rice; however, strong links have been found between consuming a large amount of white rice, leading a sedentary lifestyle, and acquiring type 2 diabetes. This led us to formulate a new breeding goal to improve the softness and palatability of whole grain rice while promoting its nutritional value. In this study, the association between dietary fibre profiles (using an enzymatic method combined with high-performance liquid chromatography) and textural properties of whole grain rice (using a texture analyser) was observed. The results showed that a variation in the ratio of soluble dietary fibre (SDF) and insoluble dietary fibre (IDF) influenced the textural characteristics of cooked whole grain rice; found a strong association between SDF to IDF ratio and hardness (r = −0.74, p < 0.01) or gumminess (r = −0.69, p < 0.01) of cooked whole grain rice, and demonstrated that the SDF to IDF ratio was also moderately correlated with cohesiveness (r = −0.45, p < 0.05), chewiness (r = −0.55, p < 0.01), and adhesiveness (r = 0.45, p < 0.05) of cooked whole grain rice. It is suggested that the SDF to IDF ratio can be used as a biomarker for breeding soft and highly palatable whole grain rice of cultivated tropical indica rice to achieve consumer well-being. Lastly, a simple modified method from the alkaline disintegration test was developed for high-throughput screening of dietary fibre profiles in the whole grain indica rice samples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Designing Cereal and Legume Based Foods with Improved Nutritional Properties)
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18 pages, 1089 KiB  
Article
Data-Mining Poultry Processing Bio-Mapping Counts of Pathogens and Indicator Organisms for Food Safety Management Decision Making
by David A. Vargas, Juan F. De Villena, Valeria Larios, Rossy Bueno López, Daniela R. Chávez-Velado, Diego E. Casas, Reagan L. Jiménez, Sabrina E. Blandon and Marcos X. Sanchez-Plata
Foods 2023, 12(4), 898; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040898 - 20 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2568
Abstract
Bio-mapping studies play an important role, as the data collected can be managed and analyzed in multiple ways to look at process trends, find explanations about the effect of process changes, activate a root cause analysis for events, and even compile performance data [...] Read more.
Bio-mapping studies play an important role, as the data collected can be managed and analyzed in multiple ways to look at process trends, find explanations about the effect of process changes, activate a root cause analysis for events, and even compile performance data to demonstrate to inspection authorities or auditors the effect of certain decisions made on a daily basis and their effects over time in commercial settings not only from the food safety perspective but also from the production side. This study presents an alternative analysis of bio-mapping data collected throughout several months in a commercial poultry processing operation as described in the article “Bio-Mapping Indicators and Pathogen Loads in a Commercial Broiler Processing Facility Operating with High and Low Antimicrobial Interventions”. The conducted analysis identifies the processing shift effect on microbial loads, attempts to find correlation between microbial indicators data and pathogens loads, and identifies novel visualization approaches and conducts distribution analysis for microbial indicators and pathogens in a commercial poultry processing facility. From the data analyzed, a greater number of locations were statistically different between shifts under reduced levels of chemical interventions with higher means at the second shift for both indicators and pathogens levels. Minimal to negligible correlation was found when comparing aerobic counts and Enterobacteriaceae counts with Salmonella levels, with significant variability between sampling locations. Distribution analysis and visualization as a bio-map of the process resulted in a clear bimodality in reduced chemical conditions for multiple locations mostly explained by shift effect. The development and use of bio-mapping data, including proper data visualization, improves the tools needed for ongoing decision making in food safety systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Food Quality and Safety)
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14 pages, 3633 KiB  
Article
Protective Effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum SC-5 on Dextran Sulfate Sodium—Induced Colitis in Mice
by Ruoran Shi, Fazheng Yu, Xueyu Hu, Yan Liu, Yuanyuan Jin, Honglin Ren, Shiying Lu, Jian Guo, Jiang Chang, Yansong Li, Zengshan Liu, Xiaoxu Wang and Pan Hu
Foods 2023, 12(4), 897; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040897 - 20 Feb 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2435
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a specific immune-associated intestinal disease. At present, the conventional treatment for patients is not ideal. Probiotics are widely used in the treatment of IBD patients due to their ability to restore the function of the intestinal mucosal barrier [...] Read more.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a specific immune-associated intestinal disease. At present, the conventional treatment for patients is not ideal. Probiotics are widely used in the treatment of IBD patients due to their ability to restore the function of the intestinal mucosal barrier effectively and safely. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum is a kind of probiotic that exists in the intestines of hosts and is considered to have good probiotic properties. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum SC-5 (SC-5) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in C57BL/6J mice. We estimated the effect of SC-5 on the clinical symptoms of mice through a body weight change, colon length, and DAI score. The inhibitory effects of SC-5 on the levels of cytokine IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were determined by ELISA. The protein expression levels of NF-κB, MAPK signaling pathway, and the tight junction proteins occludin, claudin-3, and ZO-1 were verified using Western Blot and immunofluorescence. 16S rRNA was used to verify the modulatory effect of SC-5 on the structure of intestinal microbiota in DSS-induced colitis mice. The results showed that SC-5 could alleviate the clinical symptoms of DSS-induced colitis mice, and significantly reduce the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the colon tissue. It also attenuated the inflammatory response by inhibiting the protein expression of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. SC-5 improved the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier by strengthening tight junction proteins. In addition, 16S rRNA sequencing demonstrated that SC-5 was effective in restoring intestinal flora balance, as well as in increasing the relative abundance and diversity of beneficial microbiota. These results indicated that SC-5 has the potential to be developed as a new probiotic candidate that prevents or alleviates IBD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
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18 pages, 1751 KiB  
Review
Recent Progress in Microencapsulation of Active Peptides—Wall Material, Preparation, and Application: A Review
by Mengjie Li, Quanyou Guo, Yichen Lin, Hairong Bao and Song Miao
Foods 2023, 12(4), 896; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040896 - 20 Feb 2023
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5027
Abstract
Being a natural active substance with a wide variety of sources, easy access, significant curative effect, and high safety, active peptides have gradually become one of the new research directions in food, medicine, agriculture, and other fields in recent years. The technology associated [...] Read more.
Being a natural active substance with a wide variety of sources, easy access, significant curative effect, and high safety, active peptides have gradually become one of the new research directions in food, medicine, agriculture, and other fields in recent years. The technology associated with active peptides is constantly evolving. There are obvious difficulties in the preservation, delivery, and slow release of exposed peptides. Microencapsulation technology can effectively solve these difficulties and improve the utilization rate of active peptides. In this paper, the commonly used materials for embedding active peptides (natural polymer materials, modified polymer materials, and synthetic polymer materials) and embedding technologies are reviewed, with emphasis on four new technologies (microfluidics, microjets, layer-by-layer self-assembly, and yeast cells). Compared with natural materials, modified materials and synthetic polymer materials show higher embedding rates and mechanical strength. The new technology improves the preparation efficiency and embedding rate of microencapsulated peptides and makes the microencapsulated particle size tend to be controllable. In addition, the current application of peptide microcapsules in different fields was also introduced. Selecting active peptides with different functions, using appropriate materials and efficient preparation technology to achieve targeted delivery and slow release of active peptides in the application system, will become the focus of future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stabilization, Microencapsulation and Delivery of Bioactive Compounds)
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29 pages, 2275 KiB  
Review
Sample Preparation and Analytical Techniques in the Determination of Trace Elements in Food: A Review
by Leina El Hosry, Nicolas Sok, Rosalie Richa, Layal Al Mashtoub, Philippe Cayot and Elias Bou-Maroun
Foods 2023, 12(4), 895; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040895 - 20 Feb 2023
Cited by 41 | Viewed by 18764
Abstract
Every human being needs around 20 essential elements to maintain proper physiological processes. However, trace elements are classified as beneficial, essential, or toxic for living organisms. Some trace elements are considered essential elements for the human body in adequate quantities (dietary reference intakes, [...] Read more.
Every human being needs around 20 essential elements to maintain proper physiological processes. However, trace elements are classified as beneficial, essential, or toxic for living organisms. Some trace elements are considered essential elements for the human body in adequate quantities (dietary reference intakes, DRIs), while others have undetermined biological functions and are considered undesirable substances or contaminants. Pollution with trace elements is becoming a great concern since they can affect biological functions or accumulate in organs, causing adverse effects and illnesses such as cancer. These pollutants are being discarded in our soils, waters, and the food supply chain due to several anthropogenic factors. This review mainly aims to provide a clear overview of the commonly used methods and techniques in the trace element analysis of food from sample preparations, namely, ashing techniques, separation/extraction methods, and analytical techniques. Ashing is the first step in trace element analysis. Dry ashing or wet digestion using strong acids at high pressure in closed vessels are used to eliminate the organic matter. Separation and pre-concentration of elements is usually needed before proceeding with the analytical techniques to eliminate the interferences and ameliorate the detection limits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Analytical Techniques for Detecting Trace Elements in Foods)
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13 pages, 1795 KiB  
Article
Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Essential Oil Obtained from Chincho (Tagetes elliptica Sm) Leaves Grown in the Peruvian Andes
by Francis Cerrón-Mercado, Jose Angel Perez-Alvarez, Diana Nolazco-Cama, Bettit Salva-Ruíz, Lena Tellez-Monzon, Juana Fernández-López and Manuel Viuda-Martos
Foods 2023, 12(4), 894; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040894 - 20 Feb 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3337
Abstract
The chemical composition, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties of the essential oil from the leaves of Tagetes elliptica Sm., grown in Peru, were studied. The EO was extracted using steam distillation, and its chemical composition was analyzed using GC-MS, while the antioxidant activity was [...] Read more.
The chemical composition, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties of the essential oil from the leaves of Tagetes elliptica Sm., grown in Peru, were studied. The EO was extracted using steam distillation, and its chemical composition was analyzed using GC-MS, while the antioxidant activity was evaluated using the radical, scavenging capacity (DPPH and ABTS assays), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, ferrous ion chelating (FIC) activity, and the Rancimat test. The antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella infantis was studied using the agar well diffusion method. Twenty-seven compounds were identified in the essential oil, and the major components were cis-tagetenone (37.27%), trans-tagetenone (18.84%), dihydrotagetone (14.38%), and trans-tagetone (5.15%). With regard to antioxidant properties, the IC50 values obtained for the DPPH, ABTS, and FIC assays were 53.37, 46.38, and 22.65 mg/mL, respectively. These values were lower than those obtained for standard butylated hydroxytoluene and ascorbic acid. In the Rancimat test, antioxidant activity was achieved only at high concentration. T. elliptica essential oil showed a marked antibacterial activity against all bacterial strains at all concentrations assayed. This study demonstrated that T. elliptica essential oil could be considered as an alternative to synthetic antioxidants and antimicrobial agents in the food industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Essential Oils: Chemistry and Food Applications)
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14 pages, 1937 KiB  
Article
Green Solvents in the Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Dried Apple Cultivars
by Marcela Hollá, Veronika Pilařová, František Švec and Hana Sklenářová
Foods 2023, 12(4), 893; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040893 - 19 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2215
Abstract
New extraction protocols, gas-expanded liquid extraction (GXLE), and ultrasound extraction (UE) have been optimized with an emphasis on using green solvents and maximizing the extraction of 14 selected phenolic compounds, including flavonoid-based compounds and phenolic acids from dried apples. The design of the [...] Read more.
New extraction protocols, gas-expanded liquid extraction (GXLE), and ultrasound extraction (UE) have been optimized with an emphasis on using green solvents and maximizing the extraction of 14 selected phenolic compounds, including flavonoid-based compounds and phenolic acids from dried apples. The design of the experiments’ approach was applied to optimize the main extraction parameters. Fine tuning included optimization of the flow rate in GXLE and the extraction time for GXLE and UE. Optimized GXLE was carried out with CO2–ethanol–water (34/53.8/12.2; v/v/v) at a flow rate of 3 mL/min at a temperature of 75 °C and pressure of 120 bar for 30 min. UE with ethanol–water 26/74 (v/v) lasted for 10 min at 70 °C. Both methods differed in solvent consumption and sample throughput, while providing a comparable total phenolic content of 2442 µg/g with an RSD < 10% and 2226 µg/g with RSD < 6%, for GXLE and UE, respectively. Both methods were used in determining the phenolic compounds in five apple cultivars, ‘Angold’, ‘Artiga’, ‘Golden Delicious’, ‘Meteor’, and ‘Topaz’. Phenolic profiles were plotted with chlorogenic acid, catechin, epicatechin, hirsutrin, phloridzin, and guaiaverin as the main components. Statistical evaluation, including pair t-test, Bland–Altman test, and linear regression did not reveal any differences between UE and GXLE results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Food Analytical Methods)
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16 pages, 1823 KiB  
Article
Reduction in the Residues of Penthiopyrad in Processed Edible Vegetables by Various Soaking Treatments and Health Hazard Evaluation in China
by Jinming Chang, Li Dou, Yu Ye and Kankan Zhang
Foods 2023, 12(4), 892; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040892 - 19 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1605
Abstract
Tomato and cucumber are two vital edible vegetables that usually appear in people’s daily diet. Penthiopyrad is a new type of amide chiral fungicide, which is often used for disease control of vegetables (including tomato and cucumber) due to its wide bactericidal spectrum, [...] Read more.
Tomato and cucumber are two vital edible vegetables that usually appear in people’s daily diet. Penthiopyrad is a new type of amide chiral fungicide, which is often used for disease control of vegetables (including tomato and cucumber) due to its wide bactericidal spectrum, low toxicity, good penetration, and strong internal absorption. Extensive application of penthiopyrad may have caused potential pollution in the ecosystem. Different processing methods can remove pesticide residues from vegetables and protect human health. In this study, the penthiopyrad removal efficiency of soaking and peeling from tomatoes and cucumbers was evaluated under different conditions. Among different soaking methods, heated water soaking and water soaking with additives (NaCl, acetic acid, and surfactant) presented a more effective reduction ability than other treatments. Due to the specific physicochemical properties of tomatoes and cucumbers, the ultrasound enhances the removal rate of soaking for tomato samples and inhibits it for cucumber samples. Peeling can remove approximately 90% of penthiopyrad from contaminated tomato and cucumber samples. Enantioselectivity was found only during tomato sauce storage, which may be related to the complex microbial community. Health risk assessment data suggests that tomatoes and cucumbers are safer for consumers after soaking and peeling. The results may provide consumers with some useful information to choose better household processing methods to remove penthiopyrad residues from tomatoes, cucumbers, and other edible vegetables. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rapid Analytical, Removal and Transformation of Chemical Residues in Foods)
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12 pages, 1037 KiB  
Article
Short-Term Hermetic Storage of Wet Maize and Its Effect on Quality
by Nileshwari Raju Yewle, Richard L. Stroshine, RP Kingsly Ambrose and Dieudonne Baributsa
Foods 2023, 12(4), 891; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040891 - 19 Feb 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3112
Abstract
Maize is a major crop grown in many regions of the world for human consumption, starch production, and animal feed. After harvest, maize is dried to avoid spoilage caused by fungal growth. However, in the humid tropics, drying maize harvested during the rainy [...] Read more.
Maize is a major crop grown in many regions of the world for human consumption, starch production, and animal feed. After harvest, maize is dried to avoid spoilage caused by fungal growth. However, in the humid tropics, drying maize harvested during the rainy season poses challenges. In such instances, temporary storing maize under hermetic conditions may preserve grain quality while waiting for conditions suitable for drying. Wet maize at the moisture contents (m.c.) of 18, 21, and 24% was stored for up to 21 days in both hermetic and non-hermetic jars. The stored maize was assessed, every 7 days, for germination and related parameters, presence of visible mold, and pH. After 21 days of storage at 18, 21, and 24% m.c., maize germination decreased by 28.5, 25.2, and 95.5 percentage points, respectively, in hermetic jars; and by 28.5, 25.2, and 94.5 percentage points in non-hermetic jars (control). There was visible mold on maize stored in non-hermetic jars after 21 days regardless of m.c. Maize at 21 and 24% m.c. stored in hermetic conditions underwent lactic acid fermentation that reduced the pH. The findings suggest that maize at 18 and 21% m.c. can be stored for 14 and 7 days, respectively, under hermetic conditions without significant loss of quality. Further research is needed to thoroughly assess the application of these findings for temporarily storing and subsequently drying maize on farms and along the grain value chain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Food Packaging and Preservation)
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16 pages, 3465 KiB  
Article
Phenomenology of Neapolitan Pizza Baking in a Traditional Wood-Fired Oven
by Aniello Falciano, Mauro Moresi and Paolo Masi
Foods 2023, 12(4), 890; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040890 - 19 Feb 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3869
Abstract
Despite Neapolitan pizza is a globally renowned Italian food, its obligatory baking in wood-fired ovens has so far received little attention in the scientific community. Since heat transfer during pizza baking is not at all uniform, the main aim of this work was [...] Read more.
Despite Neapolitan pizza is a globally renowned Italian food, its obligatory baking in wood-fired ovens has so far received little attention in the scientific community. Since heat transfer during pizza baking is not at all uniform, the main aim of this work was to analyze the phenomenology of Neapolitan pizza baking in a pilot-scale wood-fired pizza oven operating in quasi steady-state conditions. The different upper area sections of pizza covered or not by the main topping ingredients (i.e., tomato puree, sunflower oil, or mozzarella cheese), as well the bottom of the pizza and the growth of its raised rim, were characterized by visual colorimetric analysis, while the time course of their corresponding temperatures was monitored using an infrared thermal scanning camera. The maximum temperature of the pizza bottom was equal to 100 ± 9 °C, while that of the upper pizza side ranged from 182 °C to 84 or 67 °C in the case of white pizza, tomato pizza, or margherita pizza, respectively, mainly because of their diverse moisture content and emissivity. The pizza weight loss was nonlinearly related to the average temperature of the upper pizza side. The formation of brown or black colored areas on the upper and lower sides of baked pizza was detected with the help of an electronic eye. The upper side exhibited greater degrees of browning and blackening than the lower one, their maximum values being about 26 and 8%, respectively, for white pizza. These results might help develop a specific modelling and monitoring strategy to reduce variability and maximize the quality attributes of Neapolitan pizza. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
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14 pages, 1305 KiB  
Article
Enhancing the Techno-Functionality of Pea Flour by Air Injection-Assisted Extrusion at Different Temperatures and Flour Particle Sizes
by Nasibeh Y. Sinaki, Jitendra Paliwal and Filiz Koksel
Foods 2023, 12(4), 889; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040889 - 19 Feb 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2311
Abstract
Industrial applications of pulses in various food products depend on pulse flour techno-functionality. To manipulate the techno-functional properties of yellow pea flour, the effects of flour particle size (small vs. large), extrusion temperature profile (120, 140 and 160 °C at the die) and [...] Read more.
Industrial applications of pulses in various food products depend on pulse flour techno-functionality. To manipulate the techno-functional properties of yellow pea flour, the effects of flour particle size (small vs. large), extrusion temperature profile (120, 140 and 160 °C at the die) and air injection pressure (0, 150 and 300 kPa) during extrusion cooking were investigated. Extrusion cooking caused the denaturation of proteins and gelatinization of starch in the flour, which induced changes in the techno-functionality of the extruded flour (i.e., increased water solubility, water binding capacity and cold viscosity and decreased emulsion capacity, emulsion stability, and trough and final viscosities). In general, the large particle size flour required less energy input to be extruded and had higher emulsion stability and trough and final viscosities compared to the small particle size flour. Overall, among all of the treatments studied, extrudates produced with air injection at 140 and 160 °C had higher emulsion capacity and emulsion stability, making them relatively better suited food ingredients for emulsified foods (e.g., sausages). The results indicated air injection’s potential as a novel extrusion technique combined with modification of flour particle size distribution and extrusion processing conditions to effectively manipulate product techno-functionality and broaden the applications of pulse flours in the food industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Practice and Future Directions of Application of Puffed/Extruded Technologies in Food)
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15 pages, 2396 KiB  
Article
Effects of Hevea brasiliensis Intercropping on the Volatiles of Pandanus amaryllifolius Leaves
by Ang Zhang, Zhiqing Lu, Huan Yu, Yaoyu Zhang, Xiaowei Qin, Xunzhi Ji, Shuzhen He, Ying Zong, Yiming Zhong and Lihua Li
Foods 2023, 12(4), 888; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040888 - 19 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1854
Abstract
Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb. is a special tropical spice crop resource with broad development prospects. It is widely cultivated under a Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex A. Juss.) Muell. Arg. canopy to improve the comprehensive benefits to Hevea brasiliensis plantations in Hainan Provence, China. However, [...] Read more.
Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb. is a special tropical spice crop resource with broad development prospects. It is widely cultivated under a Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex A. Juss.) Muell. Arg. canopy to improve the comprehensive benefits to Hevea brasiliensis plantations in Hainan Provence, China. However, the effects of intercropping with Hevea brasiliensis on the component number and relative contents of volatile substances in different categories in the Pandanus amaryllifolius leaves are still unknown. Therefore, a Hevea brasiliensis and Pandanus amaryllifolius intercropping experiment was set up to clarify the differences between several cultivated patterns on volatile substances in the Pandanus amaryllifolius leaves, and the key regulatory factors of volatile substances. The results showed that the soil pH was significantly decreased, while soil bulk density, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen and available phosphorus contents were significantly increased under the intercropping pattern. The component numbers of esters in volatile substances were increased by 6.20%, while the component numbers of ketones were decreased by 4.26% under the intercropping pattern. Compared with the Pandanus amaryllifolius monoculture, the relative contents of pyrroles, esters and furanones were significantly increased by 8.83%, 2.30% and 8.27%, respectively, while the relative contents of ketones, furans and hydrocarbons were decreased by 1.01%, 10.55% and 9.16% under the intercropping pattern, respectively. The relative contents of pyrroles, esters, furanones, ketones, furans and hydrocarbons were associated with changes in soil pH, soil available phosphorus content and air temperature. The results indicated that the reduction in soil pH and enhancement in soil-available phosphorus may be the main reasons for promoting the relative content of pyrroles and reducing the relative content of hydrocarbons under an intercropping pattern. Overall, Hevea brasiliensis intercropping with Pandanus amaryllifolius could not only improve soil properties, but also significantly increase the relative contents of the main volatile substances in Pandanus amaryllifolius leaves, which could provide a theoretical basis for the application and promotion of high-quality production patterns of Pandanus amaryllifolius. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Sustainable Agri-Food Systems: Insights into Production, Processing, and Consumption Perspectives)
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11 pages, 1130 KiB  
Article
Microwave Roasting as an Alternative to Convection Roasting: Sensory Analysis and Physical Characterization of Dark Chocolate
by Joachim J. Schouteten, Valérie Lemarcq, Davy Van de Walle, Eleni Sioriki and Koen Dewettinck
Foods 2023, 12(4), 887; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040887 - 19 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2815
Abstract
Roasting cocoa beans by means of microwave radiations seems to be a potential alternative to convection roasting, but little is known about the impact of this method on the perceived flavor profile of the chocolate. Therefore, this research focused on revealing the flavor [...] Read more.
Roasting cocoa beans by means of microwave radiations seems to be a potential alternative to convection roasting, but little is known about the impact of this method on the perceived flavor profile of the chocolate. Therefore, this research focused on revealing the flavor perception of chocolate produced with microwave roasted cocoa beans assessed by both a trained panel and chocolate consumers. Samples of 70% dark chocolate produced from cocoa beans microwave roasted at 600 W for 35 min were compared with samples of 70% dark chocolate produced from cocoa beans convectively roasted at 130 °C for 30 min. Non-significant differences (p > 0.05) in the measured physical properties, such as color, hardness, melting, and flow behavior, showed that chocolate produced from microwave roasted cocoa beans can exhibit the same physical qualities as convection roasted chocolate. Moreover, combined discriminative triangle tests, with 27 judgements in total, performed by a trained panel, showed that each type of chocolate exhibited distinctive characteristics (d’-value = 1.62). Regarding the perceived flavor, “cocoa aroma” was cited as significantly higher for the chocolate produced from microwave roasted cocoa beans (n = 112) compared to chocolate produced from convection roasted cocoa beans (n = 100) by consumers. Both preference and willingness to buy were higher, though insignificant at a 5% level, for the microwave roasted chocolate. A final potential benefit (studied in this research) of microwave roasting cocoa beans is the reduced energy consumption, which was estimated at 75%. Taking all these results together, the microwave roasting of cocoa is shown to be a promising alternative to convection roasting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Consumer’s Emotions and Sensory Profiling on Food Acceptance, Preference and Choice)
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21 pages, 1328 KiB  
Review
Insects as Food: Consumers’ Acceptance and Marketing
by Asmaa Alhujaili, Giuseppe Nocella and Anna Macready
Foods 2023, 12(4), 886; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040886 - 19 Feb 2023
Cited by 40 | Viewed by 9551
Abstract
The growing demand for livestock products is associated with an increase in environmental, economic, and ethical issues. New alternative sources of protein such as edible insects have recently been developed to tackle these issues with fewer drawbacks. However, several challenges are associated with [...] Read more.
The growing demand for livestock products is associated with an increase in environmental, economic, and ethical issues. New alternative sources of protein such as edible insects have recently been developed to tackle these issues with fewer drawbacks. However, several challenges are associated with insect-based food, mainly regarding consumer acceptance and commercialization. In this systematic review, we explored these challenges by reviewing 85 papers from 2010 to 2020, which were selected following the PRISMA methodology. Additionally, we applied the SPIDER (Sample, Phenomenon of Interest, Design, Evaluation, and Research type) tool for developing the inclusion criteria. Our analysis adds new knowledge to previous systematic reviews on this topic. It reveals both a comprehensive framework of factors influencing consumers’ acceptance of insects as food and aspects of the marketing mix of these products. Disgust, food neophobia, familiarity, visibility of insects, and taste appear to be the most significant factors that can prevent consumers from consuming insects as food. The motivations for acceptance are found to be familiarity and exposure. The results of this review provide insights for policymakers and stakeholders who wish to develop marketing strategies that can increase consumer acceptance of insects as food. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Consumer Behavior and Food Choice—2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 23371 KiB  
Article
Deep Learning-Based Intelligent Apple Variety Classification System and Model Interpretability Analysis
by Fanqianhui Yu, Tao Lu and Changhu Xue
Foods 2023, 12(4), 885; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040885 - 19 Feb 2023
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5957
Abstract
In this study, series networks (AlexNet and VGG-19) and directed acyclic graph (DAG) networks (ResNet-18, ResNet-50, and ResNet-101) with transfer learning were employed to identify and classify 13 classes of apples from 7439 images. Two training datasets, model evaluation metrics, and three visualization [...] Read more.
In this study, series networks (AlexNet and VGG-19) and directed acyclic graph (DAG) networks (ResNet-18, ResNet-50, and ResNet-101) with transfer learning were employed to identify and classify 13 classes of apples from 7439 images. Two training datasets, model evaluation metrics, and three visualization methods were used to objectively assess, compare, and interpret five Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)-based models. The results show that the dataset configuration had a significant impact on the classification results, as all models achieved over 96.1% accuracy on dataset A (training-to-testing = 2.4:1.0) compared to 89.4–93.9% accuracy on dataset B (training-to-testing = 1.0:3.7). VGG-19 achieved the highest accuracy of 100.0% on dataset A and 93.9% on dataset B. Moreover, for networks of the same framework, the model size, accuracy, and training and testing times increased as the model depth (number of layers) increased. Furthermore, feature visualization, strongest activations, and local interpretable model-agnostic explanations techniques were used to show the understanding of apple images by different trained models, as well as to reveal how and why the models make classification decisions. These results improve the interpretability and credibility of CNN-based models, which provides guidance for future applications of deep learning methods in agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors for Food Safety and Quality Assessment)
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15 pages, 12500 KiB  
Article
Microbial Diversity and Flavor Regularity of Soy Milk Fermented Using Kombucha
by Xinhui Peng, Qiang Yue, Qianqi Chi, Yanwei Liu, Tian Tian, Shicheng Dai, Aihua Yu, Shaodong Wang, Huan Wang, Xiaohong Tong and Lianzhou Jiang
Foods 2023, 12(4), 884; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040884 - 18 Feb 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3461
Abstract
Plant-based milk is considered a healthy and environmentally sustainable option. However, due to the low protein content of most plant-based milk and the difficulty of gaining flavor acceptance by consumers, its production scale is usually limited. Soy milk is a kind of food [...] Read more.
Plant-based milk is considered a healthy and environmentally sustainable option. However, due to the low protein content of most plant-based milk and the difficulty of gaining flavor acceptance by consumers, its production scale is usually limited. Soy milk is a kind of food with comprehensive nutrition and high protein content. In addition, kombucha is naturally fermented by acetic acid bacteria (AAB), yeast, lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and other microorganisms, and the microorganisms in its system can improve the flavor characteristics of food. In the present study, LAB (commercially purchased) and kombucha were used as fermenting agents for soybean, which was used as a raw material to produce soy milk. A variety of characterization methods were used to study the relationship between the microbial composition and flavor regularity of soy milk produced with different proportions of fermenting agents and different fermentation times. In soy milk produced at 32 °C with a mass ratio of LAB to kombucha of 1:1 and a fermentation time of 42 h, the concentrations of LAB, yeast, and acetic acid bacteria in the milk were optimal at 7.48, 6.68, and 6.83 log CFU/mL, respectively. In fermented soy milk produced with kombucha and LAB, the dominant bacterial genera were Lactobacillus (41.58%) and Acetobacter (42.39%), while the dominant fungal genera were Zygosaccharomyces (38.89%) and Saccharomyces (35.86%). After 42 h, the content of hexanol in the fermentation system of kombucha and LAB decreased from 30.16% to 8.74%, while flavor substances such as 2,5-dimethylbenzaldehyde and linalool were produced. Soy milk fermented with kombucha offers the opportunity to explore the mechanisms associated with flavor formation in multi-strain co-fermentation systems and to develop commercial plant-based fermentation products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Food Security and Sustainability)
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11 pages, 1896 KiB  
Article
Efficacy of Common Antimicrobial Interventions at and above Regulatory Allowable Pick-Up Levels on Pathogen Reduction
by Sabrina E. Blandon, David A. Vargas, Diego E. Casas, Oscar Sarasty, Dale R. Woerner, Alejandro Echeverry, Markus F. Miller, Carlos E. Carpio, Marcos X. Sanchez-Plata and Jerrad F. Legako
Foods 2023, 12(4), 883; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040883 - 18 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2589
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the food safety efficacy of common antimicrobial interventions at and above required uptake levels for processing aids on the reduction of Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) and Salmonella spp. through spray and dip applications. Beef [...] Read more.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the food safety efficacy of common antimicrobial interventions at and above required uptake levels for processing aids on the reduction of Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) and Salmonella spp. through spray and dip applications. Beef trim was inoculated with specific isolates of STEC or Salmonella strains. Trim was intervened with peracetic or lactic acid through spray or dip application. Meat rinses were serially diluted and plated following the drop dilution method; an enumerable range of 2–30 colonies was used to report results before log transformation. The combination of all treatments exhibits an average reduction rate of 0.16 LogCFU/g for STEC and Salmonella spp., suggesting that for every 1% increase in uptake there is an increase of 0.16 LogCFU/g of reduction rate. There is a statistical significance in the reduction rate of Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli in relation to the uptake percentage (p < 0.01). The addition of explanatory variables increases the R2 of the regression for STEC, where all the additional explanatory variables are statistically significant for reduction (p < 0.01). The addition of explanatory variables increases the R2 of the regression for Salmonella spp., but only trim type is statistically significant for reduction rate (p < 0.01). An increase in uptake percentages showed a significant increase in reduction rate of pathogens on beef trimmings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Latest Research on Meat Microbiology, Meat Quality and Meat Safety)
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16 pages, 857 KiB  
Article
Application of HPP for the Development of a Dessert Elaborated with Casein and Cocoa for a Dysphagia Diet
by Larisa Giura, Leyre Urtasun, Iciar Astiasaran and Diana Ansorena
Foods 2023, 12(4), 882; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040882 - 18 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2634
Abstract
In this study, the application of high-pressure processing (HPP) for optimizing the texture of a cocoa dessert rich in casein and developed for people with dysphagia was investigated. Different treatments (250 MPa/15 min; 600 MPa/5 min) and protein concentrations (10–15%) were combined and [...] Read more.
In this study, the application of high-pressure processing (HPP) for optimizing the texture of a cocoa dessert rich in casein and developed for people with dysphagia was investigated. Different treatments (250 MPa/15 min; 600 MPa/5 min) and protein concentrations (10–15%) were combined and evaluated for choosing the optimum combination leading to an adequate texture. The selected formulation was a dessert containing 4% cocoa and 10% casein and subjected to 600 MPa for 5 min. It showed a high nutritional value (11.5% protein) and high antioxidant capacity, which was slightly affected by the HPP processing. The rheological and textural properties showed that HPP had a clear effect on the dessert structure. The loss tangent decreased from 2.692 to 0.165, indicating the transition from a liquid to a gel-like structure, which is in a suitable range for dysphagia foods. During storage (14 and 28 days at 4 °C), progressive significant changes in the structure of the dessert were observed. A decrease in all rheological and textural parameters occurred, except for the loss of tangent, which increased its value. In any case, at 28 days of storage, samples maintained the weak gel-like structure (0.686 loss tangent) that is acceptable for dysphagia management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Aspects: From Prevention to Diet-Related Diseases)
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17 pages, 7931 KiB  
Article
Addition of NaCl or Sucrose on the Protein Content, and Functional and Physicochemical Properties of Egg Whites Liquid under Heat Treatment
by Ruihan Yu, Lifeng Wang, Yanqiu Ma, Jingnan Zang, Mingmin Qing, Yujie Chi and Yuan Chi
Foods 2023, 12(4), 881; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040881 - 18 Feb 2023
Viewed by 2193
Abstract
In this study, differences in the protein content and functional and physicochemical properties of four varieties of egg white (EW) were studied by adding 4–10% sucrose or NaCl and then heating them at 70 °C for 3 min. According to a high-performance liquid [...] Read more.
In this study, differences in the protein content and functional and physicochemical properties of four varieties of egg white (EW) were studied by adding 4–10% sucrose or NaCl and then heating them at 70 °C for 3 min. According to a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, the percentages of ovalbumin, lysozyme and ovotransferrin rose with an increase in the NaCl or sucrose concentration; however, the percentages of ovomucin and ovomucoid decreased. Furthermore, the foaming properties, gel properties, particle size, α-helixes, β-sheets, sulfhydryl groups and disulfide bond content also increased, whereas the content of β-turns and random coils decreased. In addition, the total soluble protein content and functional and physicochemical properties of black bone (BB) chicken and Gu-shi (GS) EWs were higher than those of Hy-Line brown (HY-LINE) and Harbin White (HW) Ews (p < 0.05). Subsequently, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the changes in the EW protein structure in the four varieties of Ews. As the aggregations increased, the functional and physicochemical properties decreased. The protein content and functional and physicochemical properties of Ews after heating were correlated with the concentration of NaCl and sucrose and the EW varieties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemical, Physical and Physicochemical Changes during Food Heat Treatment)
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15 pages, 2212 KiB  
Article
Impact of Starch-Rich Food Matrices on Black Rice Anthocyanin Accessibility and Carbohydrate Digestibility
by Sean Jun Leong Ou, Amanda Simin Fu and Mei Hui Liu
Foods 2023, 12(4), 880; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040880 - 18 Feb 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2933
Abstract
Anthocyanins reduce starch digestibility via carbohydrase-inhibitory pathways, but food matrix effects during digestion may also influence its enzymatic function. Understanding anthocyanin-food matrix interactions is significant as the efficiency of carbohydrase inhibition relies on anthocyanin accessibility during digestion. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the [...] Read more.
Anthocyanins reduce starch digestibility via carbohydrase-inhibitory pathways, but food matrix effects during digestion may also influence its enzymatic function. Understanding anthocyanin-food matrix interactions is significant as the efficiency of carbohydrase inhibition relies on anthocyanin accessibility during digestion. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the influence of food matrices on black rice anthocyanin accessibility in relation to starch digestibility in common settings of anthocyanin consumption—its co-ingestion with food, and consumption of fortified food. Our findings indicate that black rice anthocyanin extracts (BRAE) had reduced intestinal digestibility of bread to a larger extent for the co-digestion of BRAE with bread (39.3%) (4CO), than BRAE-fortified bread (25.9%) (4FO). Overall anthocyanin accessibility was about 5% greater from the co-digestion with bread than fortified bread across all digestion phases. Differences in anthocyanin accessibility were also noted with changes to gastrointestinal pH and food matrix compositions—with up to 10.1% (oral to gastric) and 73.4% (gastric to intestinal) reductions in accessibility with pH changes, and 3.4% greater accessibility in protein matrices than starch matrices. Our findings demonstrate that the modulation of starch digestibility by anthocyanin is a combined result of its accessibility, food matrix composition, and gastrointestinal conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment of Behavior of Foods in Digestive Tract: Bioavailability, Bioaccessibility and Health Benefits)
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25 pages, 11100 KiB  
Article
Three Molecular Modification Strategies to Improve the Thermostability of Xylanase XynA from Streptomyces rameus L2001
by Weijia Zhu, Liqin Qin, Youqiang Xu, Hongyun Lu, Qiuhua Wu, Weiwei Li, Chengnan Zhang and Xiuting Li
Foods 2023, 12(4), 879; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040879 - 18 Feb 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2208
Abstract
Glycoside hydrolase family 11 (GH11) xylanases are the preferred candidates for the production of functional oligosaccharides. However, the low thermostability of natural GH11 xylanases limits their industrial applications. In this study, we investigated the following three strategies to modify the thermostability of xylanase [...] Read more.
Glycoside hydrolase family 11 (GH11) xylanases are the preferred candidates for the production of functional oligosaccharides. However, the low thermostability of natural GH11 xylanases limits their industrial applications. In this study, we investigated the following three strategies to modify the thermostability of xylanase XynA from Streptomyces rameus L2001 mutation to reduce surface entropy, intramolecular disulfide bond construction, and molecular cyclization. Changes in the thermostability of XynA mutants were analyzed using molecular simulations. All mutants showed improved thermostability and catalytic efficiency compared with XynA, except for molecular cyclization. The residual activities of high-entropy amino acid-replacement mutants Q24A and K104A increased from 18.70% to more than 41.23% when kept at 65 °C for 30 min. The catalytic efficiencies of Q24A and K143A increased to 129.99 and 92.26 mL/s/mg, respectively, compared with XynA (62.97 mL/s/mg) when using beechwood xylan as the substrate. The mutant enzyme with disulfide bonds formed between Val3 and Thr30 increased the t1/260 °C by 13.33-fold and the catalytic efficiency by 1.80-fold compared with the wild-type XynA. The high thermostabilities and hydrolytic activities of XynA mutants will be useful for enzymatic production of functional xylo-oligosaccharides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Food Biotechnology)
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17 pages, 1452 KiB  
Review
Fucoidan-Derived Functional Oligosaccharides: Recent Developments, Preparation, and Potential Applications
by Min Wang, Suresh Veeraperumal, Saiyi Zhong and Kit-Leong Cheong
Foods 2023, 12(4), 878; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040878 - 18 Feb 2023
Cited by 48 | Viewed by 5274
Abstract
Oligosaccharides derived from natural resources are attracting increasing attention as both food and nutraceutical products because of their beneficial health effects and lack of toxicity. During the past few decades, many studies have focused on the potential health benefits of fucoidan. Recently, new [...] Read more.
Oligosaccharides derived from natural resources are attracting increasing attention as both food and nutraceutical products because of their beneficial health effects and lack of toxicity. During the past few decades, many studies have focused on the potential health benefits of fucoidan. Recently, new interest has emerged in fucoidan, partially hydrolysed into fuco-oligosaccharides (FOSs) or low-molecular weight fucoidan, owing to their superior solubility and biological activities compared with fucoidan. There is considerable interest in their development for use in the functional food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Therefore, this review summarises and discusses the preparation of FOSs from fucoidan using mild acid hydrolysis, enzymatic depolymerisation, and radical degradation methods, and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of hydrolysis methods. Several purification steps performed to obtain FOSs (according to the latest reports) are also reviewed. Moreover, the biological activities of FOS that are beneficial to human health are summarised based on evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies, and the possible mechanisms for the prevention or treatment of various diseases are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbohydrate Chemistry, Nutrition and Utilization)
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