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The 4th International Electronic Conference on Foods—"Focus on Sustainable Food Systems: Current Trends and Advances" (Foods2023)

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A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 July 2024) | Viewed by 12253

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Prof. Dr. Arun K. Bhunia

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1. Department of Food Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
2. Department of Comparative Pathobiology (Courtesy), Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
Interests: microbiology; pathogenesis; host–pathogen interaction; nanobiotechnology; food safety
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Dr. Joana S. Amaral

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CIMO, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal
Interests: food authenticity; food chemistry; molecular biology approaches applied to food authentication and GMO detection; plant food supplements; bioactive compounds; antioxidant activity; antimicrobial activity; chromatography; development of analytical methods
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Prof. Dr. Katrina Campbell

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Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University, Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast BT9 5DL, UK
Interests: food safety; food security and sustainability; aquaculture; feed and food; natural toxins; drug residues; antibiotics; chemical contaminants; climate change; (bio) analytical chemistry; biosensors; diagnostics; immunoassays; mass spectrometry
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Dr. Jean-Christophe Jacquier

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Food for Health Ireland, UCD Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
Interests: new food grade encapsulation and delivery systems; incorporation of biologically active phytochemicals in food matrices; food preservation
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Prof. Dr. Antonello Santini

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Department of Pharmacy, University of Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy
Interests: food chemistry; safety; food safety; food supplements and functional foods; nutraceuticals; sustainability; novel foods; nano-nutraceuticals; recovery from byproducts of the agri-food area; formulation and assessing of novel nutraceuticals; food contaminants; contaminants; risk assessment; mycotoxins and secondary metabolites; chemistry and food education
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Prof. Dr. Anet Režek Jambrak

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Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: nonthermal and advanced thermal processing technologies; green processing; Industry 4.0; sustainability; sustainable development
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Dr. Antonio Bevilacqua

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Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences (SAFE), University of Foggia, Via Napoli 25, 71100 Foggia, Italy
Interests: food microbiology; foodborne pathogens; food safety; food preservation; probiotics; predictive microbiology
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Prof. Dr. Koushik Adhikari

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Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA 30223, USA
Interests: sensory analysis; consumer food products; determining emotional response of consumers; consumer behavior; food choice; nutrition; obesity; statistical analyses; consumer acceptability data; chemical flavor data
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Following the previous successful meetings of the Electronic Conference since 2021, it is a great pleasure to announce that foods will host the 4th International Electronic Conference, “Focus on Sustainable Food Systems: Current Trends and Advances”, which will be held during 15-30 October 2023. This conference will provide a great platform to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Sustainable Food Systems.

The food system is a comprehensive and complex network, which includes all the industries involved in food production and processing, their interlinked value-added activities, and the parts of economic, social, and natural environmental sciences. Sustainable Food Systems mean economic sustainability, social sustainability, and environmental sustainability based on human nutrition and food security embedded in the food system.

A sustainable Food System is part of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and one of the key goals of sustainable development in the world. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Food Systems faced significant global and regional challenges. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) put forward The Four Betters: Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life, which reflect the interconnected economic, social, and environmental dimensions of agri-food systems. Therefore, we need more innovations in the sustainable food system, focusing on the following sections:

S1: Food Security and Sustainable Food Supply (with special emphasis on Agri-Food & Food Industry, pandemic, COVID, supply chain, societal elements, etc.)
S2: International Trade and Food Economic
S3: Food Sensory and Consumer Choices
S4: Food Physical and Structural Property
S5: Food Chemistry and Biochemistry
S6: Food Analysis, Biotechnology, and Engineering
S7: Food Quality and Safety
S8: Food Microbiology
S9: Functional Foods, Nutrition and Health

We look forward to welcoming you to this e-conference. We hope that more scholars in various fields related to Food Systems can participate in this platform to share and discuss the most cutting-edge research development of Sustainable Food Systems in the world.

Best wishes,

Prof. Dr. Arun K. Bhunia
Dr. Joana S. Amaral
Prof. Dr. Katrina Campbell
Dr. Jean-Christophe Jacquier
Prof. Dr. Antonello Santini
Prof. Dr. Anet Režek Jambrak
Prof. Dr. Antonio Bevilacqua
Prof. Dr. Koushik Adhikari
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Foods is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 1482 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Consumer Perception of New Aquaculture Products through Applying Focus Group and Check-All-That-Apply Methodologies

by Palmira Javier-Pisco, Isabel Escriche, Marta Igual, Purificación García-Segovia and María Jesús Pagan

Foods 2024, 13(16), 2480; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13162480 - 7 Aug 2024

Viewed by 905

Abstract

A growing interest in healthy diets has increased demand for fish and seafood, with aquaculture playing a crucial role in meeting this need. Developing new aquaculture products can enhance their commercial value and address consumer demand, but it is unclear which products will be well-received. This study aimed to generate ideas for new products derived from sea bream and prawns, and to gather consumer opinions on these ideas, segmented by gender and age. Two methodologies were used: focus groups and Check-All-That-Apply (CATA). In the focus groups, with two sessions per species and 10 participants each, ideas for aquaculture products were generated and categorized as fresh, dehydrated, fermented, marinated, and canned. The CATA technique, applied to 387 individuals, assessed the acceptability of fresh species, yielding average scores of 6.6 for sea bream and 6.8 for prawns. Sea bream was associated with products like fillets and long-shelf-life loins, while prawns were linked to snacks and toppings. In conclusion, the use of tools like focus groups has shown promising results for developing new aquaculture products. CATA analysis indicated that sea bream should be minimally processed with a long shelf life, and prawns should be processed into dehydrated products. Women preferred traditional products, while men favoured innovative options. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The 4th International Electronic Conference on Foods—"Focus on Sustainable Food Systems: Current Trends and Advances" (Foods2023))

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13 pages, 2961 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Defatting Pretreatment on Polysaccharide Extraction from Rambutan Seeds Using Subcritical Water: Optimization Using the Desirability Approach

by Kamonthip Nilmat, Panusorn Hunsub, Somkiat Ngamprasertsith, Winatta Sakdasri, Aphichart Karnchanatat and Ruengwit Sawangkeaw

Foods 2024, 13(13), 1967; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13131967 - 21 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 940

Abstract

Rambutan seeds are by-products generated from fruit-processing factories; the leftover seeds are buried in landfills, generating methane emissions. This work aimed to extract polysaccharides (POLS) from rambutan seeds by using subcritical water extraction (SWE). The effects of defatting pretreatment and operating parameters in SWE were investigated using a Box–Behnken design. The results show that defatting pretreatment significantly enriched the POLS yield, while it had no significant effect on the total sugar content. Using the desirability approach, the suitable feedstock for SWE was defatted rambutan seeds. The maximum desirability of 0.86 was found at a temperature range of 145–150 °C, an extraction time of 15 min, and a liquid–solid ratio of 10:1. The POLS yield and total sugar content were in the range of 52.33–55.63 g/100 g feedstock and 83.37–87.45 g/100 g POLS, respectively. The extracted POLS had an equivalent molecular weight of 413.70 kDa that could be used as an extender in plant-based products. In conclusion, the defatting pretreatment of rambutan seeds not only improved the POLS yield obtained via SWE but also generated additional lipids that could be utilized as an unconventional source of specialty fat. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The 4th International Electronic Conference on Foods—"Focus on Sustainable Food Systems: Current Trends and Advances" (Foods2023))

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15 pages, 1223 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing Gluten-Free Bread Production: Impact of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Psyllium Husk Fiber, and Xanthan Gum on Dough Characteristics and Bread Quality

by Ramón Torres-Pérez, Elena Martínez-García, Marta Maravilla Siguero-Tudela, Purificación García-Segovia, Javier Martínez-Monzó and Marta Igual

Foods 2024, 13(11), 1691; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13111691 - 28 May 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1104

Abstract

The demand for gluten-free products has increased due to improved diagnoses and awareness of gluten-related issues. This study investigated the effect of HPMC, psyllium, and xanthan gum in gluten-free bread formulations. Three tests were conducted, varying the amount of these ingredients: in the first formulation, the amount of HPMC was increased to 4.4 g/100 g of flour and starch; in the second, psyllium husk fiber was increased to 13.2 g/100 g of flour and starch; and in the third formulation, xanthan gum was removed. Differences were observed among the formulations: increasing HPMC reduced extrusion force without affecting bread quality; adding psyllium increased dough elasticity but also crumb gumminess and crust hardness. Eliminating xanthan gum altered dough rheology, resulting in a softer and less gummy crumb, and a less reddish color in the final bread. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The 4th International Electronic Conference on Foods—"Focus on Sustainable Food Systems: Current Trends and Advances" (Foods2023))

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16 pages, 1048 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improving Tenebrio molitor Growth and Nutritional Value through Vegetable Waste Supplementation

by Gloria López-Gámez, Raquel del Pino-García, María Asunción López-Bascón and Vito Verardo

Foods 2024, 13(4), 594; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13040594 - 16 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1818

Abstract

Huge amounts of vegetable wastes are generated by the food industry. Their bioconversion into valuable products (e.g., insect flours or biofertilizer) through insect farming is a promising solution to reduce their negative environmental and economic impacts. This study evaluates the growth of Tenebrio molitor larvae and their nutritional profile after supplementing their diets with vegetable wastes. Over a 6-week period, 45-day larvae were fed a diet comprising wheat bran supplemented (1:1) with cucumber or tomato wastes from both conventional and ecological crops. The control diet consisted of wheat bran and an equivalent amount of water to compensate for the waste moisture. Larval weight was measured weekly, and length measures were taken fortnightly. Nutritional composition and fatty acid profile were analyzed at the end of the study in 90-day larvae. Regardless of using vegetable waste from conventional or ecological harvesting, the weight of 6-week supplemented larvae almost doubled that of larvae fed with just wheat bran, and their length was 15% higher. Supplementation also increased larval polyunsaturated fatty acid percentage by 22–37%, with linoleic acid being the most abundant. Likewise, larval protein content reached 50% after supplementation. This study demonstrates that both cucumber and tomato wastes from conventional or ecological crops are excellent supplements for T. molitor’s diet, improving their nutritional value and reducing the time necessary for larvae growth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The 4th International Electronic Conference on Foods—"Focus on Sustainable Food Systems: Current Trends and Advances" (Foods2023))

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11 pages, 480 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comprehensive Characterization of Micronized Wholemeal Flours: Investigating Technological Properties across Various Grains

by Agata Wojciechowicz-Budzisz, Pavel Skřivan, Marcela Sluková, Ivan Švec, Ewa Pejcz, Michal Stupák, Anna Czubaszek and Joanna Harasym

Foods 2024, 13(1), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13010039 - 21 Dec 2023

Viewed by 1111

Abstract

With a suitable milling system, it is achievable to produce wholegrain flours that match the granulation and technological properties of refined flours while maintaining a complete nutritional profile. This process also minimizes the generation of additional industrial waste. This study aimed to characterize wholemeal flours with a fine granulation size of less than 160 µm: wheat (MWF), rye (MRF), spelt (MSF), barley (MBF), buckwheat (MBWF), and sorghum (MSGF). For comparison, the plain wheat flour type 530 (T530) was analyzed. The flours were assessed in terms of their chemical compositions and alpha amylase activities (the Falling Number assay), pasting properties (amylograph and a Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA)), water absorption using a farinograph, and technological quality based on their water (WRC) and sodium carbonate solvent retention capacity (SRC) profiles. Among the micronized wholemeal flours, wheat flour (MWF) exhibited the highest nutritional value, greatest water absorption, and highest final gelatinization temperature, but had the lowest energy value, carbohydrate content, water SRC, and sodium carbonate SRC. Wholemeal rye flour (MRF) displayed the lowest nutrient content and the highest amylolytic activity, water absorption, and sodium carbonate SRC. The plain wheat flour type 530 (T530) had the lowest water absorption. Special buckwheat flour (MBWF) showed the highest energy value due to its elevated carbohydrate content, along with the lowest sugar and TDF contents, amylolytic activity, and pasting temperature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The 4th International Electronic Conference on Foods—"Focus on Sustainable Food Systems: Current Trends and Advances" (Foods2023))

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16 pages, 5732 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Opuntia Ficus-Indica Peel By-Product as a Natural Antioxidant Food Additive and Natural Anticoccidial Drug

by Meriem Amrane-Abider, Mirela Imre, Viorel Herman, Nedjima Debbou-Iouknane, Fairouz Saci, Hafid Boudries, Khodir Madani, Hafida Merzouk and Abdelhanine Ayad

Foods 2023, 12(24), 4403; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12244403 - 7 Dec 2023

Viewed by 1552

Abstract

The present study was carried out to valorize the Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) by-products by extracting and identifying their biochemical compounds and evaluating their antioxidant potential by in vitro activities (DPPH radical and FRAP), as well as their capacity to stabilize margarine oxidation (rancimat test). In addition, their in vitro anticoccidial effect on the destruction of Eimeria oocysts isolated from naturally infected chickens was also targeted. Microwaves and response surface methodology tools were used to extract the maximum amount of phenolic compounds (42.05 ± 0.46 GAE mg/g DW of total phenolic compounds in 90 s at 400 watts). Moreover, the effect of extraction factors was also studied. Eight phenolic compounds, including isorhamnetin, dihydrokaempferol, and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, were identified. The findings confirmed that OFI peel extract has strong antioxidant activities (DPPH radical, ferric reducing power). The rancimat test shows that OFI peel extract improves margarine stability by 3.2 h. Moreover, it has a notable destruction rate of Eimeria oocysts (30.06 ± 0.51%, LC₅₀: 60.53 ± 0.38 mg/mL). The present investigation offers promise for the reuse of food waste as natural margarine additives, protection of the environment, and substitution of anticoccidial synthetic treatments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The 4th International Electronic Conference on Foods—"Focus on Sustainable Food Systems: Current Trends and Advances" (Foods2023))

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13 pages, 1167 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing Bread’s Benefits: Investigating the Influence of Boosted Native Sourdough on FODMAP Modulation and Antioxidant Potential in Wheat Bread

by Ewa Pejcz, Sabina Lachowicz-Wiśniewska, Paulina Nowicka, Agata Wojciechowicz-Budzisz and Joanna Harasym

Foods 2023, 12(19), 3552; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12193552 - 24 Sep 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1628

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the impact of bacterial species and fermentation time on wheat bread quality, FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) content, and antioxidant activity of wheat bread, utilizing boosted native sourdough as a novel approach to enhance bread production. The incorporation of lactic acid bacteria strains, i.e., Lacticaseibacillus casei and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, during 72 h fermentation significantly reduced FODMAP content to less than 0.1 g/100 g of wheat bread. Extending the fermentation time to 72 h notably increased the polyphenol content to 145.35 mg gallic acid (GA) per 100 g in the case of spontaneous fermentation and to 151.11 and 198.73 mg GA/100 g in the case of sourdoughs inoculated with L. casei and L. plantarum, respectively. While the treatment yielded positive effects on FODMAP modulation and antioxidant activity, it is crucial to acknowledge its impact on some organoleptic properties, such as aroma and flavor, which, despite good overall bread quality, have changed as a result of prolonged fermentation time. The study results indicate that choosing specific bacterial species and controlling fermentation time can effectively reduce FODMAPs and boost antioxidants. These findings contribute to the understanding of sourdough-based interventions in bread production, offering insights for the development of healthier and nutritionally improved wheat bread products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The 4th International Electronic Conference on Foods—"Focus on Sustainable Food Systems: Current Trends and Advances" (Foods2023))

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15 pages, 963 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mixed Psyllium Fiber Improves the Quality, Nutritional Value, Polyphenols and Antioxidant Activity of Rye Bread

by Agata Wojciechowicz-Budzisz, Ewa Pejcz, Radosław Spychaj and Joanna Harasym

Foods 2023, 12(19), 3534; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12193534 - 22 Sep 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1554

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the influence of the different shares (0/100, 5/95, 10/90 and 15/85 ratios) of a ground psyllium fiber (PF) mixture of 80% psyllium seeds (Plantago psyllium) and 20% psyllium husk (Plantago ovata Forsk) on the quality characteristics, chemical composition, total polyphenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant activity of rye bread (RB). The study was conducted with rye flour (RF) type 580 and 720 and two dough preparation methods (single-phase—1F, two-phase—2F). The inclusion of psyllium fiber in rye bread resulted in an increase in the overbaking of bread by 12.4%, total protein by 1.7%, ash by almost twofold, and TDF content by more than twofold. Psyllium fiber addition also led to a twofold improvement in antioxidant activity and an increase in TPC from 35.5 to 109.1 mg GAE/100 g d.m., as well as enhanced porosity of the crumb from 7.1 to 7.6 points on the Mohs scale. However, it caused a decrease in specific loaf volume by 10%, springiness by 3.5%, chewiness by almost 12%, and gumminess of the crumb by 8.1%. A darkening of the crust (reduction in the L* value by 10.7%) and crumb (reduction in the L* value by 37.6%) was observed as well. Notably, the results indicated that a 10% share of PF can be considered a potentially beneficial and functional ingredient, promoting health benefits without negatively affecting the physical and sensory qualities of rye bread. This suggests the potential use of PF for enhancing the nutritional value of RB without compromising its overall quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The 4th International Electronic Conference on Foods—"Focus on Sustainable Food Systems: Current Trends and Advances" (Foods2023))

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