Food nanotechnology is an emerging and rapidly evolving field that encompasses an extremely broad range of disciplines and has found various applications in different food sectors. The objective of ...this perspective is to update the current knowledge on the nanotechnology-based approaches to prepare delivery vehicles for bioactive compounds. Research progress on the development of nanoparticles made from food biopolymers (i.e., protein and polysaccharide) is particularly highlighted. In addition, two types of most recently developed nanoscale delivery systems, i.e., protein–polysaccharide complex and lipid–biopolymer hybrid nanoparticles, are introduced, and their relevant applications are discussed. Finally, suggestions for future research directions on developing safe, effective, and edible nanoscale delivery vehicles for food applications are provided.
Micro- and nanotechnology are tools being used strongly in the area of food technology. The electrospray technique is booming because of its importance in developing micro- and nanoparticles ...containing an active ingredient as bioactive compounds, enhancing molecules of flavors, odors, and packaging coatings, and developing polymers that are obtained from food (proteins, carbohydrates), as chitosan, alginate, gelatin, agar, starch, or gluten. The electrospray technique compared to conventional techniques such as nanoprecipitation, emulsion–diffusion, double-emulsification, and layer by layer provides greater advantages to develop micro- and nanoparticles because it is simple, low cost, uses a low amount of solvents, and products are obtained in one step. This technique could also be applied in the agrifood sector for the preparation of controlled and/or prolonged release systems of fertilizer or agrochemicals, for which more research must be conducted.
•Novel technologies for improved extraction yields of hydrocolloids.•Clean and green innovative approaches for hydrocolloids are reviewed.•Synergistic combinations of novel and/or conventional ...technologies are reviewed.•Challenges associated with industrial scale up of technologies.
The macroalgal hydrocolloid industry is a rapidly growing industry with an annual growth in the global production of 2–3 %. Hydrocolloids from macroalgae are mainly in the form of polysaccharides with other nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and proteins. Due to its potential industrial applications, macroalgae have been used as raw materials for hydrocolloids extraction. Compared to the conventional extraction methods, emerging innovative assisted extraction technologies (e.g., Ultrasound/Microwave assisted extraction) have been developed to maximise the extraction yields, efficiency and thereby, maintaining sustainability along the process. These novel techniques are considered as clean and green strategies, with a potential for a large-scale production; thus, avoiding or reducing the use of chemicals. However, more research is required to establish their mechanism of action in order to finally implement them at industrial level. This paper reviews the most relevant strategies and technologies involved in the production of hydrocolloids from macroalgae.
Trans and saturated fat replacers/substitutes have been a tremendously active area of research for the food industry. Unlike polymers used for hydrogels, oleogels utilize small, amphiphilic molecules ...that self-assemble via highly specific, non-covalent interactions entrapping liquid oil via capillary forces. Edible applications of oleogels have replaced the need for trans unsaturated and saturated fatty acids to structure processed foods. These innovations mitigate the use of hardstock fats that are associated with deleterious health risks and negative consumer perception. Over the past decade, oleogels have made significant strides towards emulating desired sensory traits while maintaining healthy nutritional profile of the oil. Due to the rapid advancements in the past decade, the most promising technologies will be reviewed.
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•Edible oleogels are becoming a more realistic alternative for hardstock fats in processed foods.•Oleogels, in some cases, have similar sensory properties with enhanced nutritional profiles.•Most edible oleogels currently being investigated have added bioactive benefits.
Cultured meat is an unfamiliar emerging food technology that could provide a near endless supply of high quality protein with a relatively small ecological footprint. To understand consumer ...acceptance of cultured meat, this study investigated the influence of information provision on the explicit and implicit attitude toward cultured meat. Three experiments were conducted using a Solomon four-group design to rule out pretest sensitization effects. The first experiment (N = 190) showed that positive or negative information about cultured meat changed the explicit attitude in the direction of the information. This effect was smaller for participants who were more familiar with cultured meat. In the second experiment (N = 194) positive information was provided about solar panels, an attitude object belonging to the same sustainable product category as sustainable food products such as cultured meat. Positive information about solar panels was found to change the explicit attitude in the direction of the information. Using mood induction, the third experiment (N = 192) ruled out the alternative explanation that explicit attitude change in experiment 1 and 2 was caused by content free affect rather than category based inferences. The implicit attitude appeared insensitive to both information or mood state in all three experiments. These findings show that the explicit attitude toward cultured meat can be influenced by information about the sustainability of cultured meat and information about a positively perceived sustainable product. This effect was shown to be content based rather than merely affect based. Content based information in a relevant context could therefore contribute to the commercial success of cultured meat.
Food 3 D printing is an emerging food processing technology. Due to the advantages of functionalization, customization, personalized nutrition design, simplified supply chain and broadening existing ...food materials, 3 D printing has been extensively studied in the food sector in the past decade. Many factors influence the accuracy and quality of food 3 D printing, which are also the challenges to researchers. Currently, most of the research focuses on the development of printable materials and control of printing parameters to improve the printing accuracy and product quality. However, the influence of material pretreatment methods and post-processing techniques on food 3 D printing have received less attention.
By collecting the available data and research, this paper analyzes the effect of pretreatment technologies (crushing, gelation, etc.) and post-treatment technologies (cooking, drying, fast cooling technology, 4 D printing, etc.) on the accuracy and shape fidelity of 3 D printed food products. It also summarizes the current challenges of food 3 D printing and proposes some thoughts on the future development of this technology.
Double-fortified salt (DFS) is a vehicle for dual fortification with iron and iodine, to reduce their respective deficiencies. This background article is the third in a series reviewing available ...research, analyses, and experiences on DFS as an effective delivery vehicle for iron and iodine.
The objective of this article is to systematically evaluate current programs distributing DFS around the world and catalogue opportunities, risks, and challenges related to programs that incorporate DFS. We carried out a narrative review of DFS programs from around the world with our data sources deriving from a mix of a nonsystematic literature search and interviews with key informants.
We assessed programmatic experience with DFS from social safety net programs in India (from the states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh) and from non–social safety net country programs or projects in Argentina, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Philippines, and Sri Lanka.
Findings revealed color change of the final DFS product was an issue in 9 of the 14 programs or studies reviewed and was the most significant challenge that had a direct impact on consumer acceptance and uptake regardless of type of program (open market or social safety net). Other challenges identified were related to the quality of the salt and lack of DFS formulation standards and regulatory monitoring protocols.
DFS programs need to focus on 1) improved technology with better consumer acceptance and better performance when used with lower-quality salt; 2) elucidation and enforcement of DFS formulation quality standards, along with producer incentives; and 3) strong government backing at the policy level. DFS offers a unique opportunity to leverage an almost universally consumed product with the addition of 2 important nutrients missing in many populations. However, program “maturity” will take time with urgent attention needed for quality production.
The relationship between consumer perception of quality and the food industry's drive to satisfy consumer needs is complex and involves many different components. Science and innovation play a major ...role in equipping the industry to respond to consumer concerns and expectations.
This paper examines the main elements of consumer perception of meat with focus on the red meat sector. Emphasis is placed on perception at point of sale particularly the intrinsic quality cues of colour, packaging and degree of visual fat. The state of the art developments in increasing consumers' perception at this point are discussed. Experienced quality cues such as tenderness and flavour are well known as being of immense importance to consumers at point of consumption. The latest technological developments to enhance the quality experienced by consumers are discussed. The use of pre-rigor restraining techniques offers the industry a method for changing its conventional procedures of processing beef for instance. Background cues of safety, nutrition, animal welfare and sustainability are also discussed.
Finally opportunities and challenges facing the industry are outlined. It is concluded that the meat industry needs to invest in and embrace an innovation agenda in order to be sustainable. It must utilise emerging scientific knowledge and take a more proactive role in setting out a research agenda.
► We present a review of applications of ultrasound in food technology. ► The review presents industrial applications of ultrasound in food industry. ► The review is divided in three parts about ...processing, preservation and extraction.
Ultrasound is well known to have a significant effect on the rate of various processes in the food industry. Using ultrasound, full reproducible food processes can now be completed in seconds or minutes with high reproducibility, reducing the processing cost, simplifying manipulation and work-up, giving higher purity of the final product, eliminating post-treatment of waste water and consuming only a fraction of the time and energy normally needed for conventional processes. Several processes such as freezing, cutting, drying, tempering, bleaching, sterilization, and extraction have been applied efficiently in the food industry. The advantages of using ultrasound for food processing, includes: more effective mixing and micro-mixing, faster energy and mass transfer, reduced thermal and concentration gradients, reduced temperature, selective extraction, reduced equipment size, faster response to process extraction control, faster start-up, increased production, and elimination of process steps. Food processes performed under the action of ultrasound are believed to be affected in part by cavitation phenomena and mass transfer enhancement. This review presents a complete picture of current knowledge on application of ultrasound in food technology including processing, preservation and extraction. It provides the necessary theoretical background and some details about ultrasound the technology, the technique, and safety precautions. We will also discuss some of the factors which make the combination of food processing and ultrasound one of the most promising research areas in the field of modern food engineering.
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