Instant controlled pressure drop drying: A review on preservation of quality characteristics in fresh produce.

This review describes the efficient Instant controlled pressure drop drying technology. The Détente Instantanée Contôlée (DIC), French for Instant Controlled Pressure-Drop drying, has prodigious potential to cause least variations in the quality characteristics of the final dried product. This review article spotlights the principle of DIC with its effect on vitamins (ascorbic acid), bioactive compounds (carotenoids, polyphenols), physicochemical properties (moisture, rehydration capacity, water holding capacity, color, microstructure texture) and sensory properties of fresh produce. DIC is a thermo-mechanical technique accomplished by treating the fresh produce to saturated steam for less time period, which is carried out by an immediate pressure drop to achieve vacuum. This technique also provides reduced drying time, better volume expansion with larger porosity in the final dried product. It leads to a swift vaporization of the water within fresh produce cells. DIC-treated fresh produce are quickly rehydrated and retains sensory and nutrient quality.

Designing 3D printable food based on fruit and vegetable products-opportunities and challenges.

3D printing is an innovative technology for food industry, which provides tremendous opportunities for the designing of customized and personalized nutrition for fruit and vegetable based food products. Various researchers have worked on the development of printable ink, stability of printed products and quality parameters. The aim of this review is to cover the most recent advancements on 3D food printing for fruits and vegetables and explore the prospect. Extrusion-based 3D printing is the most extensively used technique due to their several advantages. The review examines the three groups of extrusion printing such as room temperature extrusion, fused deposition manufacturing and gel forming extrusion. The development in last few years in the area of 3D food products of fruits and vegetables powder has been assembled in this review article. Based on these results, it can conclude that fruit and vegetable has been successfully used to fabricate 3D and even 4D food products. Future studies are required for improvement in pre and post-processing technique. Functional food can also be developed by using 3D printing but more research is required in this area. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-022-05386-4.

Application of ultrasonication as pre-treatment for freeze drying: An innovative approach for the retention of nutraceutical quality in foods.

Freeze drying (FD) is an important and highly effective technology in food industry for retaining the quality in final dried product. This drying technique is performed at lower temperatures, restricting the damage suffered by thermally sensitive ingredients. However, FD consumes large amount of energy and required more time than conventional drying methods. The utilization of ultrasonic technology (US) as pre-treatment before FD represents a promising alternative in accelerating the drying process, decreases energy consumption and maintaining quality as compared to the non pre-treated sample. This review summarizes research progress and current studies in ultrasonic as pre-treatment for freeze drying (US + FD) technique. The impact of US + FD on phytochemical, color, texture and micro-structure of food are well summarized. The review also suggests that the optimised US treatment parameters are required to improve heat and mass transfer in food samples which help in speed up the drying process and reduction of drying time.

Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) polysaccharides: Extraction, characterization, bioactivities, and industrial application.

Owing to numerous biological activities of different parts of Moringa oleifera Lam., various studies have been carried out to isolate and explore the activities of its various bioactive compounds including polysaccharides. Polysaccharides of M. oleifera have been reported to possess a variety of biofunctionalities including antihyperlipidemic, anti-diabetic, immunomodulatory, antihypertensive and gastrointestinal protection. In addition to bioactive polysaccharides, the gum exudated by stem of this plant is of commercial importance with wide range of applications in pharmaceutical industries. Various extraction and purification methods as well as combination of methods have been used to isolate and purify moringa polysaccharides. Studies suggest that extraction methods influence the structure of polysaccharides and thus their biological activity. This review summarizes all the available literature to provide updated information related to extraction, purification, modification, structural characterization, bioactivities and potential applications of moringa polysaccharides. This review will provide novel insights for future research and applications of moringa polysaccharides.

Mucilages: sources, extraction methods, and characteristics for their use as encapsulation agents.

The increasing interest in the use of natural ingredients has driven keen research and commercial interest in the use of mucilages for a range of applications. Typically, mucilages are polysaccharide hydrocolloids with distinct physicochemical and structural diversity, possessing characteristic functional and health benefits. Apart from their role as binding, thickening, stabilizing, and humidifying agents, they are valued for their antimicrobial, antihypertensive, antioxidant, antiasthmatic, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic activities. The focus of this review is to present the range of mucilages that have been explored as encapsulating agents. Encapsulation of food ingredients, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical ingredients is an attractive technique to enhance the stability of targeted compounds, apart from providing benefits on delivery characteristics. The most widely adopted conventional and emerging extraction and purification methods are explained and supplemented with information on the key criteria involved in characterizing the physicochemical and functional properties of mucilages. The unique traits and benefits of using mucilages as encapsulation agents are detailed with the different methods used by researchers to encapsulate different food and bioactive compounds.

Use of microalgal biomass as functional ingredient for preparation of cereal based extrudates: impact of processing on amino acid concentrations and colour degradation kinetics

Abstract Suitability of developing Spirulina incorporated cereal based low cost nutritious extrudates was analysed against extrusion processing parameters. Most significant extrusion processing parameters considered for present study were feed moisture (20-25%), die temperature (100-120 °C) and screw speed (50-100 rpm). Different extrusion conditions were used to obtain most acceptable rice: Spirulina blend extrudates. In present study before extrusion processing different additives (citric acid and sodium bicarbonate) were added in rice: Spirulina blend and checked its effect on colour degradation kinetics at varied packaging and storage conditions. Higher screw speed (100 rpm) indicating less residence time of feed material inside the barrel resulted in higher colour retention of rice: Spirulina (97:03) blend extrudates. Kinetics for rice: Spirulina (97:03) blend extrudates indicates faster rate of colour degradation in terms of lightness (half-life of 4 days) when packed in metalized polyethylene at 50°C with 65% relative humidity. Increased concentration of Spirulina (1-3%) in raw formulations resulted in increase in concentration of all amino acids. Impact of extrusion processing has shown non-significant (p ≤ 0.05) effect on amino acid concentrations of rice: Spirulina blend extrudates. Also, all the spirulina added samples showed good consumer acceptability with the score of 6.7

Ultrasonic treatment: A cohort review on bioactive compounds, allergens and physico-chemical properties of food.

Implementation of ultrasonic for the extraction of bioactive compounds and retention of physico-chemical properties is an important technology. This technology applies physical and chemical phenomena for the extraction of compounds. Ultrasonic assisted extraction causes less damaging effect on quality properties of food as compared to the conventional extraction technique. The present review article focuses on the degradation of various bioactive compounds as a result of ultra-sonication which include vitamins, carotenoids and phenolic compounds. This review article also discusses the influence of ultrasonic extraction on the physico-chemical properties of extracted food products. In addition, the paper explores the effect of ultrasonication on food allergenicity through changes in solubility, hydrophobicity, molecular weight as well as conformational changes of the allergens, a direct result of increase in temperature and pressure during cavitation process.

Integrated effect of radiation processing and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on shelf life of fresh fig.

Fresh figs have less shelf life due to the growth of yeasts and molds. The study aimed at extending the shelf life of fresh fig with the help of irradiation and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). Effects of irradiation and MAP on the quality and shelf life of fresh fig were evaluated. Combined effect of irradiation and MAP on the quality of fresh fig was also studied. To optimize irradiation dose, 1, 2, 3 and 4 kGy doses were given to fresh fig. Firmness and overall acceptability of fresh fig were minimally affected by 1 kGy irradiation dose. Whereas, 2, 3 and 4 kGy had negative effects on firmness and overall acceptability score. Thus, 0.5 and 1 kGy were selected to evaluate the combined effect of irradiation and MAP. Fresh figs were packed in an atmosphere of 5% O2, 10% CO2, 85% N2 and irradiated at 0.5 and 1 kGy doses. These atmospheric packed irradiated samples were stored at 5 °C for 15 days. Physico-chemical parameters, microbial quality and overall acceptability were monitored throughout the storage period at the interval of 5 days. Irradiation treatment did not prevent the firmness of fresh fig. Significant dissimilarities were observed between the irradiated and control fresh fig for all the parameters considered. The results indicated that MAP followed by irradiation doses of 0.5 and 1 kGy showed the best results for improving the quality and shelf-life of fresh fig.

Effects of hydrogen peroxide, modified atmosphere and their combination on quality of minimally processed cluster beans.

The aim of this study was to determine the potential of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on quality of fresh-cut cluster beans. Fresh-cut cluster beans were dipped in a solution of 2% H2O2 for 2 min, packed in an atmosphere of (5% O2, 10% CO2, 85% N2) and stored in polypropylene bags at 5 °C for 35 days. Passive MAP was created by consuming O2 and producing CO2 by fresh-cut cluster beans. The combined effect of H2O2 and MAP on physico-chemical analysis (Headspace gas, weight loss, chlorophyll, hardness and color), microbial quality (mesophilic aerobics and yeasts and molds) and sensory analysis were studied. Chemical treatment and MAP both are equally effective in extending the shelf life at 5 °C for 28 days. Hence, MAP can be an alternative for chemical treatment to achieve a shelf life of 28 days for fresh-cut cluster beans. Control samples, without chemical treatment and modified atmosphere, stored at 5 °C were spoiled after 14 days. Chemical treatment followed by MAP underwent minimum changes in weight, chlorophyll, hardness and color of fresh-cut cluster beans. Combination treatment gives a storage life of 35 days.