Optimization and Characterization of Protein Extraction from Asparagus Leafy By-Products.

Asparagus production generates significant amounts of by-products during the summer and post-harvest growth period. By-products can be good sources of nutrients and phytochemicals. The interest in increasing the availability of proteins for human consumption has led to the use of new plant sources rich in proteins. The objective of this study was to use response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize the aqueous extraction process of proteins from asparagus leafy by-products, for the production of new protein ingredients. The optimum extraction condition was at pH 9, with 40 min of extraction at 50 °C, and the concentration was fixed at 5 g·L-1. The isolate obtained presented 90.48% protein with 43.47% protein yield. Amino acids such as alanine, proline, valine, leucine/isoleucine, asparagine, and phenylalanine were identified, and the antioxidant activity for 2,2 AZINO BIS (3-ethylbenzo thiazoline 6 sulfonic acid diammonium salt) was 145.76 equivalent to Trolox µmol.100g-1 and for DPPH 65.21 equivalent to Trolox µmol.100g-1. The product presented favorable technological properties (water absorption capacity 4.49 g·g-1 and oil absorption capacity 3.47 g·g-1) and the color tended towards dark green (L* 31.91, a* -1.01, b* -2.11). The protein isolate obtained through the extraction optimization process showed high potential to be used as a protein ingredient.

High Value-Added Products from Food Waste.

Knowledge and use of technologies can transform waste into sustainable solutions [...].

Brewing by-product valorisation: trub debittered for nutritional and quality improvement of pasta.

Trub, a brewing by-product, can be used as alternative ingredient for foods nutritional enrichment after its bitter compounds extraction. Study presents the optimisation of bitter compounds extraction from trub by Box-Behnken design, and use of debittered trub (DT) as new ingredient to enrich pasta. Bitterness extraction process was evaluated at different pH levels, time and extraction steps, and physical-chemical properties of DT (obtained under optimal conditions) were evaluated. Pasta was enriched with DT (5%, 10% and 15%) and its physical-chemical and quality properties were evaluated. Protein structure and chemical composition of trub were altered after process, also modifying its technological properties. Pasta with 10% DT increased in 33.51% protein content. Interaction of DT and wheat proteins resulted in a more compact structure, and DT water absorption capacity provided pasta texture changes. DT use improved pasta nutritional and quality properties, enabling trub valorisation and its use as vegetable proteins alternative source.

Acacia mearnsii gum: A residue as an alternative gum Arabic for food stabilizer.

Acacia mearnsii gum is not commercially exploited, being characterized as residue from A. mearnsii cultivation. This work investigated the A. mearnsii gum polysaccharide composition, its cytotoxicity and the technological effect as a stabilizer in ice cream. A. mearnsii gum showed a similar chemical structure to commercial gum Arabic and did not decrease the viability and proliferation of fibroblast cells (Balb/3T3) and hepatocarcinoma (HepG2). Rheological tests showed that the ice cream stabilized by the A. mearnsii gum had a more structured system (more interactions between the mixture components) and the same melting characteristics as the ice cream samples made with commercial gum Arabic. The results showed that A. mearnsii gum, which is actually an agro-industrial residue from tannin production for industry, is a potential stabilizing gum for the food industry, contributing to the economic development of the exploitation chain of A. mearnsii products and by-products.

Use of asparagus flour from non-commercial plants (residue) for functional pasta production: Asparagus flour for functional pasta production.

The objective this study was enrich a pasta with non-commercial asparagus flour (AF). Six treatments were prepared: control (without AF), with 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% of AF. Analyzes of antioxidants and bioactive compounds of AF and pasta, and the quality of pasta (color, optimal cooking time, water absorption capacity, cooking loss, texture and centesimal composition) were evaluated. The higher content of polyphenols and flavonoids were found in P25, as well as higher antioxidant activity. The addition of AF influenced the pasta color, decreasing the L* and a*, and increasing b* (p < 0.05). T he cooking time, water absorption, cohesiveness and springiness decreased with an increasing of AF (p < 0.05). The cooking loss, firmness, hardness and protein content increased with AF addition (p < 0.05). Thus, AF can be used to give an adequate destination to asparagus residue and has a potential application for the enrichment with protein and bioactive compounds of pasta.

Effect of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil.) addition on the functional and technological characteristics of fresh cheese.

Milk components have the ability to interact with functional compounds, such as polyphenols. This may result in altered biological activity of the compounds, and changes in the technological properties of dairy products. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of the addition of yerba mate (YM) on the physico-chemical and sensory properties of fresh cheese (FC) during storage (21 days). Different concentrations of YM were used for FC production: 0.0% (control), 0.5% (FC5), 1.0% (FC10) and 2.0% (FC20); and the bioactive compound concentration, antioxidant activity, color, texture, structure and sensory acceptance were evaluated. YM conferred antioxidant activity to FC; and affected the color, texture and structure. Storage time influenced all evaluated parameters except for color. FCs with 0.5 and 1.0% YM were scored as having higher sensory acceptability than FC with 2.0% YM. However, all supplemented FCs were well accepted by consumers (scores above 6). The YM could represent a source of bioactive compounds to improve the biological activity of dairy products.

Main agents and contamination prevention in animal feed industry: review / Principais agentes envolvidos e formas de prevenção da contaminação na indústria de alimentação animal: revisão / Principales agentes involucrados y formas de prevención de la contaminación en la industria de alimentos para animales: revisión

The main physical, biological and chemical agents involved in cross-contamination are of known origin, generally harmful and toxic, which ends up making the individual have direct or indirect contact with the nutrients used in the manufacturing of animal feed. The knowledge of the causes, as well as their different forms of prevention and corrective actions, allow us to minimize losses in animal yield and possible extra costs in production due to the need to prevent the spread of pests and diseases to human health. Failure in monitoring the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) systems due to lack of trained personnel or bad structural conditions of the industry are the main causes of cross-contamination. In this sense, diagnosing risks and controlling critical points in the production process are essential tools. Thus, this review aims at emphasizing the main forms of cross-contamination in the animal feed industry and the care that must be taken at the factory to minimize cross-contamination.(AU)

Os principais agentes físicos, biológicos e químicos envolvidos na contaminação cruzada são de origem conhecida, geralmente nociva e tóxica, que acabam fazendo com o diretor contato indireto com os nutrientes utilizados na fabricação de alimentos para animais. O conhecimento das causas, formas diferenciadas de prevenção e ações corretivas, permite minimizar as perdas no desempenho animal e, possíveis custos extras de produção, pela necessidade de evitar a propagação de pragas e danos à saúde humana. Falhas no monitoramento das Boas Práticas de Fabricação (BPF), Procedimentos Operacionais Padrão (POPs) e do sistema de Análise de Perigos e Pontos Críticos de Controle (HACCP) por falta de pessoal treinado ou más condições estruturais na indústria do contexto físico são as principais causas da ocorrência de contaminação cruzada. Nesse sentido, diagnosticar riscos e controlar pontos críticos no processo de produção são ferramentas indispensáveis. Dessa forma, o presente artigo de revisão visa destacar as principais formas de contaminação cruzada na indústria de ração animal e os cuidados que devem ser tomados na fábrica para minimizar a contaminação cruzada.(AU)

Los principales agentes físicos, biológicos y químicos involucrados en la contaminación cruzada son de origen conocida, generalmente nociva y tóxica, que terminan haciendo contacto directo o indirecto con los nutrientes utilizados en la fabricación de alimentos para animales. El conocimiento de las causas, las formas diferenciadas de prevención y las acciones correctivas, permiten minimizar las pérdidas en el rendimiento de los animales y, posibles costos extras de producción, por la necesidad de prevenir la propagación de plagas y daños a la salud humana. Fallas en el monitoreo de las Buenas Prácticas de Fabricación (BPF), Procedimientos de Operación Estándar (POE) y del sistema de Análisis de Peligros y Puntos de Control Críticos (HACCP) por falta de personal capacitado, o malas condiciones estructurales en la industria del contexto físico, son las principales causas de la ocurrencia de contaminación cruzada. En ese aspecto, diagnosticar los riesgos y controlar los puntos críticos en el proceso de producción son herramientas indispensables. Así, el presente artículo de revisión pretende evidenciar las principales formas de contaminación cruzada en la industria de alimentación animal y los cuidados que deben ser tomados en la fábrica para minimizar la contaminación cruzada.(AU)