Structural, rheological, and gelling characteristics of starch-based materials in context to 3D food printing applications in precision nutrition.

Starch-based materials have viscoelasticity, viscous film-forming, dough pseudoplasticity, and rheological properties, which possess the structural characteristics (crystal structure, double helix structure, and layered structure) suitable for three-dimensional (3D) food printing inks. 3D food printing technology has significant advantages in customizing personalized and precise nutrition, expanding the range of ingredients, designing unique food appearances, and simplifying the food supply chain. Precision nutrition aims to consider individual nutritional needs and individual differences, which include special food product design and personalized precise nutrition, thus expanding future food resources, then simplifying the food supply chain, and attracting extensive attention in food industry. Different types of starch-based materials with different structures and rheological properties meet different 3D food printing technology requirements. Starch-based materials suitable for 3D food printing technology can accurately deliver and release active substances or drugs. These active substances or drugs have certain regulatory effects on the gut microbiome and diabetes, so as to maintain personalized and accurate nutrition.

Determination of beef tenderness based on airflow pressure combined with structural light three-dimensional (3D) vision technology.

The main factor affecting beef quality, consumer satisfaction, and purchase decisions is beef tenderness. In this study, a rapid nondestructive testing method for beef tenderness based on airflow pressure combined with structural light 3D vision technology was proposed. The structural light 3D camera was used to scan the 3D point cloud deformation information of the beef surface after the airflow acted on it for 1.8 s. Six deformation characteristics and three point cloud characteristics of the beef surface depression region were obtained by using denoising, point cloud rotation, point cloud segmentation, point cloud descending sampling, alphaShape, and other algorithms. A total of nine characteristics were mainly concentrated in the first five principal components (PCs). Therefore, the first five PCs were put into three different models. The results showed that the Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) model had a comparatively higher prediction effect for the prediction of beef shear force, with a root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 11.1389 and a correlation coefficient (R) of 0.8356. In addition, the correct classification accuracy of the ELM model for tender beef achieved 92.96%. The overall classification accuracy reached 93.33%. Consequently, the proposed methods and technology can be applied for beef tenderness detection.

Beyond one-size-fits-all: Consumers react differently to packaging colors and names of cultured meat in Italy.

Cultured meat, also known as "in-vitro meat," "clean meat," "synthetic meat," "lab-grown meat" and many other nomenclatures, represents one of the most recent controversial food technologies, even with its environmental benefits. Although the market success of cultured meat depends on consumers' acceptance, specific characteristics such as name and packaging color can influence consumers' perceptions and acceptance of the food product. This study assessed the impact of the name and packaging color of cultured meat on consumers' behavioral intentions toward its consumption in Italy. With the assumption that names and packaging colors affect consumers' acceptance differently, according to their characteristics and food neophobia, this study used a finite mixture model to analyze the stimulus impacts across different groups of consumers. The results showed that food neophobia plays a relevant role in individual response to name and packaging color of cultured meat. Less neophobic consumers are more likely to be positively affected in their intentions by green color packaging and nomenclatures that least emphasize the unnaturalness of the product, such as "clean meat," whereas neophobic consumers are more likely to be positively affected only by green color.

Is cultured meat a promising consumer alternative? Exploring key factors determining consumer's willingness to try, buy and pay a premium for cultured meat.

Cultured meat is a relatively new product, enjoying consumer appreciation as a more sustainable meat option. The present study builds on a sample from a diverse set of countries and continents, including China, the US, the UK, France, Spain, Netherlands, New Zealand, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic and uses partial least square structural equation modelling. The proposed conceptual model identified key factors driving and inhibiting consumer willingness to try, buy, and pay a price premium for cultured meat. Results relate to the overall sample of 3091 respondents and two sub-sample comparisons based on gender and meat consumption behaviour. Food neophobia, having food allergies, being a locavore, and having concerns about food technology were found to be inhibiting factors towards willingness to try, buy, and pay a price premium for cultured meat. Food curiosity, meat importance, and a consumer's perception of cultured meat as a realistic alternative to regular meat were found to be important drivers that positively impacted consumers' willingness to try, buy and pay more. Best practice recommendations address issues facing marketing managers in food retail and gastronomy.

Internal structure design for improved shape fidelity and crispness of 3D printed pumpkin-based snacks after freeze-drying.

This study aimed to use the internal design of 3D food printing (3DFP) technology to obtain freeze-dried pumpkin with controllable crispness and higher shape fidelity. Two internal structural variables, namely filling pattern (honeycomb, rectilinear, grid, and triangular) and filling rate (25, 50, 75, and 100%), were studied to assess the impact on the shape fidelity and crispness characteristic of the product. As the filling rate decreased, the printing accuracy of the samples increased. Regardless of the filling patterns, the 75% filled samples exhibited the greatest deformation. The crispness of the samples was closely related to the filling pattern and filling rate. In the case of the high filling rate, the internal structure of the samples was dense. It was less likely to be broken under the action of force and the crispness was reduced. In addition, the internal structure of the sample influenced its physical properties, and the crispness customization of the product can be achieved by designing the porosity. Morphological differences between printed and cast samples suggested that 3DFP was beneficial for the processing and preparation of highly viscoelastic materials. The crispness of cast sample was obviously less than that of the 100% filled printed samples. The results opened an interesting perspective to create crisp foods with high shape fidelity that meet specific texture requirements and provide new sensory perceptions.

Evaluation of lactic acid fermentation in a dairy and non-dairy beverage using two commercial starter cultures / Evaluación de la fermentación láctica en una bebida láctea y no láctea usando dos cultivos iniciadores comerciales

Background: Lactic fermentations are a catabolic process in which biochemical transformations of different organic products occur. Sugars are mainly converted into organic acids, increasing viscosity, acid taste, aroma, and flavor. Lactic acid bacteria provide probiotic characteristics if they reach counts of 106 CFU*g-1 (Colony Forming Units) in the final product, which can generate wellness for consumers. Objective: This research aimed to compare the lactic fermentation process in three substrates using two commercial cultures. Methods: Whole milk (control), aqueous extract of oats flakes, and an aqueous extract of a mixture of oats flakes with mashua pulp were used. The whole milk was heated, and the aqueous extracts were prepared. All samples were divided into two parts, keeping the temperature at 42°C, and then inoculated with Yomix y Choozit. Each the fermentation lasted 6 hours at 42°C. Fermentation samples were taken each hour, and pH, titratable acidity. and Brix degrees were determined. Results: Total lactic acid bacteria were counted at the end of each fermentation. The final product was evaluated with sensory analysis. As expected, there was an increase in titratable acidity, and a decreased pH and Brix degrees. It was observed that the dairy product showed the most significant changes. Fermentations performed with Yomix presented a higher count of lactic bacteria. Conclusion: It is possible to carry out lactic fermentation using substrates that do not contain milk, requiring higher initial soluble solids and a longer incubation time

Antecedentes: Las fermentaciones lácticas son un proceso catabólico en el que ocurren transformaciones bioquímicas de diferentes productos orgánicos. En ellas, los azúcares son convertidos principalmente en ácidos orgánicos, generando adicionalmente el aumento de viscosidad, sabor ácido, aromas y sabores en los productos finales. Adicionalmente, aportan características probióticas, ya que son realizadas por bacterias lácticas, que, si alcanzan recuentos de 106 UFC*g-1 (Unidades formadoras de colonias) en el producto final, generan bienestar para los consumidores. Objetivo: Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo comparar el proceso de fermentación láctica en tres sustratos utilizando dos cultivos comerciales. Métodos: Se utilizó leche entera (control), extracto acuoso de hojuelas de avena y un extracto acuoso de mezcla de hojuelas de avena con pulpa de cubios. Se llevó a cabo el calentamiento de la leche entera, y la preparación de los sustratos de avena y cubios. Dichas muestras se dividieron en dos partes, manteniendo la temperatura a 42°C. Cada una de las muestras fue inoculada con Yomix y Choozit. Cada fermentación duró 6 horas manteniendo una temperatura de 42°C. Durante cada hora se tomaron muestras, a las cuales se evaluó el pH, acidez titulable y grados brix. En los productos finales se realizó el recuento de bacterias lácticas y se realizó una evaluación sensorial. Resultados: A lo largo de la fermentación se presentó el aumento de la acidez titulable, y disminución del pH y los grados Brix. Se observó que el producto a base de leche mostró los cambios más significativos. En el caso de los productos obtenidos usando Yomix, presentaron mayor recuento de bacterias lácticas al ser comparados con aquellos en los que se usó el cultivo 1. Conclusión: Es posible realizar la fermentación láctica usando sustratos que no contengan leche, los cuales requieren mayores sólidos solubles iníciales y un mayor tiempo de incubación

Loss in the Intrinsic Quality and the Antioxidant Activity of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Oil during an Industrial Refining Process.

Minor compounds in vegetable oils are of health interest due to their powerful biological antioxidant properties. In order to extend the shelf life of sunflower oil, it is generally subjected to a refining process that can affect these desirable compounds. The main purpose of this study was to determine the effect of this chemical/physical refining process on selected minor components of sunflower oil in order to establish the nutritional quality and health properties of the oil. The oxidative stability, contents of fatty acids, tocopherols, phytosterols, reducing capacity, ß-carotene, chlorophyll, and squalene were studied during six refining steps. Quantitative data showed the evolution of oil quality according to its degree of refinement. The results showed a significant decrease for all of the minor compounds analyzed, with losses in carotenoids of 98.6%, 8.5% in tocopherols, 19.5% in phytosterols and 45.0% in squalene. The highest reductions were recorded for the compounds that alter the most the visual aspects of the oil (waxes, carotenoids and chlorophylls) whereas reduction was limited for the compounds with no impact on the organoleptic quality. The losses in the compounds of health interest should be minimized by improving the refining processes and/or having a greater content of those molecules in crude oil by breeding new performing varieties.

Effect of Wall Material and Inlet Drying Temperature on Microencapsulation and Oxidative Stability of Pomegranate Seed Oil Using Spray Drying.

Pomegranate seed oil is a highly unsaturated fatty acid and liable to be oxidized; hence, oil was encapsulated to protect its bioactive materials and increase shelf life with the most common spray drying technique. Whey protein (WP) alone and in combination with Maltodextrin (MD) in the ratio 1:4 weight was utilized. Feed emulsion, droplet size, encapsulation efficiency (EE), moisture, bulk density, powder morphology, particle size, hygroscopicity, and solubility were also analyzed. The spray drying conditions were applied: inlet temperature 125 to 150°C and outlet 60 to 67°C, airflow rate 40-42 m3/mint, feed rate 5.2 g/m, and pump rate 40%. The shape of particles was spherical and round with dents on their surface. After encapsulation, the oxidative stability was monitored at 60°C for 15 days (8 h daily). The smaller droplet size of the emulsion was obtained at 35% total solid contents. WP alone showed better EE (90%) and oxidative stability than the combination of WP and MD as wall materials.

New Method for Obtaining a Bioactive Essence Extracted from Iberian Ham Fat Rich in MUFA and Antioxidants.

Iberian ham is one of the most representative Spanish products and presents an excellent nutritional and sensory quality. Iberian ham trimming fat is considered a by-product and to give a new use to this remaining part could represent a healthy and innovative option for obtaining sustainable foods. The purpose of this work was to obtain a new bioactive ingredient from Iberian ham trimming fat with the highest amount of antioxidants and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), using a new non-invasive solvent-free method. To obtain the essence, two different extraction procedures were carried out. After fatty acid characterization, degree of acidity, peroxide index and a basic sensory analysis were performed. Antioxidant in vitro activity and total phenolic compounds (TPC) were also determined. This new ingredient showed a better sensory profile than raw ham fat, a lower degree of acidity, a higher content of MUFAs, and also showed a higher antioxidant capacity and an increase in phenolic compounds compared to the raw material. This bioactive essence could be used as a food, a cosmetic or a nutraceutical ingredient to prevent certain diseases related to oxidative stress and could also contribute to the maintenance of the circular economy.

Tocopherol contents and antioxidant activity in grape pomace after fermentation and alcohol distillation.

The wine industry in Georgia produces vast amounts of grape pomace that is currently mostly wasted, while only a minor amount is used for distilling alcohol. The study was carried out on the grape pomace from the three most widely used grapevine sorts (Vitis vinifera var. Rkatsiteli, V. vinifera var. Saperavi, V. labrusca var. Isabella)  in Georgia, and quantities of tocopherols and antioxidants were evaluated. The antioxidant activity was assessed by diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and measurement of visible light absorption at 515 nm, and tocopherol was measured by absorption at 470 nm via a spectrophotometer. The results indicated that the grape pomace contains considerable tocopherols and antioxidant activity. However, the antioxidant activity had slightly been decreased. These results suggest that grape pomace can be an economically attractive resource for the pharmaceutical and food industries. Utilization of grape pomace for producing pharmaceutical and cosmetic goods with tocopherol and antioxidants can solve two problems: it can recycle waste and develop new profitable businesses in biotechnology.

Isolation and Characterization of Tissue Resident CD29-Positive Progenitor Cells in Livestock to Generate a Three-Dimensional Meat Bud.

The current process of meat production using livestock has significant effects on the global environment, including high emissions of greenhouse gases. In recent years, cultured meat has attracted attention as a way to acquire animal proteins. However, the lack of markers that isolate proliferating cells from bovine tissues and the complex structure of the meat make it difficult to culture meat in a dish. In this study, we screened 246 cell-surface antibodies by fluorescence-activated cell sorting for their capacity to form colonies and their suitability to construct spheroid "meat buds". CD29+ cells (Ha2/5 clone) have a high potency to form colonies and efficiently proliferate on fibronectin-coated dishes. Furthermore, the meat buds created from CD29+ cells could differentiate into muscle and adipose cells in a three-dimensional structure. The meat buds embedded in the collagen gel proliferated in the matrix and formed large aggregates. Approximately 10 trillion cells can theoretically be obtained from 100 g of bovine tissue by culturing and amplifying them using these methods. The CD29+ cell characteristics of bovine tissue provide insights into the production of meat alternatives in vitro.

Application of Oleogel and Conventional Fats for Ultrasound-assisted Obtaining of Vegan Creams.

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the fat system type (milk fat - MF, palm oil - PO or oleogel - OG, i.e. RO-LO - rapeseed oil and linseed oil mixture structured by candelilla wax) on the properties of soy creams, in comparison with dairy cream. The MF exhibited the most increase of acid value (2.5-fold), and the RO-LO - increase of peroxide value (3-fold), after 30 days of storage at 20°C. The PO was the most oxidative stable. The OG presented the slightest oxidative changes, the highest slip melting point (39°C) and centrifugal stability (99.6%). The pH and total acidity values of soy creams were similar to soy drink. All creams exhibited unimodal distribution of dispersed particles. The average particle size and dispersity indexes of these emulsions were in range of 1.74-1.80 µm and 0.93-1.16, respectively. The creams with MF or OG exhibited a greater viscosity than sweet dairy cream - 1.66 10-5 nm-2, and a higher degree of shear-thinning. The accelerated creaming phenomenon (flotation of lipids molecules) occurred during centrifugation. The cream with PO had the lowest resistance to centrifugal force (instability index - 0.052). The possibility to obtain a stable vegan soy creams containing oleogel (as replacer of conventional fats) has been demonstrated.

Changes in the Antioxidative Activity and the Content of Phenolics and Iridoids during Fermentation and Aging of Natural Fruit Meads.

The aim of the study was to investigate changes in the content of biologically active compounds during the fermentation and aging of natural meads with the addition of three Cornelian cherry juices from three cultivars: 'Koralovyi', 'Podolski' and 'Yantarnyi', in the amount of 10% v/v. After the fermentation process the content of gallic and ellagic acids significantly increased, in relation to wort. Whereas the greatest losses were observed among unstable anthocyanins. The three-month aging process also reduced the content of the analyzed compounds except for ellagic acid, the content of which increased by up to 90%. The content of biologically active compounds, including iridoids and antioxidant phenolics, are constantly changing in the process of fermentation and aging of fruit meads. The studies proved that the addition of Cornelian cherry juice allows significantly enriched classic meads with new biologically active compounds, such as: exceptional iridoids (loganic acid, cornuside, loganine, sweroside), flavonols, phenolic acids and anthocyanins.

Nontargeted 1 H NMR fingerprinting and multivariate statistical analysis for traceability of Greek PDO Vostizza currants.

In this study, non-targeted 1 H NMR fingerprinting was used in combination with multivariate statistical analyses for the classification of Greek currants based on their geographical origins (Aeghion, Nemea, Kalamata, Zante, and Amaliada). As classification techniques, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) were carried out. To elucidate different components according to PDO (Protected Designation of Origin), products from Aeghion (Vostizza) were statistically compared with each one of the four other regions. PLS-DA plots ensure that currants from Kalamata, Nemea, Zante, and Amaliada are well classified with respect to the PDO currants, according to differences observed in metabolites. Results suggest that composition differences in carbohydrates, amino, and organic acids of currants are sufficient to discriminate them in correlation to their geographical origin. In conclusion, currants metabolites which mostly contribute to classification performance of such discriminant analysis model present a suitable alternative technique for currants traceability. The study results contribute information to the currants' metabolite fingerprinting by NMR spectroscopy and their geographical origin. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study presents an analytical approach for a high nutritional value Greek PDO product, Vostizza currant. A further research and implementation of this method in food industry, can be the key to food fraud incidents. Thus, application of this work opens up posibilities to "farm to table" mission.

Single nucleotide polymorphism-based methodology for authentication of bovine, caprine, ovine, camel, and donkey meat cuts.

To guarantee food safetyand sustainability, it is necessary to verify meat authenticity. This study focused on the development of single nucleotide polymorphism-based polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (SNP-based PCR-RFLP) and forensically informative nucleotide sequence (FINS) methodologies based on PCR amplification of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene for discrimination of six red meat species, that is, cattle, buffalo, goat, sheep, camel, and donkey. FINS allowed the unambiguous identification of all species analyzed. In addition, six SNPs, where a restriction site for TasI could be localized using a preliminary in silico analysis, gave a unique RFLP pattern for each species. The results revealed a low level of species substitution (8%) in the tested meat samples. In particular, one buffalo and goat samples have been substituted with cow and sheep, respectively. Finally, the developed techniques herein showed high potentials to be routinely used as reliable and fast tools to avoid meat species substitutions. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This research deals with genetic techniques to trace meats. This kind of research helps the concerned agencies to build capacity to safeguard consumer sentiments as well as providing better market access and better food price and quality for the consumer.

Starch-based materials encapsulating food ingredients: Recent advances in fabrication methods and applications.

Encapsulation systems have gained significant interest in designing innovative foods, as they allow for the protection and delivery of food ingredients that have health benefits but are unstable during processing, storage and in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Starch is widely available, cheap, biodegradable, edible, and easy to be modified, thus highly suitable for the development of encapsulants. Much efforts have been made to fabricate various types of porous starch and starch particles using different techniques (e.g. enzymatic hydrolysis, aggregation, emulsification, electrohydrodynamic process, supercritical fluid process, and post-processing drying). Such starch-based systems can load, protect, and deliver various food ingredients (e.g. fatty acids, phenolic compounds, carotenoids, flavors, essential oils, irons, vitamins, probiotics, bacteriocins, co-enzymes, and caffeine), exhibiting great potentials in developing foods with tailored flavor, nutrition, sensory properties, and shelf-life. This review surveys recent advances in different aspects of starch-based encapsulation systems including their forms, manufacturing techniques, and applications in foods.

Non-Saccharomyces as Biotools to Control the Production of Off-Flavors in Wines.

Off-flavors produced by undesirable microbial spoilage are a major concern in wineries, as they affect wine quality. This situation is worse in warm areas affected by global warming because of the resulting higher pHs in wines. Natural biotechnologies can aid in effectively controlling these processes, while reducing the use of chemical preservatives such as SO2. Bioacidification reduces the development of spoilage yeasts and bacteria, but also increases the amount of molecular SO2, which allows for lower total levels. The use of non-Saccharomyces yeasts, such as Lachancea thermotolerans, results in effective acidification through the production of lactic acid from sugars. Furthermore, high lactic acid contents (>4 g/L) inhibit lactic acid bacteria and have some effect on Brettanomyces. Additionally, the use of yeasts with hydroxycinnamate decarboxylase (HCDC) activity can be useful to promote the fermentative formation of stable vinylphenolic pyranoanthocyanins, reducing the amount of ethylphenol precursors. This biotechnology increases the amount of stable pigments and simultaneously prevents the formation of high contents of ethylphenols, even when the wine is contaminated by Brettanomyces.

Development and Physicochemical Properties of Low Saturation Alternative Fat for Whipping Cream.

We developed an alternative whipping cream fat using shea butter but with low saturation. Enriched stearic-oleic-stearic (SOS) solid fat was obtained from shea butter via solvent fractionation. Acyl migration reactant, which mainly contains asymmetric SSO triacylglycerol (TAG), was prepared through enzymatic acyl migration to obtain the creaming quality derived from the ß'-crystal form. Through enzymatic acyl migration, we obtained a 3.4-fold higher content of saturated-saturated-unsaturated (SSU) TAG than saturated-unsaturated-saturated (SUS) TAG. The acyl migration reactant was refined to obtain refined acyl migration reactant (RAMR). An alternative fat product was prepared by blending RAMR and hydrogenated palm kernel oil (HPKO) at a ratio of 4:6 (w/w). The melting points, solid fat index (SFI), and melting curves of the alternative products were similar to those of commercial whipping cream fat. The alternative fat had a content of total unsaturated fatty acids 20% higher than that of HPKO. The atherogenic index (AI) of alternative fat was 3.61, much lower than those of whipping cream fat (14.59) and HPKO (1220.3), because of its low atherogenic fatty acid content and high total unsaturated fatty acids. The polymorphic crystal form determined by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy showed that the ß'-crystal form was predominant. Therefore, the alternative fat is comparable with whipping cream that requires creaming quality, and has a reduced saturated fat content.

Physicochemical and Quality Properties of Dried Courgette Slices: Impact of Vacuum Impregnation and Drying Methods.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects that the type of impregnating solution and drying method (freeze drying (FD) and vacuum drying (VD) at 45 °C and convective drying (CD) at 50, 60, and 70 °C) had on the physicochemical and quality properties of courgettes. Courgette slices were vacuum-impregnated (6 kPa) in freshly squeezed onion, kale, and onion and kale (50:50) juices with 3% NaCl solution (N). The application of vacuum impregnation (VI) with impregnating solutions from freshly squeezed onions and kale had a beneficial effect on the bioactive values of courgette. The highest contents of quercetin (41.84 µg/g d.m.) and carotenoids (276.04 µg/g d.m.) were found in courgette impregnated with onion juice after freeze drying. The highest values of lutein and zeaxanthin (216.42 µg/g d.m.) were recorded for courgette impregnated with kale juice and convective dried. By analysing the kinetics of convective drying, the best matching of the logistic model was found. Increasing the drying process temperature from 50 to 70 °C reduced the drying time from 15% to 36%, depending on the type of impregnating solution used. Water activity < 0.6 was recorded for courgette dried by freezing, vacuum, and convection at 60 and 70 °C. Conclusions: The vacuum impregnation process and the impregnation solutions from freshly squeezed vegetables can be used to develop new snacks with high levels of bioactive compounds. The FD method is the most appropriate considering both the bioactive compounds content and the obtained colour and water activity.

Microencapsulation of Bioactive Ingredients for Their Delivery into Fermented Milk Products: A Review.

The popularity and consumption of fermented milk products are growing. On the other hand, consumers are interested in health-promoting and functional foods. Fermented milk products are an excellent matrix for the incorporation of bioactive ingredients, making them functional foods. To overcome the instability or low solubility of many bioactive ingredients under various environmental conditions, the encapsulation approach was developed. This review analyzes the fortification of three fermented milk products, i.e., yogurt, cheese, and kefir with bioactive ingredients. The encapsulation methods and techniques alongside the encapsulant materials for carotenoids, phenolic compounds, omega-3, probiotics, and other micronutrients are discussed. The effect of encapsulation on the properties of bioactive ingredients themselves and on textural and sensory properties of fermented milk products is also presented.