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Topic Review
Precooling and Cold Storage for Fruits and Vegetables
Cold chain systems, such as cold storages, are crucial to minimizing postharvest losses of fresh fruits and vegetables. Cold storage alone cannot prevent crop losses, but should be considered as one component that needs to be integrated into a cold chain network from the point of harvest to the point of purchase by the consumer. Cold chains are still in their infancy in developing countries due to the lack of basic infrastructure and management skills needed to support the development of integrated cold chain systems.
  • 4.3K
  • 08 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Peptide/Protein Self-Assembly and Aggregation
The self-assembly of proteins is an essential process for a variety of cellular functions including cell respiration, mobility and division. On the other hand, protein or peptide misfolding and aggregation is related to the development of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, among other aggregopathies.
  • 4.2K
  • 11 Nov 2020
Topic Review
DNA-Based Methods in Identification of Fish Species
Various methods, differing in their principle and detected target molecules, can be used for fish species identification and adulteration detection. Parvalbumin detection has been preferred, but this is quite demanding compared to other food allergens because of its high biochemical and immunological variability among fish species and differing thermostability. This in itself sidelines the use of some types of methods, e.g., proteomic ones, and favors DNA-based methods, whose target, DNA, is not destroyed by the processing. Using DNA analysis, for example, a common form of adulteration—replacing the species (a more expensive one with a cheaper one)—can be detected. Additionally, DNA-based methods have the potential to detect the consumer being misled about the fish’s origin, another common type of adulteration. This is even more relevant, since genetically modified (GM) fish can be bought on the world market. Even though GM organisms do not pose a threat to public health and their quality is no different, consumers should be informed about the content of GM products, and because the public can be skeptical about GM products, sellers may want to hide this information and deliberately deceive the consumer.
  • 4.2K
  • 20 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Frying
Frying is one of the oldest unit operations to produce food products with a crisp texture, an aromatic flavour and a golden-brown colour. Deep-fried foods such as French fries, potato/veggie crisps are popular among consumers. Detailed insights into the frying process in terms of heat, mass (water and oil) and momentum transfers are outlined in this entry.
  • 4.1K
  • 28 Jul 2020
Topic Review
Haze in Beer
Beer is one of the oldest and also most widely consumed alcoholic beverages. It is a kind of colloid solution with complex composition and weak stability. The haze formation in beer is a serious quality problem, as it primarily affects the shelf life and flavor of beer. Hazes are caused by suspended insoluble particles of colloidal or larger size that can be perceived visually or by instruments.
  • 4.1K
  • 06 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Medicinal Value of Dandelion
The genus Taraxacum is part of the Asteraceae family of the Cichorioideae subfamily, Lactuceae tribe. This plant's geographical distribution is usually around the warm areas of the Northern Hemisphere and its users have been cherishing it for its curative properties since ancient times. Reports show that traditional medicine practitioners used Taraxacum officinale L. for treating dyspepsia, spleen, liver disorders, hepatitis, and anorexia. Aqueous extracts of dandelion were also used traditionally through Asia, Europe, and North America for treating different types of cancer like leukemia and breast cancer, even if their working mechanisms were unknown. The main reported components of dandelions consist of phenolic acids (chicoric, caffeic, and chlorogenic acids), terpenes (taraxacoside, ainslioside, taraxinic acid), and storage carbohydrates (inulin), which are thought to be accountable for the plant’s health-related properties. This entry is based on a literature review and highlights the beneficial and therapeutic action of dandelion extracts and their confirmed or hypothesized mechanism of action in diabetes, hepatic disorders, and cardiovascular disease, as indicated by the results of in vivo an in vitro studies, on cell lines, human and animal models.
  • 4.1K
  • 10 May 2021
Topic Review
Single Cell Protein
Single cell protein (SCP) is the first product of the fermentation process and has proven to be a good protein alternative. Food competition is becoming more intense as the world’s population continues to grow. Soon, SCP may be able to compensate for a protein deficit. Various global businesses are focusing on SCP production, and the scope of its application is expanding as time and knowledge increases.
  • 4.1K
  • 30 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Metal Oxide Semiconductor Gas Sensors in Food Industry
Volatile compounds not only contribute to the distinct flavors and aromas found in foods and beverages, but can also serve as indicators for spoilage, contamination, or the presence of potentially harmful substances. As the odor of food raw materials and products carries valuable information about their state, gas sensors play a pivotal role in ensuring food safety and quality at various stages of its production and distribution. Among gas detection devices that are widely used in the food industry, metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) gas sensors are of the greatest importance. Ongoing research and development efforts have led to significant improvements in their performance, rendering them immensely useful tools for monitoring and ensuring food product quality.
  • 4.0K
  • 05 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Phenolic Compounds and Its Linkage
Medicinal plants, along with cereals, fruits, herbs, and vegetables, are the main sources of phenolic compounds, of which nearly 10,000 have been reported in nature to date. They are secondary metabolites produced by plants to protect them from abiotic factors (e.g., drought, extreme temperatures, floods, heavy metals, pH, radiation, salinity, and soils) and biotic factors, such as animals and pathogens attack.
  • 4.0K
  • 29 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Rabbit Meat Production
Rabbit meat could play an important role in health, the rural economy, and sustainable development. Rabbit meat has excellent nutritional features, such as high protein content, low-fat content, and a high percentage of unsaturated fatty acids, low cholesterol and sodium levels. In addition, rabbit meat production contributes to maintaining economic activities in rural marginal areas.
  • 4.0K
  • 10 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Milk Fat Globule Membrane (MFGM)
Milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) is an important component of milk lipids that showed several biological properties (such as anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticholesterolemic activities). In this review we analyse the latest results obtained from comparative proteomic studies regarding the variations and the similarities of MFGM proteome across species and lactation stages. Infant formula supplementation with MFGM represents an interesting opportunity to implement the bioactive properties exerted by MFGM, in order to narrow the gap between human breast milk and infant formula. 
  • 3.9K
  • 27 Sep 2020
Topic Review
Potato Proteins
About 35-45 % of all soluble potato proteins are fractions of albumin and globulin characterised by high molecular weight in the range of 40-45 kDa and high nutritive value, comparable to proteins of animal origin. They are soluble in water and in water and salt solutions, respectively; these are patatin glycoproteins, with a pIs in the range of 4.8–5.2. The second large group of potato proteins comprise fractions of protease inhibitors with a molecular weight in the range of 7–21 kDa, mostly acid soluble; they are often heat-resistant, showing a wide spectrum of healthpromoting effects, such as antimicrobial or antitumor, as well as antioxidant and antiradical. Properties of potato proteins depend strictly on the method of isolation and the applied factors, such as pH, ionic strength and temperature.
  • 3.9K
  • 26 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Mycotoxin Control in Foods
Mycotoxins are the most well-known food contaminants causing significant damage to both human and animal health. The main producers of mycotoxins are the fungi of the genera of Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, Claviceps and Alternaria. Due to the serious toxicological effects of consuming mycotoxin contaminated foods, it is necessary to control them. In order to control mycotoxin contamination, two key strategies are followed.These strategies mainly focus on the prevention of mycotoxins and detoxification. The implementation of pre- and post-harvest control systems includes good agricultural practices (GAPs), good manufacturing practices (GMPs), appropriate environmental factors, favorable storage practices and biological, chemical and physical methods as decontamination and detoxification strategies.
  • 3.9K
  • 27 Aug 2020
Topic Review
Bioemulsifiers and Its Applications in Food Industry
Bioemulsifiers have a larger molecular weight than biosurfactants, because they are complex mixes of lipopolysaccharides, lipoproteins, heteropolysaccharides, and proteins. Due to their functional capabilities and eco-friendly properties, bioemulsifiers (BE) are regarded as multifunctional biomolecules of the twenty-first century. Numerous microorganisms produce bioemulsifiers under a variety of diverse and extreme environmental conditions. Bioemulsifiers are widely used in a variety of industries, including medicine, petroleum, food, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, textiles, and cosmetics.
  • 3.9K
  • 12 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Edible Coatings
Edible coatings have been intensively developed and studied because of their capacity to improve the quality, shelf life, safety, and functionality of the treated products. Edible coatings can be applied through different techniques, like dipping, spraying, or coating, in order to control moisture transfer, gas exchange, or oxidative processes. Furthermore, some functional ingredients can be incorporated into an edible matrix and applied on the surface of foods, thus enhancing safety or even nutritional and sensory attributes. In the case of coated fruits and vegetables, their quality parameters, such as color, firmness, microbial load, decay ratio, weight loss, sensorial attributes, and nutritional parameters, are very specific to the type of products and their storage conditions should be carefully monitored.
  • 3.8K
  • 06 Jan 2022
Topic Review
The Toxic Impact of Honey Adulteration
Honey is characterized as a natural and raw foodstuff that can be consumed not only as a sweetener but also as medicine due to its therapeutic impact on human health. It is prone to adulterants caused by humans that manipulate the quality of honey. Honey adulterants are any substances that are added to the pure honey. 
  • 3.8K
  • 09 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Citrus Uses in the Food Industry
Citrus fruits occupy an important position in the context of the fruit trade, considering that both fresh fruits and processed products are produced on a large scale. Citrus fruits are recognized as an essential component of the human diet, thanks to their high content of beneficial nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, terpenes, flavonoids, coumarins and dietary fibers. Among these, a wide range of positive biological activities are attributed to terpenes and flavonoids derivatives.
  • 3.7K
  • 03 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) has been firstly introduced and proposed for analytical applications almost immediately after the invention of the laser in 1960. Since then, it has been proposed and today is widely used as an alternative analytical method for numerous applications. The operating principle of LIBS is quite simple and is based on the interaction of a powerful enough laser beam, focused usually on or in a sample, inducing a dielectric breakdown of the material, thus resulting in plasma formation consisting of excited and non-excited atoms and molecules, fragments of molecular species, electrons and ions, and emitting characteristic radiations, whose spectroscopic analysis can in principle provide the elemental composition fingerprint of the material. The required instrumentation consisting basically of a laser source, and a spectrometer/monochromator equipped with the appropriate light detector (nowadays being almost exclusively some CCD or ICCD type detector) is relatively simple and economically affordable, while significant progresses have been achieved to small size and/or portable equipment, facilitating largely the in situ operation.
  • 3.7K
  • 31 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Chemical Composition of Kombucha
Kombucha is a fermented sweetened tea with a mixed fermenting culture of yeast and acetic acid bacteria. The proponents of kombucha consumption tout the varied health benefits it can provide. The final kombucha flavor and composition is a function of both the initial tea used and the fermentation process.
  • 3.7K
  • 29 Aug 2022
Topic Review
QuEChERS Application to the Determination of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids
The identification of concerning high levels of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) in a wide variety of food products has raised the occurrence of these natural toxins as one of the main current issues of the food safety field. Consequently, a regulation with maximum concentration levels of these alkaloids has been published to monitor their occurrence in several foodstuffs. According to legislation, the analytical methodologies developed for their determination must include multiresidue extractions with high selectivity and sensitivity, as a set of 21 + 14 PAs should be simultaneously monitored. However, the multiresidue extraction of these alkaloids is a difficult task due to the high complexity of food and feed samples. Accordingly, although solid-phase extraction is still the technique most widely used for sample preparation, the QuEChERS method can be a suitable alternative for the simultaneous determination of multiple analytes, providing green extraction and clean-up of samples in a quick and cost-effective way.
  • 3.6K
  • 12 May 2022
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