Research and development of antimicrobial materials for food applications such as packaging and other food contact surfaces is expected to grow in the next decade with the advent of new polymer materials and antimicrobials. This article reviews the different types of antimicrobial polymers developed for food contact, commercial applications, testing methods, regulations and future trends. Special emphasis will be on the advantages/disadvantages of each technology.

Review of antimicrobial food packaging

Irritable bowel syndrome

Bacteriocin-based Strategies for Food Biopreservation

Starch retrogradation is a process in which disaggregated amylose and amylopectin chains in a gelatinized starch paste reassociate to form more ordered structures. Starch retrogradation has been the subject of intensive research over the last 50 years, mainly due to its detrimental effect on the sensory and storage qualities of many starchy foods. However, starch retrogadation is desirable for some starchy food products in terms of textural and nutritional properties. To better understand the effect of starch retrogradation on the quality of starchy foods, measurement methods of starch retrogradation and factors that influence starch retrogradation have been studied extensively. This article provides a comprehensive review of starch retrogradation including the definition of the process, molecular mechanisms of how it occurs, and measurement methods and factors that influence starch retrogradation. The review also discusses the effect of retrogradation on the in vitro enzyme digestibility of starch. Spectroscopic methods such as FTIR and Raman are considered to be very promising in characterizing starch retrogradation at a molecular level, although more studies are needed in the future.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/1541-4337.12143

Starch retrogradation: a comprehensive review

Probiotics are live microorganisms that provide health benefits to the host when ingested in adequate amounts. The strains most frequently used as probiotics include lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria. Probiotics have demonstrated significant potential as therapeutic options for a variety of diseases, but the mechanisms responsible for these effects have not been fully elucidated yet. Several important mechanisms underlying the antagonistic effects of probiotics on various microorganisms include the following: modification of the gut microbiota, competitive adherence to the mucosa and epithelium, strengthening of the gut epithelial barrier and modulation of the immune system to convey an advantage to the host. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that probiotics communicate with the host by pattern recognition receptors, such as toll-like receptors and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein-like receptors, which modulate key signaling pathways, such as nuclear factor-ĸB and mitogen-activated protein kinase, to enhance or suppress activation and influence downstream pathways. This recognition is crucial for eliciting measured antimicrobial responses with minimal inflammatory tissue damage. A clear understanding of these mechanisms will allow for appropriate probiotic strain selection for specific applications and may uncover novel probiotic functions. The goal of this systematic review was to explore probiotic modes of action focusing on how gut microbes influence the host.

/pdf/probiotic-mechanisms-of-action-2jyemfk5rm.pdf

Probiotic Mechanisms of Action

The replacement of gluten presents a major technological challenge, as it is an essential structure-building protein, which is necessary for formulating high quality cereal-based goods. Rising demands for gluten free products parallels the apparent or real increase in coeliac disease, or other allergic reactions/intolerances to gluten. This paper reviews the current prevalence of coeliac disease, and recent advances in the preparation of gluten-free products, using starches, hydrocolloids, gums and novel ingredients and processes.

Recent advances in the formulation of gluten-free cereal-based products

Polyphenol composition and in vitro antioxidant activity of amaranth, quinoa buckwheat and wheat as affected by sprouting and baking

Impact of sourdough on the texture of bread.

Results from a number of recent studies have highlighted the need for an improvement in the nutritional quality of cereal-based gluten-free products. Several gluten-free grains exist, such as the pseudocereals amaranth, quinoa and buckwheat; these are characterized by an excellent nutrient profile. Thus, an increasing trend in research is focusing on their use in the formulation of high quality, healthy gluten-free products such as bread and pasta. However, commercialization of these products is still quite limited. The availability of palatable pseudocereal-containing gluten-free products would represent a significant advance towards ensuring an adequate intake of nutrients in subjects with celiac disease.

Elke K. Arendt

Papers

Recent advances in the formulation of gluten-free cereal-based products

Polyphenol composition and in vitro antioxidant activity of amaranth, quinoa buckwheat and wheat as affected by sprouting and baking

Impact of sourdough on the texture of bread.

Nutritive value of pseudocereals and their increasing use as functional gluten-free ingredients

Crust and crumb characteristics of gluten free breads