Textured soy protein, collagen and maltodextrin as extenders to improve the physicochemical and sensory properties of beef burger

Food-derived peptides unleashed: emerging roles as food additives beyond bioactivities

Innovating food additives stands as a cornerstone for the sustainable evolution of future food systems. Peptides derived from food proteins exhibit a rich array of physicochemical and biological attributes crucial for preserving the appearance, flavor, texture, and nutritional integrity of foods. Leveraging these peptides as raw materials holds great promise for the development of novel food additives. While numerous studies underscore the potential of peptides as food additives, existing reviews predominantly focus on their biotic applications, leaving a notable gap in the discourse around their abiotic functionalities, such as their physicochemical properties. Addressing this gap, this review offers a comprehensive survey of peptide-derived food additives in food systems, accentuating the application of peptides' abiotic properties. It furnishes a thorough exploration of the underlying mechanisms and diverse applications of peptide-derived food additives, while also delineating the challenges encountered and prospects for future applications. This well-time review will set the stage for a deeper understanding of peptide-derived food additives.

Techno-Functions and Safety Concerns of Plant-Based Peptides in Food Matrices

Plant-based peptides (PBPs) benefit functional food development and environmental sustainability. Proteolysis remains the primary method of peptide production because it is a mild and nontoxic technique. However, potential safety concerns still emanate from toxic or allergenic sequences, amino acid racemization, iso-peptide bond formation, Maillard reaction, dose usage, and frequency. The main aim of this review is to investigate the techno-functions of PBPs in food matrices, as well as their safety concerns. The distinctive characteristics of PBPs exhibit their techno-functions for improving food quality and functionality by contributing to several crucial food formulations and processing. The techno-functions of PBPs include solubility, hydrophobicity, bitterness, foaming, oil-binding, and water-holding capacities, which subsequently affect food matrices. The safety and quality of foodstuff containing PBPs depend on the proper source of plant proteins, the selection of processing approaches, and compliance with legal regulations for allergen labeling and safety evaluations. The safety concerns in allergenicity and toxicity were discussed. The conclusion is that food technologists must apply safe limits and consider potential allergenic components generated during the development of food products with PBPs. Therefore, functional food products containing PBPs can be a promising strategy to provide consumers with wholesome health benefits.

Textured soy protein with meat odor as an ingredient for improving the sensory quality of meat analog and soy burger

Even with the growing consumption of plant-based products, the consumption of soy-based products is still a limitation due to the off-flavor of soy. Thus, two studies were performed using textured soy protein (TSP) with meat odor as meat analog and as soy burger. TSP with meat odor was produced by adding thiamine (aroma precursor) to soy protein concentrate (SPC) before extrusion. Three TSP were used in each study: one without thiamine and two with thiamine but with different moisture contents of the SPC. TSP with thiamine did not affect technological or physical properties of the products. For meat analogs, the samples with thiamine showed greater odor acceptance and greater intensities of meat odor, burnt aftertaste, and aromatic in relation to the sample without thiamine, as well as lower intensity of soy odor. For soy burgers, the samples with thiamine had higher acceptances of odor and flavor and overall acceptance, and higher intensities of chicken odor and aromatic in comparison to the sample without thiamine, as well as lower intensity of soy/vegetable odor. The use of TSP with thiamine raises the sensory quality of meat analogue and soy burger, being an interesting alternative in obtaining soy-based products with lower soy odor.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-023-05875-0.

Influence of cooking methods and storage time on colour, texture, and fatty acid profile of a novel fish burger for the prevention of cognitive decline

Western diets are poor in healthy n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), namely eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), iodine (I), and other nutrients that may protect against cognitive ageing. Given DHA richness in chub mackerel (Scomber colias), high vitamin B9 levels in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), and I abundance in the seaweed Saccorhiza polyschides, a functional hamburger rich in these nutrients by using these ingredients was developed. This research focused on the factors affecting its quality by examining the impact of cooking (steaming at 100 °C, roasting at 180 °C, grilling at 180 °C) and storage time (after 4 and 6 months at -20 °C) upon the product's properties. Cooking treatments were found to influence the burger's colour and texture, whereas storage duration impacted FA levels and the polyene index. Cooked burgers presented lighter (L*, 45.1-55.0 vs 36.9 ± 2.4) and more yellow colouration (b*, 15.8-17.8 vs 13.6 ± 1.0) than raw burgers. Cooked burgers also exhibited higher textural values across various parameters than their raw versions. Grilled burgers (excluding initial time) were firmer (50.0 ± 5.1 N) than those cooked otherwise (37.0-39.9 N). Regarding FA levels, a decrease in DHA was recorded after four months (21.8-23.0% vs 26.4-30.6%). The polyene index followed a similar trajectory, declining from 2.6 to 3.6 initially to 1.8-1.9 in the fourth month. Hence, the studied mackerel burger could be a promising source of EPA, DHA, and other n-3 PUFAs in human diets, optimally with a frozen storage duration of fewer than four months to preserve nutritional integrity.

The colloid and interface strategies to inhibit lipid digestion for designing low-calorie food

Although fat is one of the indispensable components of food flavor, excessive fat consumption could cause obesity, metabolism syndromes and an imbalance in the intestinal flora. In the pursuit of a healthy diet, designing fat reducing foods by inhibiting lipid digestion and calorie intake is a promising strategy. Altering the gastric emptying rates of lipids as well as acting on the lipase by suppressing the enzymatic activity or limiting lipase diffusion via interfacial modulation can effectively decrease lipolysis rates. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of colloid-based strategies that can be employed to retard lipid hydrolysis, including pancreatic lipase inhibitors, emulsion-based interfacial modulation and fat substitutes. Plants-/microorganisms-derived lipase inhibitors bind to catalytic active sites and change the enzymatic conformation to inhibit lipase activity. Introducing oil-in-water Pickering emulsions into the food can effectively delay lipolysis via steric hindrance of interfacial particulates. Regulating stability and physical states of emulsions can also affect the rate of hydrolysis by altering the active hydrolysis surface. 3D network structure assembled by fat substitutes with high viscosity can not only slow down the peristole and obstruct the diffusion of lipase to the oil droplets but also impede the transportation of lipolysis products to epithelial cells for adsorption. Their applications in low-calorie bakery, dairy and meat products were also discussed, emphasizing fat intake reduction, structure and flavor retention and potential health benefits. However, further application of these strategies in large-scale food production still requires more optimization on cost and lipid reducing effects. This review provides a comprehensive review on colloidal approaches, design, principles and applications of fat reducing strategies to meet the growing demand for healthier diet and offer practical insights for the low-calorie food industry.

Protein Hydrolysate from Underutilized Legumes: Unleashing the Potential for Future Functional Foods

Proteins play a vital role in human development, growth, and overall health. Traditionally, animal-derived proteins were considered the primary source of dietary protein. However, in recent years, there has been a remarkable shift in dietary consumption patterns, with a growing preference for plant-based protein sources. This shift has resulted in a significant increase in the production of plant proteins in the food sector. Consequently, there has been a surge in research exploring various plant sources, particularly wild, and underutilized legumes such as Canavalia, Psophocarpus, Cajanus, Lablab, Phaseolus, and Vigna, due to their exceptional nutraceutical value. This review presents the latest insights into innovative approaches used to extract proteins from underutilized legumes. Furthermore, it highlights the purification of protein hydrolysate using Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography. This review also covers the characterization of purified peptides, including their molecular weight, amino acid composition, and the creation of three-dimensional models based on amino acid sequences. The potential of underutilized legume protein hydrolysates as functional ingredients in the food industry is a key focus of this review. By incorporating these protein sources into food production, we can foster sustainable and healthy practices while minimizing environmental impact. The investigation of underutilized legumes offers exciting possibilities for future research and development in this area, further enhancing the utilization of plant-based protein sources.

Nutritional and Pharmaceutical Applications of Under-Explored Knottin Peptide-Rich Phytomedicines

Phytomedicines reportedly rich in cystine knot peptides (Knottins) are found in several global diets, food/herbal supplements and functional foods. However, their knottin peptide content has largely been unexplored, notably for their emerging dual potentials at both the food and medicine space. The nutritional roles, biological targets and mechanism(s) of activity of these knotted peptides are largely unknown. Meanwhile, knottins have recently been unveiled as emerging peptide therapeutics and nutraceuticals of primary choice due to their broad spectrum of bioactivity, hyper stability, selective toxicity, impressive selectivity for biomolecular targets, and their bioengineering applications. In addition to their potential dietary benefits, some knottins have displayed desirable limited toxicity to human erythrocytes. In an effort to appraise what has been accomplished, unveil knowledge gaps and explore the future prospects of knottins, an elaborate review of the nutritional and pharmaceutical application of phytomedicines rich in knottins was carried out. Herein, we provide comprehensive data on common dietary and therapeutic knottins, the majority of which are poorly investigated in many food-grade phytomedicines used in different cultures and localities. Findings from this review should stimulate scientific interest to unveil novel dietary knottins and knottin-rich nutraceutical peptide drug candidates/leads with potential for future clinical application.

Bioactivities, Applications, Safety, and Health Benefits of Bioactive Peptides From Food and By-Products: A Review

Bioactive peptides generated from food proteins have great potential as functional foods and nutraceuticals. Bioactive peptides possess several significant functions, such as antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and antihypertensive effects in the living body. In recent years, numerous reports have been published describing bioactive peptides/hydrolysates produced from various food sources. Herein, we reviewed the bioactive peptides or protein hydrolysates found in the plant, animal, marine, and dairy products, as well as their by-products. This review also emphasizes the health benefits, bioactivities, and utilization of active peptides obtained from the mentioned sources. Their possible application in functional product development, feed, wound healing, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, and their use as food additives have all been investigated alongside considerations on their safety.

Partial salt reduction in gluten-free chicken nugget extended with white button mushroom and quality development with eggplant flour

This study was investigated to develop healthy gluten-free chicken nuggets with less salt content and more nutrients using white button mushroom and eggplant flour. Nine nugget formulations, including three full-chicken nuggets with salt content [1% (control), 0.75%, and 0.5% w/w], and six chicken-white button mushroom (80: 20) nuggets with salt content (0.75%, and 0.5% w/w) and eggplant flour (0, 2.5% and 5% w/w) were examined. Physical properties on cooking yield, shrinkage, released fluid, firmness, and color scales (L*, a*, and b*) were analyzed. While sensory characteristics were evaluated using a 9-point hedonic scale. Reducing salt from 1 to 0.5% negatively affected the physical properties and sensory attributes of full-chicken formulations. There were no significant physical properties changes, except for color between full-chicken and chicken-mushroom nuggets. At the same time, their sensory characteristics were comparable. The addition of eggplant flour improved the physical parameters in reduced-salt nuggets and texture acceptability but deteriorated other sensory attributes. In conclusion, the addition of 2.5% eggplant flour could reduce about 25% salt content in the chicken nugget formulation with 20% white button mushroom as a meat extender.

Advanced and feasible pulses processing technologies for Ethiopia to achieve better economic and nutritional goals: A review

Background

Pulses are the dried seeds of the Leguminosae family that serve as cheaper proteins, particularly in developing countries. They contain proteins ranging 20-25%. Pulses play important roles in the farming systems and in the diets of poor people. They are ideal crops for simultaneously achieving three key developmental goals: reducing poverty, improving human health, and enhancing ecosystem sustainability. The year 2016 was declared as the year of pulses by the United Nations. These growing global attentions given to legumes has resulted in increasing their nutritional and economic desirability.

Objectives

This review presents the potential of pulses processing in Ethiopia for enhanced nutritional and economic outcomes. Pulses are important foods and export commodity in Ethiopia, which are exported in unprocessed form, fetching low returns.

Data and discussions

There are advanced but simple pulses processing technologies that include concentrating or isolation of proteins for nutritional and other uses. Pin milling of legumes and air classification of the flour helps to obtain protein concentrate of 60-75% purity. Protein isolation by alkaline extraction and isoelectric precipitation results in proteins of 90-95% purity. Legume proteins are mainly globulins and albumins that are nutritionally of great quality. The protein products are being texturized by thermal and mechanical means to make meat analogues, substitutes and extenders.

Summary and conclusion

Ethiopia being one of the significant legume producers, can benefit from this growing market by adopting the processing technologies and exporting premium quality plant proteins. This help Ethiopia satisfy domestic protein needs for child nutrition. This review summarizes the potentials for developing pulses processing technologies in Ethiopia for better economic and nutritional benefits.

Veggie burgers in the EU market: a nutritional challenge?

Nutritional information of burgers launched in the EU market during 2020 was retrieved from their labels. Products were initially classified into four types: i.e., veggie, red meat-, fish- and poultry-based. Gluten, wheat, and soy were the most declared allergens regardless of the burgers type. Veggie burgers showed levels of energy, fat, and saturate fatty acids (SFA) similar to fish- and poultry-based burgers, but lower than red meat burgers. Compared to conventional burgers, veggie had higher amounts of carbohydrates and sugars and a lower content of proteins, but no difference in salt. Due to the high compositional intra-variability in the veggie burgers, vegetarian and vegan burgers were further analyzed separately. Vegan burgers had higher levels of energy, fat, SFA and protein than vegetarian burgers, but lower carbohydrates and sugars. Once again large differences in the nutritional parameters were observed in both vegan and vegetarian burger categories due to the wide range of ingredients and formulations employed in these types of products. A clear and comprehensive informative labeling is especially needed for vegan and vegetarian burgers to allow the consumer to make a rational decision based on the nutritional facts of these products.

Influences of extrusion parameters on physicochemical properties of textured vegetable proteins and its meatless burger patty

Isolated soy protein, wheat gluten, and starch at ratio 5:4:1 were texturized under different moisture contents (40 and 50%) and die temperature (130 and 150 °C) by the twin-screw extruder. Physicochemical properties were firstly studied. These textured vegetable proteins (TVPs) were used to form 100% plant-based burger patties. Cooking and textural features were secondly investigated. TVP at 50% moisture content and 130 °C die temperature represented the highest water absorption capacity and integrity index but the lowest solubility among TVPs. Cooking loss and shrinkage in diameter and thickness, cohesiveness, chewiness, hardness, and cutting strength of TVP meatless burger patties were significantly lower than that commercial meat patty, while moisture retention and springiness of TVP meatless burger patties were higher (p < 0.05). Our results found that the texture of patty made with TVP at 50% moisture content and 130 °C die temperature was the most similarity to commercial meat patty.

Bioactive peptides derived from plant origin by-products: Biological activities and techno-functional utilizations in food developments - A review

Agro-industrial by-products containing considerable amounts of protein (10-50%) such as soybean meal, rice bran and coconut pulp are promising bioactive peptide sources with annual disposal rate of 800 million tons in the world. More recently, plant by-products rich in protein content have been studied under various prisms that include recovery techniques, peptide production methods, determination of technological benefits and functional properties, and their applications in foods. The researches in bioactive peptides provide evidence over the techno-functional properties and the health benefits are highly dependent upon their amino acid sequences, molecular weights, conformations and surface properties. Research findings compared bioactive properties of the obtained peptides with respect to their amino acid sequences and also reported that hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties have direct effect on both functional and health effects. In addition, the resultant properties of the peptides could be affected by the conducted extraction method (alkaline, enzymatic, ultrasound assisted, microwave assisted, etc.), extraction solvent, precipitation and purification techniques and even by the final drying process (spray, freeze, vacuum, etc.) which may alter molecular weights, conformations and surface properties. Latest studies have investigated solubility, emulsifying, foaming, water/oil holding capacity and surface properties and also antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic, hypocholesterolemic, antihypertensive, immunomodulatory and opioid activities of bioactive peptides obtained from plant by-products. Moreover, the application of the bioactive peptides into different food formulations has been a recent trend of functional food development. These bioactive peptides' bitter taste and toxicity are possible challenges in some cases that need to be resolved before their wider utilization.

Optimising the use of proteins from rich meat co-products and non-meat alternatives: Nutritional, technological and allergenicity challenges

An exponential growth in the global demand for high quality proteins over the next 20 years is expected, mainly due to global population growth and the increasing awareness toward protein rich foods for more nutritive diets. Coupled with this, is the pressing need for more sustainable approaches within a bio-economy mindset. Although meat production is expected to increase to address this rising demand, a better use of the currently available resources provided by the food, and specially, the meat industry is required. In this regard, despite the high-quality proteins and other nutrients found in meat co-products; they are currently underused and their valorisation needs to be revisited. Also, emerging protein sources need to be investigated to alleviate the environmental pressure coming from the meat industry. In this review, the main focus was attributed to (i) the current and forthcoming challenges for the use of meat co-products as meat replacers to produce a new range of meat derived products (with high nutritional value, improved technological properties and better consumer acceptance); (ii) their performance regarding to the non-animal origin proteins currently used as meat protein replacers; and (iii) the allergenicity of the proteins that might fall into the category of novel protein sources.

LC⁻Q⁻TOF⁻MS/MS Identification of Specific Non-Meat Proteins and Peptides in Beef Burgers

Beef burgers are a popular food choice, due to their taste and convenience. The extensive range of beef burgers with different flavours currently offered on the market is adding to their growing consumption. This study detected and identified specific non-meat proteins and peptide markers originating from functional preparations, i.e., powdered mixes of protein additives and spices, used as meat substitutes in the production of ready-to-cook beef burgers. Twenty-eight soy proteins, including isoforms (nine milk-, three pea- and one beetroot-specific protein) were found concurrently with a set of peptide markers unique to soy glycinin and β-conglycinin, pea vicilin and provicilin, milk α_S1-casein, β-lactoglobulin, as well as beetroot elongation factor 2. Soy and beetroot proteins and peptides were observed in all burgers containing additives. Milk and pea proteins were included in powdered mixes but were not detected in burgers, indicating that their content was below the limit of detection. The study demonstrates that the proposed method can be implemented to analyse protein additives in cooked burgers; however, the presence of low amounts of additives, below 1–2%, should be further confirmed by using a more sensitive triple quadrupole instrument.