Use of Spectroscopic Techniques to Monitor Changes in Food Quality during Application of Natural Preservatives: A Review

Evaluation of the antimicrobial effect of encapsulated cumin seed essential oil in chickpea protein-maltodextrin matrix and its potential to extend the shelf life of meatballs

This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial effectiveness of cumin seed essential oil (CEO) after encapsulation in chickpea protein-maltodextrin matrix by spray drying and to provide insight into potential use as a natural ingredient in meat-based products. The surface morphology results of encapsulated CEO showed the dispersion in the wall material matrix, and the observed specific common peaks in the FT-IR spectra of encapsulated and non-encapsulated CEO proved the successful encapsulation. The antibacterial activity of non-encapsulated CEO against Escherichia coli BC1402, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 0402, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 were first evaluated by disc diffusion assay. P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and S. Typhimurium ATCC 0402 were more sensitive with the inhibition zones ranging from 11.20 to 12.66 mm. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration was noted for non-encapsulated CEO against P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 (0.5 mg/mL) and the highest minimum bactericidal concentration (16 mg/mL) was found for encapsulated CEO against S. aureus ATCC 25923. In addition to notable microbial inhibition activity, in situ antibacterial activity of CEO for meatballs was remarkable along nitrite. The microbial load of meatballs without any additives increased with storage time (4.08-10.50 log CFU/g). At the end of the storage (14 days, 4 °C), the antibacterial activity of encapsulated and non-encapsulated CEO was statistically different (p < 0.05) from nitrite in terms of total aerobic mesophilic (6.35-6.54 log CFU/g) and total coliform (2.63-3.09 log CFU/g). In conclusion, the encapsulated CEO was identified as a potential natural alternative for synthetic preservatives for meat-based products. The findings of this study can pave the way for future studies in this area.

On the Mechanism of the Ionizing Radiation-Induced Degradation and Recycling of Cellulose

The use of ionizing radiation offers a boundless range of applications for polymer scientists, from inducing crosslinking and/or degradation to grafting a wide variety of monomers onto polymeric chains. This review in particular aims to introduce the field of ionizing radiation as it relates to the degradation and recycling of cellulose and its derivatives. The review discusses the main mechanisms of the radiolytic sessions of the cellulose molecules in the presence and absence of water. During the radiolysis of cellulose, in the absence of water, the primary and secondary electrons from the electron beam, and the photoelectric, Compton effect electrons from gamma radiolysis attack the glycosidic bonds (C-O-C) on the backbone of the cellulose chains. This radiation-induced session results in the formation of alkoxyl radicals and C-centered radicals. In the presence of water, the radiolytically produced hydroxyl radicals (●OH) will abstract hydrogen atoms, leading to the formation of C-centered radicals, which undergo various reactions leading to the backbone session of the cellulose. Based on the structures of the radiolytically produced free radicals in presence and absence of water, covalent grafting of vinyl monomers on the cellulose backbone is inconceivable.

Non-destructive optical sensing technologies for advancing the egg industry toward Industry 4.0: A review

The egg is considered one of the best sources of dietary protein, and has an important role in human growth and development. With the increase in the world's population, per capita egg consumption is also increasing. Ground-breaking technological developments have led to numerous inventions like the Internet of Things (IoT), various optical sensors, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and cloud computing, transforming the conventional industry into a smart and sustainable egg industry, also known as Egg Industry 4.0 (EI 4.0). The EI 4.0 concept has the potential to improve automation, enhance biosecurity, promote the safeguarding of animal welfare, increase intelligent grading and quality inspection, and increase efficiency. For a sustainable Industry 4.0 transformation, it is important to analyze available technologies, the latest research, existing limitations, and prospects. This review examines the existing non-destructive optical sensing technologies for the egg industry. It provides information and insights on the different components of EI 4.0, including emerging EI 4.0 technologies for egg production, quality inspection, and grading. Furthermore, drawbacks of current EI 4.0 technologies, potential workarounds, and future trends were critically analyzed. This review can help policymakers, industrialists, and academicians to better understand the integration of non-destructive technologies and automation. This integration has the potential to increase productivity, improve quality control, and optimize resource management toward sustainable development of the egg industry.

Honey authentication and adulteration detection using emission - excitation spectra combined with chemometrics

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of emission-excitation matrices for honey authentication and adulteration detection. For this purpose, 4 types of authentic honeys (tilia, sunflower, acacia and rape) and samples adulterated with different adulteration agents (agave, maple, inverted sugar, corn and rice in different percentages - 5%, 10% and 20%) were analysed. Each honey type and each adulteration agent exhibit unique emission-excitation spectra that can be used for the classification according to the botanical origin and for the detection of adulteration. The principal component analysis clearly separated the rape, sunflower and acacia honeys. The partial least squares - discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and support vector machines (SVM) were used in a binary mode to separate the authentic honeys from the adulterated ones, and the SVM proved to separate much better than PLS-DA.

Natural antimicrobial oligosaccharides in the food industry

An increase in the number of antibiotic resistance genes burdens the environment and affects human health. Additionally, people have developed a cautious attitude toward chemical preservatives. This attitude has promoted the search for new natural antimicrobial substances. Oligosaccharides from various sources have been studied for their antimicrobial and prebiotic effects. Antimicrobial oligosaccharides have several advantages such as being produced from renewable resources and showing antimicrobial properties similar to those of chemical preservatives. Their excellent broad-spectrum antibacterial properties are primarily because of various synergistic effects, including destruction of pathogen cell wall. Additionally, the adhesion of harmful microorganisms and the role of harmful factors may be reduced by oligosaccharides. Some natural oligosaccharides were also shown to stimulate the growth probiotic organisms. Therefore, antimicrobial oligosaccharides have the potential to meet food processing industry requirements in the future. The latest progress in research on the antimicrobial activity of different oligosaccharides is demonstrated in this review. The possible mechanism of action of these antimicrobial oligosaccharides is summarized with respect to their direct and indirect effects. Finally, the extended applications of oligosaccharides from the food source industry to food processing are discussed.

A Review of Regulatory Standards and Advances in Essential Oils as Antimicrobials in Foods

As essential oils (EOs) possess GRAS status, there is a strong interest in their application to food preservation. Trends in the food industry suggest consumers are drawn to environmentally friendly alternatives and less synthetic chemical preservatives. Although the use of EOs has increased over the years, adverse effects have limited their use. This review aims to address the regulatory standards for EO usage in food, techniques for delivery of EOs, essential oils commonly used to control pathogens and molds, and advances with new active compounds that overcome sensory effects for meat products, fresh fruits and vegetables, fruit and vegetable juices, seafood, dairy products, and other products. This review will show adverse sensory effects can be overcome in various products by the use of edible coatings containing encapsulated EOs to facilitate the controlled release of EOs. Depending on the method of cooking, the food product has been shown to mask flavors associated with EOs. In addition, using active packaging materials can decrease the diffusion rate of the EOs, thus controlling undesirable flavor characteristics while still preserving or prolonging the shelf life of food. The use of encapsulation in packaging film can control the release of volatile or active ingredients. Further, use of EOs in the vapor phase allows for contact indirectly, and use of nanoemulsion, coating, and film wrap allows for the controlled release of the EOs. Research has also shown that combining EOs can prevent adverse sensory effects. Essential oils continue to serve as a very beneficial way of controlling undesirable microorganisms in food systems.

Effect of Fermentation Time on Physiochemical Properties of Kombucha Produced from Different Teas and Fruits: Comparative Study

This study aimed to investigate the impact of fermentation time on antioxidative activities and phenolic composition and sensory quality of kombucha fermented from different teas (green, black, and oolong) and fruits (grape, dragon, and guava). Results: the highest antioxidative activity was observed in kombucha from green tea and grapefruit fermented for 6-7 days at 25–30°C and 48 h at 37°C, respectively. Further analysis revealed that the antioxidative activity of grape kombucha was significantly improved due to an increase in polyphenols’ concentration as compared to original green tea kombucha. Furthermore, the sensory evaluation of grape kombucha suggested that grape-flavoured kombucha is more acceptable by the young-aged group. In conclusion, this study provides a potential and promising method for the first time to produce fruit-flavoured kombucha with increased bioactive compounds in very short fermentation time (48 h) which could fulfil the nutritional requirement for human health.

The fourth industrial revolution in the food industry-Part I: Industry 4.0 technologies

Climate change, the growth in world population, high levels of food waste and food loss, and the risk of new disease or pandemic outbreaks are examples of the many challenges that threaten future food sustainability and the security of the planet and urgently need to be addressed. The fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0, has been gaining momentum since 2015, being a significant driver for sustainable development and a successful catalyst to tackle critical global challenges. This review paper summarizes the most relevant food Industry 4.0 technologies including, among others, digital technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence, big data analytics, Internet of Things, and blockchain) and other technological advances (e.g., smart sensors, robotics, digital twins, and cyber-physical systems). Moreover, insights into the new food trends (such as 3D printed foods) that have emerged as a result of the Industry 4.0 technological revolution will also be discussed in Part II of this work. The Industry 4.0 technologies have significantly modified the food industry and led to substantial consequences for the environment, economics, and human health. Despite the importance of each of the technologies mentioned above, ground-breaking sustainable solutions could only emerge by combining many technologies simultaneously. The Food Industry 4.0 era has been characterized by new challenges, opportunities, and trends that have reshaped current strategies and prospects for food production and consumption patterns, paving the way for the move toward Industry 5.0.

Fluorescence-based characterisation of selected edible insect species: Excitation emission matrix (EEM) and parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis

Fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with chemometric tools is a powerful analytical method, largely used for rapid food quality and safety evaluations. However, its potential has not yet been explored in the novel food sector. In the present study, excitation emission matrices (EEMs) of 15 insect powders produced by milling insects belonging to 5 Orthoptera species (Acheta domesticus, Gryllus assimilis, Gryllus bimaculatus, Locusta migratoria, Schistocerca gregaria) from 3 different origins were investigated. Parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis performed on the overall averaged dataset was validated for five components, highlighting the presence of five different fluorescence peaks. The presence of these peaks was confirmed on each species, suggesting that fluorescence compounds of edible insects are the same in several species. PARAFAC analysis performed on the overall averaged dataset after alternatively adding the EEM recorded from one standard compound allowed to speculate that edible insects fluorescence raises from mixtures of: tryptophan + tyrosine (PARAFAC component-1), tryptophan + tyrosine + tocopherol (PARAFAC component-2), collagen + pyridoxine + pterins (PARAFAC component-3). This study suggests that fluorescence spectroscopy may represent a powerful method for investigating composition and quality of insect-based foods.

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Fluorescence landscape of edible insects comprises of 5 different peaks.

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Similar fluorescence compounds are present among several Orthoptera species.

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Fluorescence peaks of edible insects result from several chemical molecules.

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Fluorescence intensity of edible insects depends on their species and origin.

Application of Nanotechnology to Improve the Performance of Biodegradable Biopolymer-Based Packaging Materials

There is great interest in developing biodegradable biopolymer-based packaging materials whose functional performance is enhanced by incorporating active compounds into them, such as light blockers, plasticizers, crosslinkers, diffusion blockers, antimicrobials, antioxidants, and sensors. However, many of these compounds are volatile, chemically unstable, water-insoluble, matrix incompatible, or have adverse effects on film properties, which makes them difficult to directly incorporate into the packaging materials. These challenges can often be overcome by encapsulating the active compounds within food-grade nanoparticles, which are then introduced into the packaging materials. The presence of these nanoencapsulated active compounds in biopolymer-based coatings or films can greatly improve their functional performance. For example, anthocyanins can be used as light-blockers to retard oxidation reactions, or they can be used as pH/gas/temperature sensors to produce smart indicators to monitor the freshness of packaged foods. Encapsulated botanical extracts (like essential oils) can be used to increase the shelf life of foods due to their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. The resistance of packaging materials to external factors can be improved by incorporating plasticizers (glycerol, sorbitol), crosslinkers (glutaraldehyde, tannic acid), and fillers (nanoparticles or nanofibers). Nanoenabled delivery systems can also be designed to control the release of active ingredients (such as antimicrobials or antioxidants) into the packaged food over time, which may extend their efficacy. This article reviews the different kinds of nanocarriers available for loading active compounds into these types of packaging materials and then discusses their impact on the optical, mechanical, thermal, barrier, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of the packaging materials. Furthermore, it highlights the different kinds of bioactive compounds that can be incorporated into biopolymer-based packaging.

Ultrasonic-Assisted Thymol and Carvacrol Extraction from Za’atar Leaves Using Cold-Pressed Sesame Oil

Thymol and carvacrol found in Origanum syriacum “Za’atar” plant leaves have triggered interest among researchers for their natural antimicrobial and antifungal properties. However, their applications in modern pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries as natural preservatives remain challenging. In this research, extraction of thymol and carvacrol from Za’atar leaves has been investigated using the ultrasonic-assisted method and the use of sesame oil as the primary extraction solvent compared with other vegetable oils including sunflower and olive oils. In addition, a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analytical method was developed by using a C8 column and 0.05% trifluoroacetic acid as a buffering agent. The method was validated for specificity, linearity, repeatability, accuracy, and robustness for the analysis of the content of the two terpenes thymol and carvacrol in different Za’atar extracts. Using the validated analytical method, thymol and carvacrol content results revealed the best vegetable oil for extraction. Results showed that sesame oil had the highest content of thymol and carvacrol, followed by sunflower oil, and the least amount obtained by using olive oil. A consistent extraction result opens an opportunity for application in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. For this reason, the essential extraction key parameters that influence the final content of thymol and carvacrol were evaluated. The highest impact originated from the quality and volume of sesame oil. Cold-pressed sesame oil resulted in a 23% higher content of thymol and decreased amount of carvacrol. It was found that wetting the Za’atar leaves powder with sesame oil was enough for extraction; any additional sesame oil volume dilutes the extracted sample. The second impact was the Za’atar cultivation conditions; less than 10% difference of thymol and carvacrol content was observed within Za’atar of Hebron origin. Finally, the origin of sesame seeds used for sesame oil production had the least impact.

Ultrasonic-Assisted Thymol and Carvacrol Extraction from Za’atar Leaves Using Cold-Pressed Sesame Oil

Thymol and carvacrol found in Origanum syriacum “Za’atar” plant leaves have triggered interest among researchers for their natural antimicrobial and antifungal properties. However, their applications in modern pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries as natural preservatives remain challenging. In this research, extraction of thymol and carvacrol from Za’atar leaves has been investigated using the ultrasonic-assisted method and the use of sesame oil as the primary extraction solvent compared with other vegetable oils including sunflower and olive oils. In addition, a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analytical method was developed by using a C8 column and 0.05% trifluoroacetic acid as a buffering agent. The method was validated for specificity, linearity, repeatability, accuracy, and robustness for the analysis of the content of the two terpenes thymol and carvacrol in different Za’atar extracts. Using the validated analytical method, thymol and carvacrol content results revealed the best vegetable oil for extraction. Results showed that sesame oil had the highest content of thymol and carvacrol, followed by sunflower oil, and the least amount obtained by using olive oil. A consistent extraction result opens an opportunity for application in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. For this reason, the essential extraction key parameters that influence the final content of thymol and carvacrol were evaluated. The highest impact originated from the quality and volume of sesame oil. Cold-pressed sesame oil resulted in a 23% higher content of thymol and decreased amount of carvacrol. It was found that wetting the Za’atar leaves powder with sesame oil was enough for extraction; any additional sesame oil volume dilutes the extracted sample. The second impact was the Za’atar cultivation conditions; less than 10% difference of thymol and carvacrol content was observed within Za’atar of Hebron origin. Finally, the origin of sesame seeds used for sesame oil production had the least impact.

Obtaining Antioxidants and Natural Preservatives from Food By-Products through Fermentation: A Review

Industrial food waste has potential for generating income from high-added-value compounds through fermentation. Solid-state fermentation is promising to obtain a high yield of bioactive compounds while requiring less water for the microorganism’s growth. A number of scientific studies evinced an increase in flavonoids or phenolics from fruit or vegetable waste and bioactive peptides from cereal processing residues and whey, a major waste of the dairy industry. Livestock, fish, or shellfish processing by-products (skin, viscera, fish scales, seabass colon, shrimp waste) also has the possibility of generating antioxidant peptides, hydrolysates, or compounds through fermentation. These bioactive compounds (phenolics, flavonoids, or antioxidant peptides) resulting from bacterial or fungal fermentation are also capable of inhibiting the growth of commonly occurring food spoilage fungi and can be used as natural preservatives. Despite the significant release or enhancement of antioxidant compounds through by-products fermentation, the surface areas of large-scale bioreactors and flow patterns act as constraints in designing a scale-up process for improved efficiency. An in-process purification method can also be the most significant contributing factor for raising the overall cost. Therefore, future research in modelling scale-up design can contribute towards mitigating the discard of high-added-value generating residues. Therefore, in this review, the current knowledge on the use of fermentation to obtain bioactive compounds from food by-products, emphasizing their use as natural preservatives, was evaluated.

Plant Antioxidants for Food Safety and Quality: Exploring New Trends of Research

Antioxidants are an heterogeneous group of compounds able to counteract cell oxidation by acting as reducing agents, as free radical scavengers, and quenchers of radical species and other pro-oxidants, such as metals [...].

Traditional plants from Asteraceae family as potential candidates for functional food industry

Traditional plants have been used in the treatment of disease and pain due to their beneficial properties such as antioxidant, antiinflammation, analgesic, and antibiotic activities. The Asteraceae family is one of the most common groups of plants used in folk medicine. The species Achillea millefolium, Arnica montana, Bellis perennis, Calendula officinalis, Chamaemelum nobile, Eupatorium cannabinum, Helichrysum stoechas, and Taraxacum officinale have been used in different remedies in Northwest Spain. Besides health benefits, some of them like C. nobile and H. stoechas are already employed in cooking and culinary uses, including cocktails, desserts, and savory dishes. This study aimed to review the current information on nutritive and beneficial properties and bioactive compounds of these plants, which are not mainly used as foods but are possible candidates for this purpose. The report highlights their current uses and suitability for the development of new functional food industrial applications. Phenolic compounds, essential oils, and sesquiterpene lactones are some of the most important compounds, being related to different bioactivities. Hence, they could be interesting for the development of new functional foods.

Sustainable sources for antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds used in meat and seafood products

The contribution of food in promotion of health has become of most importance. The challenges that lie before the global food supply chain, such as climate changes, food contamination, and antimicrobial resistance may compromise food safety at international scale. Compounds with strong antimicrobial and antioxidant activity can be extracted from different natural and sustainable sources and may contribute to extend the shelf life of meat and seafood products, enhance food safety and enrich foods with additional biologically active and functional ingredients. This chapter describes the use of bioprotective cultures, essential oils, plant extracts, seaweed extracts and grape pomace compounds in production of value-added meat and seafood products with improved shelf life and safety, following the requests from the market and consumers.

Determining Sonication Effect on E. coli in Liquid Egg, Egg Yolk and Albumen and Inspecting Structural Property Changes by Near-Infrared Spectra

In this study, liquid egg, albumen, and egg yolk were artificially inoculated with E. coli. Ultrasound equipment (20/40 kHz, 180/300 W; 30/45/60 min) with a circulation cooling system was used to lower the colony forming units (CFU) of E. coli samples. Frequency, absorbed power, energy dose, and duration of sonication showed a significant impact on E. coli with 0.5 log CFU/mL in albumen, 0.7 log CFU/mL in yolk and 0.5 log CFU/mL decrease at 40 kHz and 6.9 W absorbed power level. Significant linear correlation (p < 0.001) was observed between the energy dose of sonication and the decrease of E. coli. The results showed that sonication can be a useful tool as a supplementary method to reduce the number of microorganism in egg products. With near-infrared (NIR) spectra analysis we were able to detect the structural changes of the egg samples, due to ultrasonic treatment. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that sonication can alter C-H, C-N, -OH and N-H bonds in egg. The aquagrams showed that sonication can alter the properties of H₂O structure in egg products. The observed data showed that the absorbance of free water (1412 nm), water molecules with one (1440 nm), two (1462 nm), three (1472 nm) and four (1488 nm) hydrogen bonds, water solvation shell (1452 nm) and strongly bonded water (1512 nm) of the egg samples have been changed during ultrasonic treatment.

Monitoring Thermal and Non-Thermal Treatments during Processing of Muscle Foods: A Comprehensive Review of Recent Technological Advances

Muscle food products play a vital role in human nutrition due to their sensory quality and high nutritional value. One well-known challenge of such products is the high perishability and limited shelf life unless suitable preservation or processing techniques are applied. Thermal processing is one of the well-established treatments that has been most commonly used in order to prepare food and ensure its safety. However, the application of inappropriate or severe thermal treatments may lead to undesirable changes in the sensory and nutritional quality of heat-processed products, and especially so for foods that are sensitive to thermal treatments, such as fish and meat and their products. In recent years, novel thermal treatments (e.g., ohmic heating, microwave) and non-thermal processing (e.g., high pressure, cold plasma) have emerged and proved to cause less damage to the quality of treated products than do conventional techniques. Several traditional assessment approaches have been extensively applied in order to evaluate and monitor changes in quality resulting from the use of thermal and non-thermal processing methods. Recent advances, nonetheless, have shown tremendous potential of various emerging analytical methods. Among these, spectroscopic techniques have received considerable attention due to many favorable features compared to conventional analysis methods. This review paper will provide an updated overview of both processing (thermal and non-thermal) and analytical techniques (traditional methods and spectroscopic ones). The opportunities and limitations will be discussed and possible directions for future research studies and applications will be suggested.