Fermentation for Designing Innovative Plant-Based Meat and Dairy Alternatives

Fermentation was traditionally used all over the world, having the preservation of plant and animal foods as a primary role. Owing to the rise of dairy and meat alternatives, fermentation is booming as an effective technology to improve the sensory, nutritional, and functional profiles of the new generation of plant-based products. This article intends to review the market landscape of fermented plant-based products with a focus on dairy and meat alternatives. Fermentation contributes to improving the organoleptic properties and nutritional profile of dairy and meat alternatives. Precision fermentation provides more opportunities for plant-based meat and dairy manufacturers to deliver a meat/dairy-like experience. Seizing the opportunities that the progress of digitalization is offering would boost the production of high-value ingredients such as enzymes, fats, proteins, and vitamins. Innovative technologies such as 3D printing could be an effective post-processing solution following fermentation in order to mimic the structure and texture of conventional products.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Enhancing nutritional and sensory properties of plant-based beverages: a study on chickpea and Kamut® flours fermentation using Lactococcus lactis

The study aimed to set up a protocol for the production of a clean-label plant-based beverage (PBB), obtained by mixing chickpeas and Kamut® flours and using a commercial Lactococcus lactis (LL) as fermentation starter, and to characterize it, from nutritional, microbiological, textural, shelf-life, and sensory points of view. The effect of using the starter was evaluated comparing the LL-PBB with a spontaneously fermented beverage (CTRL-PBB). Both PBBs were high in proteins (3.89/100 g) and could be considered as sources of fiber (2.06/100 g). Notably, L. lactis fermentation enhanced the phosphorus (478 vs. 331 mg/kg) and calcium (165 vs. 117 mg/kg) concentrations while lowering the raffinose content (5.51 vs. 5.08 g/100 g) compared to spontaneous fermentation. Cell density of lactic acid bacteria increased by ca. two log cycle during fermentation of LL-PBB, whereas undesirable microbial groups were not detected. Furthermore, L. lactis significantly improved the beverage’s viscosity (0.473 vs. 0.231 Pa s), at least for 10 days, and lightness. To assess market potential, we conducted a consumer test, presenting the LL-PBB in “plain” and “sweet” (chocolate paste-added) variants. The “sweet” LL-PBB demonstrated a higher acceptability score than its “plain” counterpart, with 88 and 78% of participants expressing acceptability and a strong purchase intent, respectively. This positive consumer response positions the sweet LL-PBB as a valuable, appealing alternative to traditional flavored yogurts, highlighting its potential in the growing plant-based food market

Grain quality traits and bread-making characteristics of old and modern Italian durum wheat varieties grown under low input conditions in a Mediterranean environment

Following the boom in durum wheat breeding, ancient wheats disappeared from the human diet and old durum wheat varieties were replaced by what is believed to be their better versions: higher yielding modern varieties grown in high input systems. Although breeders have worked intensely ever since to improve the quality of durum wheat traits, mainly gluten subunit alleles, in order to obtain a superior technological quality of the main durum wheat end products (first pasta and then bread), conflicts about predicting their quality still exist; this is because quality is neither governed by one trait alone nor conditioned by a single controllable factor. In the first chapter of the thesis we discussed the evolution of ancient to old and then modern durum wheat varieties in terms of agronomy, genetics, technological and end-product qualities. Moving from ancient to modern durum wheat varieties, grain yield increased, grain proteins concentration decreased, gluten strength and dough toughness improved ameliorating the quality of pasta but decreasing the durum wheat versatility. Nowadays, old durum wheat cultivars are attracting renewed attention due to their interesting genetic diversity and their suitability to low input agricultural systems where the higher yield potential of modern cultivars cannot be achieved. Consumers interest in old varieties is also growing due to the desire to revert back to traditional and organic products perceived to be ‘safer’ and ‘healthier’ foods. Old durum wheat cultivars were used for bread-making since the beginning of its practice dating back to 500 BC and durum breads are still diffuse throughout the Mediterranean region and especially in the south of Italy. In the first experiment conducted, the agronomic and bread-making performances of fourteen old Italian durum wheat varieties grown under two low nitrogen inputs (46 and 86 kg ha-1) were determined and the relationships among grain, semolina, dough and bread quality parameters were established. The old varieties yielded similarly to the check modern variety Svevo under both nitrogen levels. Increasing nitrogen fertilization from 46 to 86 kg ha-1 did not increase grain yield or the mg of N in the grain, although grain protein percentage increased due to a decrease in grain weight and increase in gliadin content. Despite a resulting decrease in the gluten index, dough and bread quality improved at the higher N rate, highlighting the influential role of protein percentage and gliadin in bread quality. The genotypic variation in grain protein percentage among old varieties was more strongly associated with glutenin than with gliadin content. Variation in the gluten index was high (4-54), indeed it was the most variable semolina parameter, and proved to contribute the most to variation in bread quality. This variation was independent of the glutenin alleles (HMW 20, 20*, 7, 13+16, 6+8) and was linked to the quality of the grain in terms of grain weight and the associated mg of N per grain. Remarkably, two old varieties, namely Calabria and Cappelli, were able to produce both a good yield and high quality bread. In the second experiment conducted, fourteen old and two modern durum wheat cultivars were analyzed in two field trials at two nitrogen (N) levels (46 and 86 Kg N ha-1) to assess the effect of grain number and N absorbed and translocated by the crops on grain protein percentage and whether the genotypic variation in grain N was associated with a variation in the quantitative ratios between the various protein fractions. Mean grain yield was below 3 t ha-1 and strongly associated with the corresponding variation in the number of grains m-2 (GNO) (r = 0.93***). The greater amount of N present in the biomass of old cultivars at anthesis, due to their greater biomass (r = 0.87***), resulted in a greater N source for the growing grains (15-23 g m-2) compared with modern cultivars (13-16 g m-2) despite the greater post-anthesis N uptake of modern cultivars. In spite of this larger source, most old cultivars generally delivered a lower amount of N m-2 (4.1 - 8.5 g m-2) to their mature grains compared with modern cultivars (8.1-10.3 g m-2). Nevertheless, their lower GNO resulted in a greater amount of N in each grain, which was the main determinant of their higher grain protein percentage (r = 0.81***). Genotypic variation in grain N content correlated with a variation in the content of all three protein fractions (albumins-globulins, gliadins and glutenins) but the strength of the correlation with gliadin and albumin-globulin was higher than that with the glutenins. Genotypic variation in gliadin and glutenin content was more tightly correlated with the variation in the sulphur-rich protein groups and subunits (alpha/beta, gamma and low molecular weight glutenin subunits) than with the sulphur-poor protein groups and subunits. The significant genotypic differences in the ratios GLI/GLU, Srich/Spoor and HMW/LMW were not influenced by the corresponding variation in grain N content, even when the slope of the regressions for the two terms of the ratios against the total, as in the case of HMW and LWM, were different. The final N content can only explain part of the variation in the quantitative ratios between fractions and components since genotypic differences other than grain N content also contribute to these variations

Suitability of Improved and Ancient Italian Wheat for Bread-Making: A Holistic Approach

Ancient and old wheat grains are gaining interest as a genetic reservoir to develop improved Italian genotypes with peculiar features. In this light, the aim of this study was to assess the baking performance of two improved einkorn (Monlis and Norberto) and two improved emmer (Padre Pio and Giovanni Paolo) genotypes in comparison with two Italian landraces (Garfagnana and Cappelli) and Khorasan. This set was evaluated following a holistic approach considering the flour, dough, and bread properties. The results showed that the flour properties, dough rheology, pasting, and fermentation parameters, as well as the bread properties, significantly differed among the studied genotypes. Cappelli produced the bread with the best quality, i.e., the highest volume and lowest firmness. Despite having the same pedigrees, Giovanni Paolo and Padre Pio resulted in significantly different technological properties. Giovanni Paolo flour showed the highest protein content and provided a dough with a high gas production capacity, resulting in the bread having a similar firmness to Cappelli. Padre Pio flour provided bread having a similar volume to Cappelli but a high firmness similar to Khorasan and Garfagnana. The einkorn genotypes, Monlis and Norberto, showed poor fermentation properties and high gelatinization viscosity that resulted in bread with poor quality. Alternatively, they could be more suitable for making non-fermented flatbreads. Our results showed that the improved wheat showed a high versatility of features, which offers bakers a flexible material to make a genotype of bread types

Nutritional Facts and Health/Nutrition Claims of Commercial Plant-Based Infant Foods: Where Do We Stand?

One of the current drivers of the infant food market is the rising demand for vegan products, and thus accurate knowledge of their nutritional composition is required to guide parents and health professionals. Thus, this study aimed to assess the nutritional composition of commercial plant-based infant foods, in addition to analyzing their health/nutrition claims. A selection of infant products launched in the global market (2017–2021) were classified into eight types and each type was divided into vegan and vegetarian products. Based on the ingredients list, cereals, seeds, pseudocereals and/or pulses were the most used ingredients in the retrieved products. The nutritional composition of six out eight types varied significantly among vegan and vegetarian products. When protein, calcium and iron contents differed significantly, vegan products had the highest protein content in all categories, compared to those that were vegetarian. When significant differences were found in sugar content, vegan products have lower amounts in all categories, compared to vegetarian products. Health and nutrition claims were found mostly used in vegetarian products. Strategies to reduce added sodium and sugar, and saturated fatty acids is required to ensure a healthy diet for infants. This study also implies the importance of a complete labelling of infants’ foods, especially vegan products to help parents making a reasonable choice

Nutritional Quality of Gluten-Free Bakery Products Labeled Ketogenic and/or Low-Carb Sold in the Global Market

Gluten-free and ketogenic bakery products are gaining momentum. This study aims to develop a better understanding of the nutritional quality of gluten-free bakery products labeled ketogenic and/or low-carb. For this reason, the products available on the global market that were labeled ketogenic and/or low-carb (n = 757) were retrieved and compared to standard gluten-free products (n = 509). Overall, nutritionally, no significant differences were found among ketogenic and/or low-carb products due the high intra-variability of each type, but they differed from standard products. Compared to standard products, all ketogenic and/or low carb, irrespective of categories, showed lower carbohydrates that derived chiefly from fibers and, to a lesser extent, from sugars. They also had higher protein contents (p p p < 0.05) in low-carb savory biscuits and breads, as well as in ketogenic sweet biscuits than in the same standard products. Overall, median values of the nutrients align with the definition of the ketogenic diet. Nevertheless, several products did not align with any of the ketogenic definitions. Therefore, consumers need to carefully read the nutritional facts and not rely on mentions such as low-cab and ketogenic to make their decision of purchase/consumption

Role of Nitrogen Uptake and Grain Number on the Determination of Grain Nitrogen Content in Old Durum Wheat Cultivars

Old durum wheat cultivars are attracting renewed attention due to their suitability to low input agricultural systems. Fourteen old durum wheat cultivars were analyzed in two field trials to assess the effect of grain number and N absorbed and translocated by the crops on grain protein percentage. The mean grain yield was below 3 t ha&minus;1 and strongly associated with the number of grains m&minus;2 (GNO) (r = 0.97 ***). Grain yield displayed a low sensitivity to severe terminal stressful conditions due to the ability of the old durum wheat cultivars to maintain high grain weights despite the high temperatures and short time available for grain filling caused by their late anthesis. The N source for the growing grains was mainly dependent on pre-anthesis N uptake, which was positively associated with the total biomass produced by anthesis. The tall cultivars generally left a greater amount of N m&minus;2 (8&ndash;15 g m&minus;2) in their straw compared with shorter ones (5&ndash;6 g m&minus;2). The low and variable GNO modulated the amount of N potentially available for each grain and probably limited the possibility of delivering the large N source to the grains. The large grains played a positive role in determining both grain yield (by compensating for the low GNO) and grain protein percentage, as their high grain filling rate was associated with a high N accumulation rate, and hence with a high grain N content and protein percentage

Traditional Fermented Dairy Products in Southern Mediterranean Countries: From Tradition to Innovation

Fermented dairy products have been essential elements in the diet of Southern Mediterranean countries for centuries. This review aims to provide an overview of the traditional fermented products in Southern Mediterranean countries, with a focus on fermented dairy products, and to discuss innovative strategies to make improved versions of these traditional products. A large variety of fermented dairy products were reviewed, showing high diversity, depending on the used raw materials, starter cultures, and preparation procedures. Traditionally, dairy products were fermented using spontaneous fermentation, back-slopping, and/or the addition of rennet. Compared with commercial products, traditional products are characterized by peculiar organoleptic features owing to the indigenous microflora. The main limitation of traditional products is preservation as most products were consumed fresh. In addition to drying, brine or oil was used to extend the product shelf life but resulted in high salt/fat products. Several studies suggested alternative ingredients/processing to make revised products with new flavors, improved nutritional quality, and a longer shelf life. There is still plenty of room for more research to obtain a better understanding of the indigenous microflora and on quality improvement and standardization to reach a wider market

N Partitioning between Gluten Fractions in a Set of Italian Durum Wheat Cultivars: Role of the Grain N Content

International audienceGrain protein content constitutes a key quality trait for durum wheat end-products and may also impact grain protein composition. A total of sixteen durum wheat cultivars were analyzed in a field trial during two seasons at two nitrogen (N) levels to evaluate whether and to what extent the variation in total grain N was associated with variation in the quantity of the various protein fractions and grain quality parameters. Genotypic variation in grain N content correlated with the variation in the content of all three protein fractions, although the strength of the correlation with gliadin and albumin-globulin was higher than that with glutenins. Genotypic variation in gliadin and glutenin content was more tightly correlated with the variation in the sulfur (S)-rich protein groups than with the S-poor protein groups and subunits. The variation in the percentage of unextractable polymeric proteins (UPP%) among genotypes was independent of their glutenin allelic composition. The significant genotypic differences in UPP% and in the ratios between protein groups and subunits were not influenced by the corresponding variation in grain N content. The final grain N content can only account for part of the variation in quality parameters and in the partitioning of total grain N between protein fractions since genotypic differences other than grain N content also contribute to these variations

Development and Chemical-Sensory Characterization of Chickpeas-Based Beverages Fermented with Selected Starters

Legume protein ingredients are receiving continuous interest for their potential to formulate plant-based dairy analogs. In this study, a legume-based slurry was produced from an Apulian black chickpeas (BCP) protein concentrate and fermented with three starter cultures, Streptococcus&nbsp;thermophilus (ST), a co-culture of ST with Lactococcus&nbsp;lactis (STLL) and a co-culture of ST with Lactobacillus&nbsp;plantarum (STLP). The effect of fermentation on the biochemical, texture and sensorial parameters was evaluated. The same beverage without inoculum was used as a control (CTRL). All the obtained fermented beverages were characterized by high protein (120.00 g kg&minus;1) and low-fat contents (17.12 g kg&minus;1). Fermentation contributed to a decrease in the contents of phytic acid by 10 to 79% and saturated fatty acids by 30 to 43%, with the STLP fermentation exercising the major effect. The three culture starters influenced the texture and sensorial attributes and the profile of the volatile compounds differently. Fermentation increased the lightness, consistency, cohesivity and viscosity of the formulated beverages. On a sensorial level, STLL had a major effect on the acidity, sourness and astringency, while both ST and STLP affected the creaminess, solubility and stickiness. Legumes and grass aromas were masked in LAB-fermented samples, probably due to a new VOC formation. The functional properties of LAB fermentation, along with the high protein content of the black chickpeas concentrate, provide the opportunity to formulate a clean label and safe plant-based fermented beverage with higher nutritional value compared to the others currently found in the market