The industrial world consumes millions of kilos of processed food per day. Consistency of taste and texture, standards of raw materials, adherence to health codes, and uniform weights, are established industry specifications. Failure to meet any one of these can result in tons of food destroyed and billions of dollars lost. By the end of the 20th century the growing reliance on computers had shifted food quality and safety activities from human inspection to automated, statistically driven monitoring systems. Measurement and Control in Food Processing is designed to raise awareness of the current techniques of computerized measurement and process control, aid in the design of instruments and control schemes, explain the applicability of these tools to enhance quality and productivity, and educate students preparing to enter the food industry. Beginning with an illustrated introduction, followed by a detailed background in basic principles the author lays a solid foundation for understanding the role of transducers and controllers, demonstrating the need for current practices with specific problems from his experience in the tea industry. Divided into five major chapters, the book covers the most recent developments and applications in measurement techniques, and non-traditional methods such as electronic nose, biosensors, and fuzzy logic control. Addressing a major issue of today, the author investigates microcomputer-based monitoring by discussing the devices, standards, procedures, and suitable examples for process-computer interaction. Bridging the gap between the food-processing engineer who may not know how to design a controller unit and the instrumentation engineer who may notunderstand the complex flavor components involved, Measurement and Control in Food Processing ensures that together they can consistently make a decent cup of tea.

Merging coverage of two increasingly popular and quickly growing food trends, Organic Production and Use of Alternative Crops provides an overview of the basic principles of organic agriculture and highlights its multifunctionality with special emphasis on the conservation of rare crops and their uses. Considering more than 30 disregarded and neglected crops suitable for growth in temperate climates, each chapter covers the botany, climate conditions, cultivars, production and yield, growth and ecology, organic cultivation, harvesting, handling and storage, and utilization where the information is available and applicable to the crop under discussion. Other topics include organic production systems, the nutritional and health benefits of products, food processing, and suggestions for some homemade foods. The authors have a wide range of experience in the growing and processing of alternative crops, the management of the processing projects, and the marketing of organic products. They have worked in close cooperation with many small scale processing activities on farms and in the food industry. Drawing on their combined experience, they provide a summary of the major problems and the knowledge base for utilization of alternative crops in new products. The broad range of coverage and interdisciplinary approach make this book a comprehensive reference and useful tool not only for the production of alternative crops but also for the development of new niche market products.

The quality and safety of food are crucial for human nutrition. However, evaluating the chemical composition of food is challenging for the analyst and requires powerful methods. Chromatography and mass spectrometry (MS) is the gold standard for analyzing complex food samples, including raw materials and intermediate and finished products. Mass Spectrometry in Food Analysis covers the MS-based analysis of different aspects of food quality, which include nutritional value, profile of macronutrients (proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates), micronutrients (vitamins), and nutraceutical active compounds. Additionally, sensory quality, flavor, food pigments, safety, and detection of pesticides, contact materials, veterinary drugs and pharmaceuticals, organic pollutants, and pathogens are covered. Key Features: Contains the basics of mass spectrometry and experimental strategies Explores determination of macro- and micronutrients Analyzes sensory and nutraceutical food quality Discusses detection of contaminants and proof of authenticity Presents emerging methods for food analysis This book contains an introductory section that explains the basics of MS and the difference between targeted and untargeted strategies for beginners. Further, it points out new analytical challenges, such as monitoring contaminants of emerging concern, and presents innovative techniques (e.g., ambient ionization MS and data mining). Also available in the Food Analysis & Properties Series: Nanoemulsions in Food Technology: Development, Characterization, and Applications, edited by Javed Ahmad and Leo M.L. Nollet (ISBN: 978-0-367-61492-8) Sequencing Technologies in Microbial Food Safety and Quality, edited by Devarajan Thangadurai, Leo M.L. Nollet, Saher Islam, and Jeyabalan Sangeetha (ISBN: 978-0-367-35118-2) Chiral Organic Pollutants: Monitoring and Characterization in Food and the Environment, edited by Edmond Sanganyado, Basil K. Munjanja, and Leo M.L. Nollet (ISBN: 978-0-367-42923-2) For a complete list of books in this series, please visit our website at: www.crcpress.com/Food-Analysis--Properties/book-series/CRCFOODANPRO

This edited book serves as a vital resource on the contributions of microorganisms to advances in nanotechnology, establishing their applications in diverse areas of biomedicine, environment, biocatalysis, food and nutrition, and renewable energy. It documents the impacts of microorganisms in nanotechnology leading to further developments in microbial nanobiotechnology. This book appeals to researchers and scholars of microbiology, biochemistry and nanotechnology.

Plants produce chemicals as part of their normal metabolic activities. These include primary metabolites found in all plants, such as sugars and fats, as well as secondary metabolites, which can have therapeutic effects in humans and be refined to produce drugs. Plants synthesize a bewildering variety of phytochemicals, but most are derivatives of a few biochemical motifs. Numerous herbal-derived substances have been evaluated for their therapeutic potential. These include alkaloids, coumarins, saponins, plant pigments and flavonoids. Flavonoids, carotenoids and anthocyanins are probably the best known of these substances due to their antioxidant properties. Carotenoids: Structure and Function in the Human Body presents comprehensive coverage of carotenoids. The text covers the scientific literature and clinical significance of this organic pigment, with an emphasis on its therapeutic potential. The authors approach carotenoids from a range of perspectives, from their structural and physicochemical properties to their distribution in nature, interaction with the human metabolism, and use as a coloring agent in various products. The intake, metabolism and secretion of anthocyanins in the human body are covered in-depth, as are the biosynthetic pathways through which these compounds are synthesized in the natural system. Factors affecting stability and extraction are listed, and health-related uses and biological activities are covered in great detail. Present and future trends in carotenoid research are also presented. This book provides a solid background in carotenoids for researchers and professionals in food science, food technology, nutrition, biology, chemistry and medical sciences.