The book summarizes the latest research and developments in dairy biotechnology and engineering. It provides a strategic approach for readers relating to fundamental research and practical work with lactic acid bacteria. The book covers every aspect from identification, ecology, taxonomy and industrial use. All contributors are experts who have substantial experience in the corresponding research field. The book is intended for researchers in the human, animal, and food sciences related to lactic acid bacteria. Dr. Heping Zhang is a Professor at the Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology and Engineering Ministry of Education, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, China. Dr. Yimin Cai works in Livestock and Environment Division, Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), Japan.

1 2 MARCEL B. ROBERFROID AND GLENN R. GIBSON 1 Universite Catholique de Louvain, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Avenue Mounier 73, B-1200 Brussels, BELGIUM 2 Food Microbial Sciences Unit, Department of Food Science and Technology, The University of Reading, Reading, UK It is clear that diet fulfils a number of important human requirements. These include the provision of sufficient nutrients to meet the requirements of essential metabolic pathways, as well as the sensory (and social) values associated with eating. It is also evident that diet may control and modulate various body functions in a manner that can reduce the risk of certain diseases. This very broad view of nutrition has led to the development of foodstuffs with added "functionality." Many different definitions of functional foods have arisen. Most of these complicate the simple issue that a functional food is merely a dietary ingredient(s) that can have positive properties above its normal nutritional value. Other terms used to describe such foods include vitafoods, nutraceuticals, pharmafoods, foods for specified health use, health foods, designer foods, etc. Despite some trepidation, the concept has recently attracted much interest through a vast number of articles in both the popular and scientific media.

Organized by the French Speaking Society for Study and Research on Essential Trace Elements (SFERETE), the Fifth International Congress on Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology "Therapeutic Uses of Trace Elements" was held February 4-7. 1996, in Meribel (Savoy, France). This resort is situated in the heart of the Three Valleys domain, at the gate way of the beautiful Vanoise National Park. More than 250 participants covering six conti nents attended the meeting. This volume contains the text of plenary lectures and of several oral and poster communications. Trace element deficiencies are not only encountered in developing countries or during malnutrition. Subclinical features are also observed in developed societies where they consti tute a background for an impressive number of pathological states. Preventive and curative treatments with commercial products are often prescribed without reliable studies about their clinical interest or potential efficiency. By contrast empirical approaches such as the catalytic therapy, nutritional and pharmacological aspects of trace elements were emphasized on a sci entific basis to favor their rational therapeutic use."

This is the first comprehensive reference on pecan technology, and discusses the many factors that influence pecan quality. It presents extensive information on variety, cultural conditions, mechanization, processing, storage, prevention of spoilage, and methods for evaluating the quality of pecans.

The annual research conference for 1996 of the American Institute for Cancer Re search was again held at the Loews L'Enfant Plaza Hotel in Washington, DC, August 29 and 30. The topic for this, the seventh in the series, was "Dietary Fat and Cancer: Genetic and Molecular Mechanisms. " Two separate presentations were given as the conference overview. "Fat and Cancer: The Epidemiologic Evidence in Perspective" noted that die tary fat can be saturated, largely from animal or dairy sources, or mono- or polyunsatu rated, mostly from plant sources. Unlike animal fats, fish contain relatively high levels of protective omega-3 fatty acids. Although the hypothesis that dietary fat is associated with cancer is plausible, the mechanisms involved are reasonable, and many animal studies support the hypothesis, there are many obstacles in any direct extrapolation to humans, in cluding imprecise measures of dietary fat intake, variability in individual diets, and spe cies variations. Despite these limitations, there is a weak positive correlation between colon cancer and dietary fat intake, but with substantial differences for various ethnic groups. In the case of breast cancer, there is substantial variation among countries and eth nic groups, but the overall evidence indicated an association with fat in the diet. Epidemiologic studies of dietary fat and prostate cancer are more consistent and most show a positive relationship. However, it was not clear which types of dietary fat were im plicated in the effect."

This book will introduce non-molecular biologists to diagnostic PCR-based te- nologies for the detection of pathogens in foods. By the conclusion of this book, the reader should be able to: 1) understand the principles behind PCR including real-time; 2) know the basics involved in the design, optimization, and imp- mentation of PCR in food microbiology lab setting; 3) interpret results; 4) know limitations and strengths of PCR; and 5) understand the basic principles behind a new fledgling technology, microarrays and its potential applications in food microbiology. This book will provide readers with the latest information on PCR and microarray based tests and their application towards the detection of bacterial, protozoal and viral pathogens in foods. Figures, charts, and tables will be used, where appropriate, to help illustrate concepts or provide the reader with useful information or resources as an important starting point in bringing molecular diagnostics into the food microbiology lab. This book is not designed to be a "cookbook"PCR manual with recipes and step-by-step instructions but rather serve as a primer or resource book for students, faculty, and other professionals interested in molecular biology and its integration into food safety. v Table of Contents Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v Chapter 1. PCR Basics Amanda Fairchild, M. S. , Margie D. Lee DVM, Ph. D. , and John J. Maurer, Ph. D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Chapter 2. The Mythology of PCR: A Warning to the Wise John J. Maurer, Ph. D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Chapter 3.

'...aimed at the technical person (and) also a good basic book for undergraduate students...' - Food Technology New Zealand' - '...especially useful for food technologists and others in the industry or training for it.' - Food Australia

This volume comprises the edited proceedings of the International Taurine Sympo sium held in Osaka, Japan, in June 1995, as a Satellite Symposium of the 15th Biennial of the International Society for Neurochemistry. This Taurine Symposium was the Meeting latest in a series held since 1975 at approximately two-year intervals by an informal group of international researchers. It attracted contributions from 20 countries, ranging from Armenia via Finland and Spain to the United States. Some 121 participants attended. The Symposium was organized and chaired by Junichi Azuma, University of Osaka. Other members of the Organizing Committee in Japan consisted of Kinya Kuriyama and Masao Nakagawa, both from the Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, and Akemichi Baba, from Osaka University. The Committee had to contend with the disaster of the Kobe earthquake, which struck on January 21. The epicenter was only around 25 miles from the meeting site, and the quake demolished the home of one Committee member. Despite this unnaturally natural handicap, the participants experienced a superbly organized meeting, one which more than maintained the high social and scientific standards established for this series. In his Welcome Message, Dr. Azuma listed a threefold objective for the Symposium: To provide a forum for the interdisciplinary exchange of information on taurine; to give an opportunity for renewing old friendships and making new friends; and to promote coopera tion among participants from around the world."

Insects associated with raw grain and processed food cause qualitative and quantitative losses. Preventing these losses caused by stored-product insects is essential from the farmer's field to the consumer's table. While traditional pesticides play a significant role in stored-product integrated pest management (IPM), there has recently been, and will continue to be, a greater emphasis on alternative approaches. Alternatives to Pesticides in Stored-Product IPM details the most promising methods, ranging from extreme temperatures to the controversial radiation, and from insect-resistant packaging to pathogens. This collection is essential for anyone in academia, industry, or government interested in pest ecology or food or grain science.

"So long as a person is capable of self renewal they are a living being. " -Amiel Cereals have been the source of life to the human race, providing nutritional and ma terial needs since the dawn of civilization. As with all dynamic industries, the Cereal in dustry has renewed itself in the past; as the millennium approaches, it is on the brink of another renewal, in which the versatility and providence of cereals are being rediscovered, but in new and exciting ways. Cereals are richly diverse; over 10,000 varieties convert minerals and the energy of the sun into a bursting catalog of functional and versatile biomolecules and biopolymers. Processing technology allows these components to be accessed, separated, isolated and purified, while chemical science allows modification for even greater diversity and speci ficity. The last century has seen the move from cereal- to oil-based chemical and materials industries. But cereals contain a greater variety and functionality of macromolecules than oil. Starch, protein, bran and straw, already diverse across cereal varieties, can be fraction ated into more specific elements, modified chemically to enhance function, or used as feedstocks in fermentation-based bioconversion systems, to produce a range of bulk and fine chemicals for industries as diverse as food, pharmaceuticals, plastics, textiles, pulp and paper, transport, composites and boards, adhesives and energy."

This edition is a practical, how-to book, that discusses ingredients, mixtures, methods, equipment and their functions, machinery and managing technical functions. It examines the ingredients used in cookies and crackers and how they function in doughs, batters, and finished products. It also discusses typical formulas and how variations affect finished product qualities. Other areas covered include product development, quality assurance and the legal responsibilities of technical managers.

Written for the food scientist, and food product developer, this reference manual discusses the physical and chemical properties of sucrose and its contribution to product flavour. Aspects covered include the history of available sugar sources, from naturally formed sugar in plants to the commercially developed, high quality product used in the food industry. The manufacture of refined sugar from both beet and cane plants is also discussed. Each chapter contains a reference list for more in-depth coverage of chapter subjects.

Meat Preservation is written as an integrated and all-encompassing text that includes historical aspects and trends, discussion of basic background information, the evaluation and status of techniques and procedures, and treatments of potential future developments. The latter are particularly important because, based on consumer desires, there is a definite trend developing to produce and market meat and meat products that have been subjected to a lesser degree of preservation, yet appear to be fresh and healthful. Today there is an intense interest to produce the safest meat possible. The overriding theme of Meat Preservation, provides the understanding of the science of meat and discussion for using known technologies to achieve the goal of safe meat of high quality.
Professor Cassens has gathered information on the preservation of meat from many sources, and organized the material of this important subject in a highly readable form. Proper preservation of meat is important to prevent economic loss due to spoilage, and to prevent the transmission of foodborne illness. To make the text flow smoothly, references are not cited directly, but are given as general sources. The author has attempted to draw all the aspects of the field together and has woven into the writing an analysis of the underlying reasons for what has happened--as well as what might happen. The book provides the reader with an accurate, objective and full description of the meat product and preservation fields.

Within the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB) was established as an implementing agreement. The CPB is an international agreement establishing the rights of recipient countries to be notified of and to approve or reject the domestic import and/or production of living modified organisms (LMOs). Decisions regarding import/production are to be on the basis of a biosafety assessment. Article 26.1 of the CPB allows for the (optional) inclusion of socio-economic considerations (SECs) into that biosafety assessment process. This book compiles expert assessments of the issues relevant to SEC assessment of LMOs and fundamental for decisions regarding whether to undertake such assessments at all. It includes an overview of the inclusion of SEC assessment in the regulation of LMOs that looks at the rationale for the inclusion of SECs, in the context of the existing science-based risk assessment systems. This book reviews the various factors that can and have been suggested for inclusion in SEC assessment, and provides a meaningful dialogue about the contrasts, benefits and tradeoffs that are, and will, be created by the potential move to the inclusion of SECs in the regulation of LMOs, making it of interest to bothacademics and policy-makers."

This book provides an overview of ethical issues arising in connection with progress made in food biotechnology. There is substantive discussion of the ethical issues referring to food safety, animal welfare, environmental impact, ownership of intellectual property, and consumer perception of the product. The arguments for and against issues causing major concern are evaluated, advancing the quality of the debate. It will be of interest to companies exploiting the new biotechnology techniques, government policy makers, food scientists and biotechnologist in academic research institutions.

This new edition of a highly successful book retains the emphasis on the practical approach to rancidity in foods which was the hallmark of the previous editions. There has been substantial revision to bring existing chapters up-to-date with current techniques and the inclusion of additional chapters on spectrophotometric and chromatographic analysis of oxidation, legislative and labeling aspects, and HACCP in the avoidance of rancidity. There are also new chapters on rancidity in fish and in confectionery products.

A variety of processing methods are used to make foods edible; to pennit storage; to alter texture and flavor; to sterilize and pasteurize food; and to destroy microorganisms and other toxins. These methods include baking, broiling, cooking, freezing, frying, and roasting. Many such efforts have both beneficial and harmful effects. It is a paradox of nature that the processing of foods can improve nutrition, quality, safety, and taste, and yet occasionally lead to the formation of anti-nutritional and toxic compounds. These multifaceted consequences of food processing arise from molecular interactions among nutrients with each other and with other food ingredients. Since beneficial and adverse effects of food processing are of increasing importance to food science, nutrition, and human health, and since many of the compounds formed have been shown to be potent carcinogens and growth inhibitors in animals, I organized a symposium broadly concerned with the nutritional and toxicological consequences of food processing. The symposium was sponsored by the American Institute of Nutrition (AIN) -Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) for its annual meeting in Washington, D.C., April 1-5, 1990. Invited speakers were asked to develop at least one of the following topics: 1. Nutrient-nonnutrient interactions between amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, minerals, vitamins, tannins, fiber, natural toxicants, etc. 2. Effects of radiation. 3. Thermally induced formation of dietary mutagens, antimutagens, carcinogens, anticarcinogens, antioxidants, and growth inhibitors. 4. Effects of pH on nutritional value and safety.

This work introduces the concept of reformulation, a relatively new strategy to develop foods with beneficial properties. Food reformulation by definition is the act of re-designing an existing, often popular, processed food product with the primary objective of making it healthier. In recent years the concept of food reformulation has evolved significantly as additional benefits of re-designing food have become apparent. In addition to targeting specific food ingredients that are considered potentially harmful for human health, food reformulation can also be effectively used as a strategy to make foods more nutritious by introducing essential macro- /micro-nutrients or phytochemicals in the diet. Reformulating foods can also improve sustainability by introducing "waste" (and underutilized) ingredients into the food chain. In light of these developments, reformulating existing foods is now considered a realistic and attractive opportunity to provide healthy, nutritious, and sustainable food choices to the consumers and likewise improve public health. Indeed reformulation has now become essential in many cases for redressing the health properties of foods that are popularly consumed and significantly affecting public health. This edited volume covers aspects of food reformulation from various angles, exploring the role of the food industry, academia, and consumers in developing new products. Some of the major themes contributors address include methods of reformulating food products for health, improving the nutritional composition of foods, and challenges to the food industry, including regulation as well as consumer perception of new products. The book presents several case studies to clarify these objectives and illustrate the difficulties encountered in the process of developing a reformulated product. Chapters from experts in the field identify emerging and future trends in food product development, and highlight ways in which these efforts will help with increasing food security, improving nutrition and health, and promoting sustainable production. The editors have designed the book to be useful for both industry professionals and the research community. This interdisciplinary approach incorporates a wide spectrum of food sciences (including composition, engineering, and chemistry) as well as nutrition and public health. Food and nutrition professionals, policy makers, health care and social scientists, and graduate students will also find the information relevant.

This book deals in detail with all aspects of hop growing, hop cone handling, drying, storage and processing into hop products and preparations, and with their utilization in the brewing industry.
Particular attention is given to theoretical and practical hop production problems from the perspective of biology, chemistry, and economics, the ultimate objective of the book being high-quality hop raw materials for the brewing industries.
The book is intended for hop growers, traders, brewing specialists, agricultural colleges, hop research and brewing industry institutes.

This book offers a broad perspective on the issue of world hunger, analyzing the long-term data on food production from 1885 to the present. Exploring evidence of the validity of Malthusian theory throughout history, the book documents those cases where innovations in food-producing technologies were adopted in response to population pressures and crises of hunger.

Food products are complex in nature which makes their analysis difficult. Different scientific disciplines such as biochemistry, microbiology, and nutrition, together with engineering concepts are involved in their characterization. However, imaging of food materials and data analysis has gained more importance due to innovations in the food industry, as well as the emergence of food nanotechnology. Image analysis protocols and techniques can be used in food structure analysis and process monitoring. Therefore, food structure imaging is crucial for various sections of the food chain starting from the raw material to the end product. This book provides information on imaging techniques such as electron microscopy, laser microscopy, x-ray tomography, raman and infrared imaging, together with data analysis protocols. It addresses the most recent advances in imaging technologies and data analysis of grains, liquid food systems (i.e. emulsions and gels), semi-solid and solid foams (i.e. bakery products, dough, expanded snacks), protein films, fruits and vegetable confectionery and nuts. This book also: Provides in-depth view of raw material characterization and process control Covers structure-functionality and structure-texture relationships Reviews applications to emerging areas of food science with an insight into future trends

Probiotics in The Prevention and Management of Human Diseases: A Scientific Perspective addresses the use of probiotics and their mechanistic aspects in diverse human diseases. In particular, the mechanistic aspects of how these probiotics are involved in mitigating disease symptoms (novel approaches and immune-mechanisms induced by Probiotics), clinical trials of certain probiotics, and animal model studies will be presented through this book. In addition, the book covers the role of probiotics in prevention and management aspects of crucial human diseases, including multidrug resistant infections, hospital acquired infections, allergic conditions, autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders, gastrointestinal diseases, neurological disorders, and cancers. Finally, the book addresses the use of probiotics as vaccine adjuvants and as a solution for nutritional health problems and describes the challenges of using probiotics in management of human disease conditions as well as their biosafety concerns. Intended for nutrition researchers, microbiologists, physiologists, and researchers in related disciplines as well as students studying these topics require a resource that addresses the specific role of probiotics in the prevention and management of human disease.