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Rusip is a spontaneously fermented anchovy product originating from Bangka Belitung province in Indonesia, used as umami seasoning. This study investigated the characteristics of rusip and its umami fractions to reveal umami peptides in rusip. Six commercial rusip samples from Bangka were analyzed for their proximate composition, pH, total titratable acids, NaCl, total sugars, free glutamic acid, nucleotide (adenosine monophosphate), and total amino acid composition. Umami taste intensity of water-soluble extracts (WSE) was analyzed by a sensory panel. Total plate count and total lactic acid bacteria were also analyzed to assess the microbial variations between the samples. Stepwise ultrafiltration on the highest umami intensity WSE was conducted to obtain three fractions: >5 kDa, 3-5 kDa, and <3 kDa, followed by chromatography fractionation of fraction <3 kDa by Sephadex G-15 gel to acquire umami fractions (F1-F4). Protein (28.94%-44.53% dry weight basis [db]) and NaCl (30.86%-55.73% db) were the major solids of rusip. Concentrations of free glutamic acid (5.79%-8.99% db) in rusip are related with umami intensities of WSE. F1 was the umami fraction with its residual umami amino acids higher than its free ones; therefore, F1 was also a peptide fraction. It contained peptides of 3-12 residues within the highest relative area. Their sequences contained those of umami peptides listed in BIOPEP database. Some of these peptides were also associated with bioactivities. This information could broaden the insight of umami peptides and their bioactivities in fermented foods. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Rusip is used as a source of umami ingredient in food. The characteristics of product quality of rusip were reported in this study. In addition, the chemical and sensory characteristics as well as peptides of its umami fraction were also described. This information is important for the exploration of umami peptides from fish fermented products., (© 2024 Institute of Food Technologists.)

The goal of this study was to create a fermented probiotic fruit puree for lactose-intolerant people, vegetarians, and infants over 6 months old. Fermented fruit purees were developed using apples, peaches, and bananas with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains: Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum (S5), Lactobacillus fermentum strain w8 (S10), and Lactobacillus pentosus strain ml104 (S14). Different fruit puree formulations were produced using three strains, two inoculation ratios (4% and 5%), and two fermentation durations (24  and 48 h). The physicochemical parameters (pH, total soluble solids, and color), total phenols content (TPC), total antioxidant capacity, bacterial viability, volatile aroma profile (VAP), and individual phenolic compound profile of fruit puree fermented for both 24  and 48 h were compared with the unfermented (control) purees. The results of VAP were evaluated via PROMETHEE and cluster analysis. Time of fermentation and bacterial cultures at varied concentrations improved color values of samples (L*, a*, and b*) compared to controls. The level of bioactive compounds in several samples (S10 and S14) decreased after fermentation in contrast to S5 samples. The bacterial population in the samples ranged from ∼7.00 to 9.50 log CFU/g after 48-h fermentation. The fruit puree samples exhibited the presence of two different phenolic compounds and a total of 17 distinct volatile aroma compounds. The control sample scored highest for aromatic components in PROMETHEE, while S14-II was the most unique sample in cluster analysis. In conclusion, fermented probiotic fruit puree shown high promise as a carrier for live probiotics, and the fermentation process boosted the nutritional content of the fruit puree., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Food Science published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Institute of Food Technologists.)

Addition of soybean in raw materials could improve the flavor of chi-flavor Baijiu (CFB) in production. For investigating the mechanism of flavor improvement during fermentation, the changes of volatile flavors and their relationship with microbial community were analyzed. The results showed that the average contents of lactic and acetic acid in EG (added with hydrolyzed soybean) samples were higher those of CK (without hydrolyzed soybean) samples. The contents of main volatile esters, including ethyl acetate, ethyl palmitate, and ethyl benzoate, in EG samples were higher than those in CK samples at the end of fermentation. The content of alcohols in EG sample was 140.55 mg/L, higher than that in CK sample at the end of fermentation. Especially, the average content of characteristic flavor β-phenylethanol in EG samples increased 17.6% in comparison with that in CK samples during fermentation. Lactobacillus and Pediococcus were the dominant bacterial genera, whereas Saccharomyces, Mortierella, and Trichosporon were dominant fungal genera in both CK and EG samples. Lactobacillus and Weissella confusa showed strong positive correlation with β-phenylethanol, ethyl acetate, and ethyl benzoate. This study provides an in-depth analysis of the effects of hydrolyzed soybeans on the volatile flavor compounds and microbial communities of CFB and theoretical guidance for improving the quality of CFB., (© 2024 Institute of Food Technologists.)

Mushrooms have garnered significant attention for their nutritional composition and potential health benefits, including antioxidant, antihypertensive, and cholesterol-lowering properties. This review explores the nutritional composition of edible mushrooms, including their high protein content, essential amino acids, low fat, cholesterol levels, and bioactive compounds with medicinal value. Moreover, the study analyzes the microbiology of mushroom fermentation, focusing on the diverse microbial ecosystem involved in the transformation of raw mushrooms and the preservation methods employed to extend their shelf life. Special emphasis is placed on lactic acid fermentation as a cost-effective and efficient preservation technique. It involves controlling the growth of lactic acid bacteria to enhance the microbial stability and nutritional quality of mushrooms. Furthermore, the bioactivities of fermented mushrooms are elucidated, which are antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-glycemic, immune modulatory, and other biological activities. The mechanisms underlying these bioactivities are explored, emphasizing the role of fermented mushrooms in suppressing free radicals, enhancing antioxidant defenses, and modulating immune responses. Overall, this review provides comprehensive insights into the nutritional composition, microbiology, bioactivities, and underlying mechanisms of fermented mushrooms, highlighting their potential as functional foods with significant health-promoting properties., (© 2024 Institute of Food Technologists.)

This research was intended to determine the effect of different cereal and pulse flours and commercial gluten-free flour on the mineral content, fatty acid composition, and volatile compounds of the gluten-free tarhana (cereal-based fermented dry soup). In order to produce the gluten-free tarhana, white bean (BF), chickpea (CF), commercial gluten-free (GWF), yellow lentil (LF), and rice (RF) flours were used. The Mg, K, Al, and Mn contents of tarhanas obtained using different pulse and cereal flours were found to be quite high compared to tarhanas produced with commercial GWF. The utilization of different cereal and pulse flours in the tarhana formulation resulted in an increase in the percentage (30.37-51.47%) of the total polyunsaturated fatty acid (TPUFA). The highest (452.4 µg/g) and the lowest (241.17 µg/g) total concentration of all compounds were detected in BF and GWF, respectively. The highest number (21) of compounds belonged to terpenes and terpenoids, followed by acids, hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes, esters, ketones, and alkanes. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study shows that cereal and pulse flours can be used to produce acceptable tarhana with improved nutritional quality in terms of mineral and fatty acid contents. The results of the current study may be useful and applicable to food manufacturers producing gluten-free products for celiac patients., (© 2021 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

The objective of this study was to develop probiotic beverages, enriched with plant proteins, with high nutritional value. A rice-based beverage fermented with a specific probiotic formulation comprised Lactobacillus acidophilus CL1285, Lactobacillus casei LBC80R and Lactobacillus rhamnosus CLR2 has been enriched with a combination of pea and rice proteins (PR) or pea and hemp proteins (PH) at 13 and 11% total protein, respectively. These protein associations have been selected because their amino acid ratio was >1, as recommended by the FAO. The beverage enriched with protein significantly increased its viscosity by more than 10 times thanks to the enrichment, while the fermentation reduced it by 50% for PR and 20% for PH. In vitro protein digestibility results showed that the protein enrichment and the fermentation treatment significantly increased digestibility values of the beverages with value of 72.7% for fermented PR beverage and 61.4% for unenriched fermented control beverage (p ≤ 0.05). Peptide profiles of PR and PH enriched beverages indicated that the fermentation led to a reduced level of high molecular weight (HMW) peptides of about 60% and an increase of low molecular weight (LMW) peptides by over 50%. Therefore, both the fermentation and the enrichment in protein increased the nutritional value of the rice-based beverages. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Good quality of probiotics formulation and high-protein products are in increasing demand and plant proteins as an alternative of animal protein are popular. This study has permit to develop rice-based commercial probiotic beverages enriched in a combination of pea and rice or pea and hemp proteins in order to obtain a complete protein in terms of amino acids composition. The lactic acid fermentation and the enrichment with a plant protein combination led to a better protein digestibility of beverage., (© 2021 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

The proteolysis and peptidomic profiles and potential bioactivities of fermented soybean curd (furu) during fermentation were studied. The degree of protein hydrolysis (DH) and peptide content significantly increased with fermentation time (p < 0.05), and reached the highest levels after ripening for 90 days. The variety and abundance of bioactive peptides in furu samples were fermentation-time dependent, and furu ripening for 30 and 90 days showed the highest similarity. An ACE-inhibitor and antioxidant peptides were the two main bioactive peptide components, and their abundance and bioactivities exhibited a significant increase with fermentation and reached the maximum levels at 90 days. All these results indicated that microbial fermentation is an effective way to obtain bioactive peptides with soy-based fermented products, and their effects on health might be explored in future studies. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This work indicated that microbial fermentation is an effective way to obtain bioactive peptides with soy-based fermented products., (© 2021 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

Effect of capsaicinoids in hot pepper powder (HP) contains various chemical compounds, including capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin, which are the main ingredients of the spicy taste. To evaluate the effect of HP on the microbial community in kimchi fermentation, kimchi [kimchi-HP, kimchi-HPE and kimchi-HPER made by adding HP, HP alcohol extract (HPE) and HPE residues (HPER)] was fermented at 4°C for 28 days. The pH and titratable acidity of the samples and the number of bacteria changed with fermentation time. Kimchi-HPER had significantly higher total viable and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) than other samples after 28 days of fermentation. The capsaicinoids content did not differ before and after fermentation, whereas the major free sugar content decreased, and the mannitol content increased. The principal component analysis (PCA) biplots showed similar patterns between kimchi-HP and -HPE. It was confirmed that Leuconostoc and Weissella were related to the initial fermentation, and Lactobacillus was involved in late fermentation. Kimchi-HP and kimchi-HPE increased the ratio of Lactobacillus sakei and decreased that of Leuconostoc mesenteroides compared to kimchi-HPER. Overall, these results revealed that capsaicinoids contained in HP affected Lactobacillus proliferation and mannitol increase during kimchi fermentation., (© 2021 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

As natural polyphenols have been known to have the deodorizing activity, the deodorizing properties and mechanisms of action of polyphenols, the main constituents of green tea extract (GTE), black tea extract (BTE), and grape seed extract (GSE), against volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) in kimchi were investigated. Six VSCs were targeted and detected to be in high abundance in kimchi. The deodorizing activity (%) toward VSCs was found to be in the following order: GSE (58.4 to 91.8) >GTE (37.6 to 73.8) >BTE (28.4 to 60.3). This was attributed to the high phenolic (892.6 ± 10.5 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (666.5 ± 23.9 mg CE/g) contents in GSE, that is, polymeric proanthocyanidins (85.97%). Particularly, the hydroxyl groups in the polyphenols showed deodorizing activity against VSCs via a sulfur-capture reaction. For packaging applications, deodorization films based on GSE and polycaprolactone were developed, and the GSE/polycaprolactone 20% films exhibited strong deodorizing effects (54.9 to 99.8%) against kimchi VSCs., (© 2021 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

Consumption of nutrient-rich seaweeds and fermented nondairy foods represent fast growing trends among health-minded consumers. Assessment of lacto-fermented seaweed was performed to address these trends, and to offer shelf-life extension and product diversification for fresh kelps. The objectives were to evaluate the effects of kelp species and inclusion level on fermentation kinetics, physicochemical quality, safety, shelf-life, and consumer acceptability of a seaweed sauerkraut-style product. Six formulations with different inclusion levels (25, 50, and 75%) of shredded kelp (sugar kelp, SK or winged kelp, WK) were mixed with cabbage, 2% salt, and inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum (approximately 10 6 CFU/g) and Leuconostoc mesenteroides (approximately 10 1 CFU/g). Products were processed in triplicate, fermented until a target pH of ≤4.6 was achieved, and sampled periodically for 60 days. Kelp species and inclusion level significantly affected most variables tested. The most rapid fermentation (3 days), as evidenced by pH decrease, lactic acid bacteria counts, and lactic acid levels, was noted in WK formulations. Some SK formulations took up to 14 days to achieve the target pH, and coliforms persisted to a greater extent in the SK formulations. Higher levels of kelp decreased the fermentation rate and concentration of fermentable sugars in the brine, but increased the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the sauerkrauts. Despite differences in instrumental color (L * a * b * ) and texture (shear force) among formulations, overall liking as rated by a consumer panel was not significantly affected by species or inclusion level. Results support the use of lacto-fermentation in the production of refrigeration-stable seaweed sauerkraut-style product. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Health-conscious consumers are becoming increasingly interested in plant-based diets and fermented foods, and the development of novel seaweed sauerkraut-style products can help to meet these needs. This study demonstrated the successful production of a sauerkraut-style product formulated with up to 50% farm-raised kelp. Physical, chemical, microbiological, and consumer acceptability testing established lactic acid fermentation as a viable method for shelf life extension and value addition of fresh kelps. These results provide science-based information on an alternative processing method for cultivated seaweeds and can assist the industry in product diversification efforts., (© 2021 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

The effects of ultrasound treatment at different temperatures (4, 10, and 25 ℃) on the brining process of Chinese cabbage were investigated based on their salt diffusion coefficients and texture profiles. Salt weight increased significantly, but water weight decreased in Chinese cabbage treated with ultrasound at increasing temperatures. According to Fick's second equation, the effective diffusion coefficient of Chinese cabbage showed a notable increase as temperature was increased. High temperature caused unfavorable texture properties, and among these, hardness showed the most significant decrease when brining temperature was set at 25 °C. Consequently, results from the texture profile analysis and brining kinetics modeling suggest that optimal brining conditions could be achieved at 10 °C. At this temperature, the diffusion coefficient of Chinese cabbage is higher, the brining time is reduced, and the preferred qualities of kimchi are preserved. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Ultrasonication is an effective technology that can be utilized in kimchi manufacturing. It presents the advantage of reducing brining time while maintaining the acceptable textural properties of kimchi. This study investigated the impact of different temperatures on the texture properties and brining times of Chinese cabbage during brining and reveal a practical application worthy of further study in food industries and provide valuable information for improving the quality of kimchi., (© 2020 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

Cabbage kimchi, a popular side dish in Korean cuisine, produces several fermentation by-products (FBPs). Kimchi is praised for its flavor, taste, and texture when suitably fermented at 0.7% to 0.9% total acidity, or a pH of approximately 4.1. Beyond this acidity level, the quality of the product decreases, negatively impacting consumers' purchase preferences. Therefore, the current study seeks to develop an optimally fermented (OptF) kimchi indicator that can be inserted into product packaging to evaluate its utility at 4 and 10 °C. A gradual change in the total color difference (ΔE) was observed during the kimchi fermentation stage, and the highest ΔE values were observed at 4 (34.87) and 10 °C (37.99), after 9 weeks. Moreover, the color-change response function value F(Xc) was more linear at 4 and 10 °C (0.981 and 0.984, respectively) compared to the ΔE over time, during kimchi fermentation. Coefficients of determination for F(Xc)-carbon dioxide (0.983), F(Xc)-pH (0.979), and F(Xc)-titratable acidity (0.974) were sufficient to meet the optimal polynomial regression model, while that for F(Xc)-lactic acid bacteria (0.881) was not. Standardized residuals of predicted data indicated that 95% of the residuals were in the range of -2.0 to 2.0. The regression analysis further suggested that the OptF kimchi indicator could be used as a kimchi fermentation indicator. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Cabbage kimchi, a traditional Korean fermented food, produces several fermentation by-products. After the optimal fermenting stage, the sensory evaluation of cabbage kimchi and consumers' purchase preference decreases. This study describes an optimally fermented kimchi indicator and its utility at 4 and 10 °C. Our results demonstrate the ability of this indicator to predict the freshness and fermentation stage of kimchi without the need for sensory evaluation. This method could help increase the purchase preference for commercial kimchi., (© 2020 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

Currently, consumers increasingly demand healthy foods, such as "vegetable drinks" made from nuts and cereals. In this scenario, the potential use of pistachios, grown under conventional and regulated deficit irrigation conditions (hydroSOStainable), to prepare fermented beverages was evaluated. This work addressed three important aspects: (i) water savings, (ii) use of noncommercial products, and (iii) expansion of the offer of vegetable drinks. Two commercial cultures of lactic acid bacteria (MA400 and MY800) and two sugars (glucose and fructose) were tested. Fermented drinks were evaluated by analyzing the following parameters: microbial counts, pH, titratable acidity, CIE (L * , a * , and b * ) color, and total fatty acid, volatile and sensory profiles; all parameters were evaluated at 1, 15, and 30 days of cold storage (4 °C). Pistachio-based beverages proved to be excellent substrates for the growth and survival of lactic acid bacteria. The fatty acid profile was not affected by the studied factors. However, the volatile profile was more complex for the treatments conventional-MY800 (80 µg/L) and hydroSOS-MA400 (72 µg/L). HydroSOS beverages fermented with MA400 culture were less sour and had higher intensity of umami and pistachio flavor; however, hydroSOS pistachios fermented with MY800 culture had lower pistachio odor intensity. All tested factors can be considered suitable for the preparation of fermented pistachios-based beverages, considering both technological and quality aspects., (© 2020 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

Shrimps cause a significant part of crustacea-related allergies. It is used in processed foods, including fermented Korean foods, such as kimchi. Even low amounts of shrimp allergens can provoke reactions in consumers allergic to shrimp. Accurate food labeling is the most effective means of preventing the consumption of allergenic ingredients. To validate labeling compliance and minimize the risk of cross-contaminations, the effectiveness of methodologies used for the detection of allergens in foods should be compared. Here, seven commercial kits, based on quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), were assessed for their ability to detect the presence of shrimp allergens in food. Our results showed that SureFood real-time PCR kit and Ridascreen ELISA kit had the highest recovery, whereas five other kits underperformed in the determination of allergen content of kimchi and its ingredients. The variation in recovery among the kits depended on the limit of detection and reactivity to the shrimp allergens, tropomyosin, and sarcoplasmic calcium-binding protein. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This research confirms the performance of commercial kits to detect the presence of shrimp allergens in kimchi, and demonstrates that the sensitivity of these kits depends on reactivity to the specific shrimp allergenic proteins. These results can be used to food allergy labeling and can be applied by the food industry to develop allergen test kits for fermented foods with improved performance., (© 2020 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

A sourdough combined with microwave heating method was adopted to make steamed cake (SSC), the dough yield, fermentation time and additive amount of sourdough were optimized by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to obtain microwave-steamed cake (MSSC) with high-quality attributes and then the potential mechanism of sourdough on the improvement of the MSSC texture was investigated. The addition of sourdough with the optimized parameters could greatly improve the specific volume, porosity, hardness, and chewiness of MSSC, which was mainly related to changes in dielectric properties and water distribution. The results of dielectric properties confirmed that sourdough increased the dielectric properties of the system during microwave heating, affecting the microwave heating characteristics. And the changes of water states and distribution by T 2 relaxation analysis showed that sourdough restricted water mobility during heating and facilitated the retention of water trapped in MSSC. Additionally, the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images indicated that sourdough weakened the gluten network structure, and triggered a looser and smoother microstructure. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Steamed cake (SSC) is one of the most popular fermented foods in China, while its commercial development is greatly limited by the drawbacks of traditional steam heating. In recent years, the applications of microwave heating and sourdough in cereal-based foods processing have gained more and more interest. However, there is little information about the application of sourdough combined with microwave heating in SSC production. This study revealed that sourdough addition increased the specific volume, porosity, texture, and consumer preference of MSSC, providing a natural, high-efficiency, and easy-to-operate means for the fabrication of high-quality fermented foods., (© 2020 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

Free amino acids (FAAs) participate in the synthesis of quality characteristic ingredients and taste substances in fermented minced peppers (FMPs), and they can be affected by fermentation method and time. In this study, changes in FAAs of FMP during natural fermentation (NF) and inoculated fermentation (IF) process were characterized by HPLC-MS/MS. The results showed that a total of 20 FAAs were identified, including 8 essential amino acids (AAs), 2 semiessential AAs, and 10 nonessential AAs. Comparing with other FAAs, Gln, Arg, and Asn presented higher content in the whole NF or IF periods. The FAAs content of NF and IF samples showed similar tendency during fermentation process, which first increased and then decreased. The highest content of most FAAs in IF and NF samples was obtained on the 18- and 12-day, respectively. Moreover, the FAA content in IF samples was higher than that in NF ones at the same fermentation time. The taste AAs content accounted for 23.3% to 50.0% in total FAAs, and taste activity value of bitter and umami was higher than sweet and aromatic ones. Based on principal component analysis, comprehensive analysis ranking, and heat map clustering analysis, FMP obtained by IF posed better FAAs quality than NF samples during fermentation process. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Free amino acids (FAAs) participate in the synthesis of quality characteristic ingredients and taste substances in fermented minced peppers (FMPs), and they can be affected by fermentation method and time. Changes in FAA varieties and level in FMP during natural fermentation (NF) and inoculated fermentation (IF) process were analyzed using HPLC-MS/MS. Then, they were performed by principal component analysis (PCA), and clustered with the heat map. The results showed that FMP obtained by IF posed better FAAs quality than NF samples in the whole fermentation. HPLC-MS/MS was a reliable and effective mean for determining the FAAs and could provide regulation guidelines for improving the quality of FMP during fermentation process., (© 2020 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

Red oncom, a fermented product from solid waste of soybean curd process, and black oncom, a similar fermented product but made from defatted peanut cake, have been known to have umami taste. Umami fractions of red oncom and black oncom that are responsible for umami taste have not been investigated yet. The objective of this research was to characterize umami fractions obtained by ultrafiltration and chromatography of both oncoms. The first step, water-soluble extracts of oncoms were ultrafiltered using a membrane with cutoff 3,000 Da and followed by gel filtration chromatography (Sephadex G-25) to obtain umami fractions. Ultrafiltration fractions of red oncom (molecular weight [MW] less than 3,000 Da) and black oncom (MW more than 3,000 Da) had an intense umami taste. The further fractionation by gel filtration chromatography linked to taste dilution analysis yielded umami fractions. Chemical characterization revealed that free glutamic acid, free phenylalanine, and peptides containing their residual amino acids were present in the fractions. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Umami fractions of red and black oncoms can be used as a source of umami compounds for food industries and food services. The information from this paper can be used by other researchers who will explore umami peptides., (© 2020 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of a reduced pH value (5.1 instead of 5.5 to 5.6) on the properties of highly perishable, spreadable raw fermented sausages (onion mettwurst) with or without the addition of homopolysaccharide (HoPS)-producing lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Hence, sausages with HoPS-producing LAB and a pH value of 5.1 were produced and compared to sausages (pH 5.1) produced with a non-exopolysaccharide (EPS)-forming strain (Lactobacillus sakei TMW 1.2037). Microbial growth and pH values were monitored during processing (24 °C for 48 hr, 10 °C for 24 hr) and storage (14 days at 0 to 2 °C). Furthermore, fat (Weibull-Stoldt) and EPS contents were determined in the final products. Sausages were characterized using texture profile and sensory analysis. The fat contents ranged from 16% to 19% and the determined EPS concentrations ranged from 0.17 to 0.59 g/kg for L. sakei TMW 1.411 and Lactobacillus curvatus TMW 1.1928 and from 0.67 to 1.58 g/kg for L. curvatus TMW 1.51. The strains L. sakei TMW 1.411 and L. curvatus TMW 1.51 reduced the hardness of the samples significantly (P < 0.05) compared to the control samples. Regarding spreadability and mouthfeel, sausages containing an EPS-forming culture were rated slightly better than the control samples and the taste was not negatively influenced. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study clearly demonstrated that it is promising to apply HoPS-producing LAB to maintain the spreadability of pH-reduced (pH 5.1) spreadable raw fermented onion mettwurst, which may prospectively give the opportunity to increase the safety of this highly perishable product., (© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Food Science published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Institute of Food Technologists.)

Ten probiotic cultures were screened for the ability to hydrolyze soy proteins and bile salt deconjugation (BSD) to select one lactobacilli and one bifidobacteria strain to produce fermented soy beverages (FSBs) containing acerola byproduct (ABP). Next, the effect of the strains and the ABP on the technological and sensory characteristics of these beverages was evaluated during refrigerated storage for up to 28 days. None of the tested strains presented any proteolytic activity against soy proteins. Among the probiotic strains, the best BSD activities were observed for Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and Bifidobacterium longum BB-46, which were further employed, individually or combined, to produce FSB supplemented or not with ABP, using Streptococcus thermophilus TH-4 as a starter, and the effect of these strains and ABP on the technological and sensory acceptability of FSB was evaluated. The probiotic strains did not influence FBS texture parameters, but ABP increased firmness in the ready product. BB-46 increased acidity, therefore decreasing acceptance, whereas the presence of LA-5 and/or ABP increased acceptance, even though the appearance was negatively affected by ABP after 21 days of storage. Thus, the presence of LA-5 and ABP contributed for the sensory acceptance of the FSBs without affecting their technological features. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5, Bifidobacterium longum BB-46, and/or acerola byproduct (ABP) were applied in the production of fermented soy beverages (FSBs). Principal components analysis was used to evaluate the formulations of the 2 3 factorial design and the sensory attributes and the effect of storage independently and covariance was the matrix type used for mapping purposes. LA-5 and ABP contributed for the sensory acceptance of FSB, without affecting their technological features, and could be used by food processing companies after scaling up, also reducing the environmental impact by decreasing discarding byproducts, which are sources of bioactive compounds., (© 2019 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

The high sodium content of kimchi is a contradicting factor from its fame as a healthy food. With the aim of reducing the sodium content of kimchi, the objective of this study was to understand the effect of providing "sodium-reduced" information on the acceptance of kimchi according to the age of consumption. Six sodium-reduced kimchi samples, prepared with different percentages of sodium reduction (25% and 50%) and potassium chloride concentration (none, 0.47%, and 0.93%), were compared to control kimchi (2.0% w/v NaCl). Sensory characterization of the samples was obtained using descriptive analysis. A total of 167 kimchi consumers with balanced proportion of the young (below 40) and the old (above 40) evaluated seven kimchi samples in either of the two conditions: blind testing condition or informed testing condition where each of the samples was provided with a label that informed about "sodium reduction percentage" and "whether a salt replacer was used or not." The results showed that in terms of healthiness perception, Korean female consumers believed that kimchi with a high sodium reduction rate would contribute to health in general, though an unfavorable notion of using a salt replacer was also observed. Also, the results suggested that promoting information about sodium reduction in kimchi would generally increase consumer acceptance. However, this phenomenon was influenced not only by the sample for which the information was provided, but also by the age of consumers with different health interests and kimchi experience. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The findings of this study showed simply reducing sodium and promoting it with a health claim showed limitation in achieving a high level of sodium reduction, such as a 50% reduction rate, which implied the importance of using supplementary material such as potassium chloride that can fulfill the missing saltiness and flavors of the original product. Promotion of "sodium-reduced" claims in kimchi generally results in increased consumer acceptance. However, the effectiveness of the information was dependent on which sample was provided and the age of the consumers, among whom health interests and kimchi experience differ., (© 2019 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

Caper (Capparis spinosa) is an important food ingredient whose fresh parts, particularly the flower buds, are consumed as a starter with olives, cheese, and nuts, or are used as a component in other foods. It is one of the most popular species of aromatic plants grown in the Mediterranean zone. Fermentation makes the caper edible and affects the overall aroma as well as sensory and nutritional characteristics. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in aroma, aroma-active, and phenolic compounds of caper as affected by fermentation. Purge and trap method was used for the extraction of the aroma compounds, while gas chromatography-mass spectrometry olfactometry and Liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detection and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS) were employed for the detection of aroma-active compounds and phenolics, respectively. The results showed that the total amount of aroma compounds decreased drastically (62,616 to 21,471 µg/kg) in fermented sample. Twelve and 10 aroma-active compounds were detected in fresh and fermented caper buds, respectively, for the first time by the application of aroma extract dilution analysis. Among these compounds, methyl isothiocyanate (flavor dilution [FD] factor = 512) in fresh caper and acetic acid (FD factor = 128) in the fermented caper had the highest FD factor. With regard to the phenolic compounds, a total of 16 components were identified in fresh and fermented capers. As observed in aroma compounds, the total phenolic concentration decreased as a result of fermentation. Two phenolic compounds being kaempferol-3-O-glucosyl-rhamnosyl-glucoside and isorhamnetin hexoside were newly identified in caper. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Capparis spinosa is one of the most popular sources of different secondary metabolites of interest to consumers. The results of the present study showed that the fermentation process of the capers is highly influential on the neutral composition of the sample. The total concentrations of aroma and phenolic compounds were reduced by 66% and 78%, respectively, in response to fermentation process., (© 2019 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

Physical gas absorption and release of activated carbon or zeolite were used to attain the desired CO 2 concentration profile inside a package of kimchi for its dynamic storage and consumption environment. The CO 2 adsorption/desorption behavior of different combinations of physical scavengers in the microporous Tyvek sachet was measured at 0, 10 and 20 °C. A combination of highly permeable microporous Tyvek and much less permeable nylon/polyethylene laminate was also examined as a variable to help control the access of CO 2 to the physical CO 2 absorber. The composition of the absorber and its packing density in the sachet affected the CO 2 absorption rate and capacity. Increased zeolite in the Tyvek sachet showed higher CO 2 absorption followed by higher CO 2 release concomitant with moisture sorption, while activated carbon itself had low CO 2 absorption and little subsequent CO 2 desorption. Lower temperatures increased the capacity of CO 2 absorption and release along with lower CO 2 absorption and release rates. A reduction in Tyvek area could decrease the absorption and release rates. An application of a physical CO 2 absorber to the kimchi package was tested at 10 °C to show potential for keeping the desired CO 2 pressure profile for carbonic cool flavor under tolerable pressure during storage and use. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Physical carbon dioxide absorbers consisting of zeolite and activated carbon inside the gas-permeable sachet can be placed in kimchi packages for time-dependent absorption and release of carbon dioxide, which responds in harmony with the fermentation profile of kimchi. Its practical potential is both to provide a carbonic cool taste of the product and to avoid excessive overpressure in the package through its shelf life when used in kimchi packaging. Its intelligent use may resolve the problem of a dull kimchi taste, which occurs when incorporating calcium hydroxide as the chemical scavenger in the package., (© 2018 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

Doenjang (DJ), a fermented soybean product used in soups, stews, and sauces, contains high quality proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and other functional ingredients, including isoflavones and saponins. This study investigated whether DJ improves the bioavailability of isoflavones compared to boiled soybean (BS) in sham-operated or ovariectomized (OVX) rats. We also examined the effects of ovariectomy on the differences in bioavailability of isoflavones. BS and DJ were administered in sham-operated and OVX rats, and blood samples were collected. Twenty-six isoflavone-derived metabolites were identified. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed that T 1/2 values of the individual isoflavone metabolites were most different in sham and OVX rats, even after the same sample treatment; however, T max values were significant different in a few metabolites such as daidzein 4'-glucuronide, daidzein 4'-sulfate, 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid, and benzoic acid. For most of the individual metabolites, C max was higher in both sham and OVX rats administered BS than those administered DJ. The AUC was generally lower in OVX rats than in sham rats. The AUC of daidzein and genistein in BS-fed sham rats was approximately 1.7-fold higher than those administered DJ, whereas glycitein was detected only in the DJ group. No significant differences in AUC of daidzein and genistein were observed between BS and DJ administration in OVX rats, although the total isoflavone content of DJ was lower; thus, DJ-mediated isoflavone bioavailability was more effective in OVX rats. Similar tendencies were observed for phase II and gut-mediated metabolites. These results suggested that DJ enhanced isoflavone bioavailability under estrogen deficiency, even when the total isoflavone content was decreased by fermentation., (© 2018 Institute of Food Technologists®.)