Sustainable Development of an Innovative Spreadable Plant-Based Product of High Added Value through the Valorization of an Agro-Food By-Product.

Featured Application: The product developed herein ("Ελ-yum") is a vegetable spread rich in nutrients that presents elements of true ecological innovation. The main ingredient of Ελ-yum is purslane, a plant that is actually a weed of the field crop and is considered a by-product of the cultivation process; nevertheless, it is of high nutritional value (e.g., rich in antioxidants, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, vitamins B and C). Ελ-yum can be part of a healthy snack (e.g., served as a dip accompaniment with wholegrain bread sticks) or can be consumed directly as it is. The product follows the trend of circular bio-economy by highlighting the potential of using an agricultural by-product, such as purslane, as a healthy and tasty food choice on a daily basis, with a reduced environmental footprint as a result of the less-intensive agricultural practices followed for the supply of the basic raw material being used. There is an increased demand for healthy foods by the consumer nowadays, while at the same time, circular bio-economy and sustainability in food production represent top priority issues for the food industry. In this context, purslane, a highly nutritious annual plant that grows abundant during the hottest months of the year but is considered a by-product of the agricultural process, was utilized for the development of an innovative, ready-to-eat food product suitable for a vegetarian diet in the form of a bread spread. Following an initial small-scale experimentation for the stabilization of apparent quality attributes, the product's recipe was finalized on an industrial scale, and the hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) for the manufacturing process, the physicochemical (pH, water activity) and sensorial analysis of the end product, together with its nutritional value, shelf-life, and antioxidant capacity, were determined. The results suggested that the acidic (pH 4.3) product had a shelf-life of a minimum of six months to one year and, according to EU legislation, it comprised a source of (dietary) fibers and protein, while being high in poly-unsaturated (e.g., omega-3, omega-6), and mono-unsaturated (e.g., oleic acid) fatty acids. Total phenolic content (TPC) with the Folin–Ciocalteau assay and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) using the Ferric-Reducing Antioxidant Power assay of the product, presented concentrations of 0.95 mg of gallic acid equivalent/g and 0.016 mmol of Fe²⁺/g of dry weight of sample, respectively. However, the predicted bioavailability for TPC and TAC was 28% and 31%, respectively. The product was evaluated positively by a panel of potential consumers without significant differences compared to conventional familiar products. The potential of using agro-food chain by-products, such as purslane, for the development of novel foods representing a healthy and tasty food choice at any time of the day is a promising opportunity for the food industry to meet growing consumer demands for more sustainable, nutritious, and healthy food products with a reduced environmental footprint compared to the traditional plant-originated products of intensive agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]