Special Issue "Process Optimization and Quality Improvement of Fermented Foods and Beverages"

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Engineering and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2023 | Viewed by 1377

Special Issue Editors

Institute of Food Science, National Research Council, ISA-CNR, Avellino, Italy
Interests: fermented foods; lactic acid bacteria (LAB); yeasts; food microbiology; food quality; PCR-based techniques; starter cultures; probiotic; antimicrobial activity
Institute of Food Science, National Research Council, ISA-CNR, Avellino, Italy
Interests: lactic acid bacteria; fermented foods and beverages; microbial communities; yeasts; starter cultures; stress response in LAB during food processing and transit through the gastro-intestinal tract
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Microbial fermentations, which were mainly used to preserve raw plant and/or animal matrices, are today increasingly used to improve the sensorial features, shelf-life and health properties of fermented foods. Numerous microorganisms, through their metabolic activity, can improve the flavour, nutritional and health properties of fermented foods and beverages. Consequently, scientific and industrial interest is increasingly directed towards the microbial-driven fermentations for the formulation of new fermented foods and beverages with safe, healthy and functional properties.

Despite the many favourable properties of fermentation and the microorganisms traditionally used in food fermentation, there are still process optimisation problems that need to be overcome. Optimising fermentation procedures is necessary to identify the best processing conditions that increase the yield of a production process and lead quality characteristics in the desired direction.

Therefore, we invite you to submit your recent research in this area to the Special Issue of Foods under the title “Process Optimization and Quality Improvement of Fermented Foods and Beverages". This Special Issue aims to cover recent studies addressing technological, microbiological, biochemical, nutritional and health aspects for the delivery of better, safer and more cost-effective fermented food products and beverages.

Dr. Tiziana Di Renzo
Dr. Anna Reale
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Foods is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • optimization
  • processing technologies
  • food quality
  • fermentation
  • fermented beverages
  • fermented foods
  • starter culture
  • microorganism
  • lactic acid bacteria
  • yeast

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

Article
Evaluation of Microbial Dynamics of Kombucha Consortia upon Continuous Backslopping in Coffee and Orange Juice
Foods 2023, 12(19), 3545; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12193545 - 24 Sep 2023
Viewed by 446
Abstract
The kombucha market is diverse, and competitors constantly test new components and flavours to satisfy customers’ expectations. Replacing the original brewing base, adding flavours, or using “backslopping” influence the composition of the symbiotic starter culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). Yet, deep characterisation [...] Read more.
The kombucha market is diverse, and competitors constantly test new components and flavours to satisfy customers’ expectations. Replacing the original brewing base, adding flavours, or using “backslopping” influence the composition of the symbiotic starter culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). Yet, deep characterisation of microbial and chemical changes in kombucha consortia in coffee and orange juice during backslopping has not been implemented. This study aimed to develop new kombucha beverages in less-conventional matrices and characterise their microbiota. We studied the chemical properties and microbial growth dynamics of lactic-acid-bacteria-tailored (LAB-tailored) kombucha culture by 16S rRNA next-generation sequencing in coffee and orange juice during a backslopping process that spanned five cycles, each lasting two to four days. The backslopping changed the culture composition and accelerated the fermentation. This study gives an overview of the pros and cons of backslopping technology for the production of kombucha-based beverages. Based on research conducted using two different media, this work provides valuable information regarding the aspects to consider when using the backslopping method to produce novel kombucha drinks, as well as identifying the main drawbacks that need to be addressed. Full article
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Article
Experimental Prototype of Electromagnetic Emissions for Biotechnological Research: Monitoring Cocoa Bean Fermentation Parameters
Foods 2023, 12(13), 2539; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12132539 - 29 Jun 2023
Viewed by 632
Abstract
A Helmholtz-type electromagnetic emission device, which uses an oscillating magnetic field (OMF), with potential applications in biotechnological research, was built and validated. The coils were connected to an alternating current (AC) generator to generate a 0.5 to 110 mT field at their center. [...] Read more.
A Helmholtz-type electromagnetic emission device, which uses an oscillating magnetic field (OMF), with potential applications in biotechnological research, was built and validated. The coils were connected to an alternating current (AC) generator to generate a 0.5 to 110 mT field at their center. OMF measurements were performed with a Hall effect sensor with a digital signal connection (Arduino nano) and data output to a PC using LabVIEW v2017SP1 software. The fermentation process of the cocoa bean variety CCN 51, exposed to four levels of OMF density for 60 min (0, 5, 40, and 80 mT/60 min), was analyzed. Different variables of the grain fermentation process were evaluated over six days. The ANOVA test probed the device’s linearity, accuracy, precision, repeatability, reliability, and robustness. Moreover, CCN 51 cocoa beans’ EMF-exposure effect was evaluated under different OMF densities for 60 min. The results show the validity of the equipment under working conditions and the impact of EMF (electromagnetic fields) on the yield, deformation, and pH of cocoa beans. Thus, we concluded that the operation of the prototype is valid for use in biotechnological studies. Full article
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