Developments in the understanding of food protein structure, behaviour and applications continue apace. Many of these have, in the past decade, been reported and evaluated in the series 'Developments in Food Pro teins' , comprising seven volumes, with a total of 55 chapters. The time has now come to re-assess many of the topics reviewed in that series and to add certain others. However, instead of assembling, some what at random, food protein topics from quite disparate fields in indi vidual volumes, we have decided to bring together homogeneous groups of topics, each representing a specific sector of the subject. Under the general theme of 'Progress in Food Proteins' the first of these groups covers 'Biochemistry' . Readers will note that, though six of the topics reviewed in this volume are new, five of them have already featured in 'Developments in Food Proteins'. These last are in active research fields in which new develop ments have been of special significance. In this sense, therefore, they are welcome updates.

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 book provides an overview of mitigation strategies and positive health effects of Maillard Reaction products in the contexts of food processing and storage. The effects of Maillard Reactions can vary considerably: while on the one hand certain sensorial alterations and influences on color, flavor and odor may be desirable, Maillard Reactions can also result in potentially harmful and toxic products (e.g. furfurals, furosines, or acrylamide). This book discusses possible mitigation strategies for the reduction of toxic reaction products, including the addition of enzymes or antioxidants, reducing sugars, and encapsulation approaches, as well as new processing strategies, such as high-pressure, radio-frequency, ultrahigh-temperature, or Ohmic heating methods. The book also illustrates that certain Maillard products can even produce positive health effects, e.g. antimicrobial or anticarcinogenic effects. The methods described here can serve as a blueprint for promoting the formation of beneficial compounds and reducing / avoiding toxic substances, offering essential strategies and methods.

This book summarizes the knowledge of naturally occurring toxic and antinutritive food compounds. It includes those plants and animals of value or potential value for human nutrition, either by direct consumption or indirect. as feed for domestic animals. Also included are toxic and antinutritive compounds formed from food components during processing and storage, as well as the toxic and antinutritive compounds present as natural constituents in raw materials and foodstuffs. FEATURES: Discusses food intolerance-inducing compounds, toxins and toxic compounds; Focuses on the most frequently occurring intolerances; Describes the reaction conditions for the formation of these compounds, as well as for their degradation; Considers nitroso compounds and ethyl carbamate formation.

This SpringerBrief explains the importance of Maillard reactions in food processing. It underlines that the term “Maillard reaction” actually does not describe one single chemical reaction, but an entire class of chemical reactions, which lead to browning, with a strong impact on visual appearance, odor, and flavor. It emphasizes that the Maillard reactions are still not fully characterized, despite extensive historical studies. While under the right conditions Maillard reactions have many favorable effects (e.g. formation of antioxidants), the Brief discusses that there are also conditions where Maillard reactions can result in toxic or mutagenic reactions. Hence, it emphasizes that the reaction should be viewed as a complex network of various sub-reactions, with a plethora of concomitant reaction mechanisms and kinetics. This Brief thus makes a step toward a holistic evaluation of the complexity of the Maillard reaction scheme, with the aim of making better and more targeted use in food processing.

This book is the third volume of Advanced Dairy Chemistry, which should be regarded as the second edition of Developments in Dairy Chemistry. Volume 1 of the series, Milk Proteins, was published in 1992 and Volume 2, Milk Lipids, in 1994. Volume 3, on lactose, water, salts and vitamins, essentially updates Volume 3 of Developments in Dairy Chemistry but with some important changes. Five of the eleven chapters are devoted to lactose (its physico-chemical properties, chemical modification, enzymatic modification and nutritional aspects), two chapters are devoted to milk salts (physico-chemical and nutritional aspects), one to vitamins and one to overview the flavour of dairy products. Two topics covered in the first editions (enzymes and other biologically active proteins) were transferred to Volume 1 of Advanced Dairy Chemistry and two new topics (water and physico chemical properties of milk) have been introduced. Although the constituents covered in this volume are commercially less important than proteins and lipids covered in Volumes 1 and 2, they are critically important from a nutritional viewpoint, especially vitamins and minerals, and to the quality and stability of milk and dairy products, especially flavour, milk salts and water. Lactose, the principal constituent of the solids of bovine milk, has long been regarded as essentially worthless and in many cases problematic from the nutritional and techno logical viewpoints; however, recent research has created several new possi bilities for the utilization of lactose.

This is the third volume in the series on the chemistry and physical chemistry of milk constituents. Volumes 1 and 2 dealt with the commercially important constituents proteins and lipids, respectively. Although the constituents dealt with in this volume are of less commercial importance, they are, nevertheless, of major significance in the chemical, physical, technological, nutritional and physiological properties of milk and milk products. The constituents of milk dealt with in this volume are lactose, water, milk salts and vitamins. The chemical and enzymatic modification of lactose and the physico-chemical properties of milk are also discussed.

First multi-year cumulation covers six years: 1965-70.

This Brief provides an overview of different analytical methods and techniques for the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of Maillard Reactions and their reaction products in foods during processing and storage. Reliable methodology for the investigation of Maillard Reactions and their products are of utmost importance in food analysis: since Maillard Reactions can on the one hand be desirable and advantageous, influencing the colors, flavors and odors of food products, they can on the other hand also produce detrimental compounds afflicting the consumers’ health (e.g. furfurals, furosine, or acrylamide). This Brief introduces different analytical methods, which can be used to investigate and characterize Maillard Reactions and their products in foods, including for example capillary electrophoresis, high performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection, UV-VIS spectrophotometry, fluorescence, electronic nose, gravimetric systems, and many more. The chapters exemplify how the analytical techniques can be applied for assessing and evaluating different Maillard Reaction products in foods. Readers will find basic information, as well as practical hints and guidelines for application in their own laboratory.