Life Sciences Commons^™

Adsorptive Surface Modification Of Cellulose Nanocrystals To Stabilize Nutraceuticals Loaded Lipid Carriers For Food Application, Avinash S. Patel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lipid carriers such as emulsions and liposomes have been widely studied as carriers for different nutraceuticals. However, lipid carriers' physicochemical instability results in the leakage of loaded nutraceuticals and the low solubility into the digestion medium, thus reducing the bioaccessibility. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) are nano-sized cellulose derivatives obtained after hydrolysis of cellulosic matrices that possess potential applications in functional foods and nutraceuticals. However, hydrophilicity, anionic surface potential, and poor re-dispersibility limit CNC’s applications. The primary objectives of this research were 1) to modify CNC via adsorbing polyethylene glycol (PEG) to stabilize liposomes and to study its physiochemical stability at different …

Development Of Valuable And Functional Protein-Based Food Ingredients From Invasive Green Crabs, Bouhee Kang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

European green crabs (Carcinus maenas L.) are an invasive species unintentionally introduced from Europe to the U.S. Their predation and burrowing activities have had detrimental effects on our marine habitats, aquaculture, and commercially important fisheries. Despite the large population of green crabs, they are not commercially utilized in North America as food products. The specific objectives of my research were to: 1) determine functional properties of protein recovered from green crab by isoelectric solubilization and precipitation (ISP) for potential food application, 2) investigate the application of enzymatic hydrolysis for deriving bioactive compounds from green crab proteins and examine the …

Effects Of Salt And Garlic Concentration On The Microbial Safety, Biochemical Properties, And Sensory Acceptance Of Spontaneously Fermented Beet Kvass, Abigail Hing

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Fermentation is the process by which primarily lactic acid bacteria (LAB), an environmentally ubiquitous group of organisms, convert carbohydrates into several byproducts, including acid, ethanol and/or gas. Often these resulting byproducts create desirable foods with unique flavor attributes and an increased inherent safety due to acidification. Vegetables such as red beetroot are suitable commodities for fermentation, due to abundant nutrient sources to sustain the LAB population. However, sufficient growth of LAB may lead to the production of harmful biogenic amines, specifically histamine and tyramine which can cause an allergic reaction and poisoning at high levels. Additionally, red beetroot is grown …

High Pressure Processing Of Sous-Vide Lobster (Homarus Americanus) Tails, Sami Ali Humaid

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sous-vide and high pressure processing (HPP) are promising techniques in the development of high-quality seafood products. Lobsters are high-value seafood products that are highly susceptible to being overcooked using conventional methods, producing a tough and rubbery texture. Lobsters are usually sold either live or frozen due to their high perishability. The application of sous-vide cooking may provide evenly cooked lobster products with a succulent and juicy texture, while HPP may increase the shelf-life of lobster products without the use of additives. The objectives of this research were to: 1) evaluate the impact of three different sous-vide cooking conditions on physicochemical …

Consumer Acceptability Of Gulf Of Maine Sugar Kelp Seaweed In Baked Bread, Laurel Simone

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although steady interest in edible seaweed cultivation continues to grow in Maine, research is lacking regarding consumer preferences and purchasing behavior of seaweed-containing products. The purpose of this study was to determine consumer acceptability of seaweed baked bread and provide insights into purchasing behavior to reveal potential consumer groups that are most likely to buy and eat baked products containing seaweed. Consumer preferences were determined by a sensory evaluation test and an online survey.

Sixty-five participants completed the central location test of freshly-baked bread containing seaweed. Participants were required to be at least 18 years of age, willing to eat …

Biogenic Amines As A Product Of The Metabolism Of Proteins In Beer, Hayden Koller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For many years the only beer that was commercially available in the United States were simple lagers and ales made primarily of barley (and other cereals), water, hops, and yeast. These beer varieties were simple and quick to produce with high levels of consistency. In the last 30 years the rise in craft and microbreweries have dramatically changed the landscape of brewing and beer. As smaller breweries rose in popularity so did the use of unique ingredients such as vegetables, fruits, herbs, meat, etc. along with higher gravity mashes and long barrel aging times. All these ingredients have a profound …

Evaluation And Impact Of Food Safety Messages In New Media For Trending Recipes: Savory Jam On Youtube, Alison L. Brodt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Home canning has been used as a method of food preservation for hundreds of years. The United States has a regulatory agency known as the National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP), which gives guidelines on canning safely to decrease the risk of foodborne illness. The NCHFP provides tips for fruit jams and jellies; however, savory jam is rising in popularity. Savory jam includes jams with a savory main ingredient, such as tomatoes, bacon, onion, or chili peppers. There are currently no guidelines for safe preparation of savory jams. Research is needed to see if recipes for savory jam are …

Does Circularizing Source-Separated Food Waste Present A Risk To Our Food?, Astha Thakali

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

About a third of the food produced annually is wasted. Food waste recycling can be a way to close the loop and attain a more sustainable food system, however, the system must be carefully monitored and managed to avoid the introduction and build-up of contaminants. To study the potential presence of contaminants in food waste, source-separated food waste was collected and screened for five classes of contaminants (physical contaminants, heavy metals, halogenated organic contaminants, pathogens, and antibiotic resistance genes) from two separate regulatory environments (voluntary vs mandated food separation). The regulatory environment did not affect the level of contamination, except …

Investigation Of Anti-Inflammatory And Antioxidants Properties Of Phenolic Compounds From Inonotus Obliquus Using Different Extraction Methods, Weaam A.A. Alhallaf

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Inonotus obliquus, commonly known as Chaga, is a fungal pathogen of birch trees, known to synthesize a range of phenolic compounds with remarkable health benefits. These presumed medicinal properties have generated increased interest in Chaga consumption. Prior research has demonstrated the diverse chemical composition of Chaga sourced from a variety of geographical locations. However, to our knowledge, there is currently no available literature regarding the extraction of bioactive compounds from Chaga grown in the United States. Additionally, the effect of the extraction method on the antioxidant and anti-inflammation properties specifically, has yet to be validated. Therefore, the present study was …

Thermal Inactivation Of Bacterial Pathogens And Fungal Spores Under Post-Process Contamination Scenarios In Maple Syrup Processing, Maria Fiore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Maple syrup is produced by the extensive thermal evaporation of maple sap traditionally collected from the Acer saccharum tree and other maple varietals. The resulting low water activity product (Aw < 0.85) is classified by the FDA as a low risk food commodity, due to the moisture limitations which inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. However, recent outbreaks associated with other designated low risk products, including peanut butter and wheat flour, now challenge the current understanding of factors required to induce human illness. Among the most notorious bacterial pathogens, as few as ten bacterial cells, have been cited to cause infection. In addition to bacteria-based risks, fungal contaminants have also been noted to jeopardize safety due to the potential for mycotoxin production, penetrating beyond the immediate product surface.

The extensive heating process required to produce syrup from sap is sufficient to eradicate the majority of present microflora. However, post-process contamination scenarios, which are augmented by producer behaviors, can introduce microorganisms into the finished product. Among these risk factors include direct product contamination due to insufficient heating temperatures, or contamination of bottles, as a result of improper container storage. Therefore, the objectives of this work are to (i) determine …