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Enhancing Efficiency Of The Nutrition Education For Utah Refugees, Habiba Ali Nur

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Refugees face many challenges related to obtaining and preparing adequate and culturally acceptable and desirable foods in their resettlement communities. These challenges often lead to risk of food insecurity and chronic diseases. A review of literature identified the existing delivery strategies and highlighted the need for nutrition education tailored to the refugees’ conditions. This study identified some of the barriers that refugees face, including the English language, transportation, finding items in grocery stores, availability of ingredients and equipment needed for cooking, affordability of food and budgeting. It also highlighted participants’ preference for having nutrition education.

To overcome these challenges, the …

Understanding The Impact Of Physicochemical Modifications On The Cold Gelling Behavior Of Micellar Casein Concentrate Dispersions, Nathan Pougher

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

When skim milk is filtered via microfiltration, the amount of casein (one of the major milk proteins) in solution can be concentrated. When casein content is high enough (>15%), the solution forms a gel at cold temperatures. With growing trends in the food industry towards simplistic ingredient labels, commonly used gums and stabilizers in the dairy industry are becoming less preferred. In the future, there is potential for the gelling properties of micellar casein to be applied to dairy products as a thickener or stabilizer, but the mechanism behind gel formation isn’t understood well. In this study, the gel …

Impact Of Moisture Content And Composition On Flow Properties Of Dairy Powders, Katelynn Palmer

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Milk protein concentrate (MPC) and isolate (MPI), and milk permeate powder (MPP) are functional dairy powder products that are used in food applications worldwide. It is critical that environmental factors and physical powder characteristics during production and storage are controlled. When dairy powders are exposed to non-ideal conditions (high moisture, varying temperatures,) they can quickly become very sticky, and clumpy. When powders become sticky, their ability to easily flow is reduced. As a result, processing and storing the powders effectively and sustainably becomes very difficult.

In the first study, an analysis method was created to test the general flow behavior …

Understanding The Pizza Baking Properties Of Low Moisture Part Skim (Lmps) Mozzarella Cheese, Anjali Verma

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Mozzarella cheese is expected to melt, stretch, release free oil and exhibit browning and blistering when baked on pizza. This research aimed to investigate the effects of different starter cultures (based on lactose and galactose utilizing ability) and calcium levels on the functionality of Mozzarella cheese when baked on pizza. Four combinations of starter cultures using S. thermophilus (STI 06)-control, Lac⁺ Gal⁺ L. helveticus (LH 32), and Lac^- Gal⁺ adjunct culture L. helveticus (LH 7995) were used to make the cheese samples. Various tests were conducted over a seven-week period to evaluate their baking properties. The …

Nutritional-Environmental Trade-Offs In Potato Storage And Processing For A Sustainable Healthy Diet, Aubin Payne, Ebenezer M. Kwofie, Prince Agyemang, Jamie Baum

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Over the last decade, poor diets and limited access to nutritious foods have been critical drivers of micronutrient deficiency in human health. However, food fortification at an industrialized scale in developed countries has helped eliminate deficiency-related diseases. In developing countries, fortified foods and biofortified materials have been delivered to nutrient-deficient communities. While these strategies have produced significant and acclaimed results, reports from the Food and Agricultural Organization suggest that over a quarter of the world’s population suffers from micronutrient deficiency. This implies that there are still declines in micronutrients in food products at different nodes along the food value chain …

Oxalic Acid: A Blooming Organic Acid For Postharvest Quality Preservation Of Fresh Fruit And Vegetables, Mahmood Ul Ul Hasan, Zora Singh, Hafiz Muhammad Shoaib Shah, Jashanpreet Kaur, Andrew Woodward, Eben Afrifa-Yamoah, Aman Ullah Malik

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Oxalic acid (OA) is a unique organic acid that commonly occurs in plants with distinct functions in modulating metabolic processes. To date, the role of OA has primarily been studied in the deactivation of copper-containing preservatives, detoxification of aluminium toxicity and remediation of organic pollutants. During the last two decades, OA has been considered as an antioxidant compound with focus on its potential to enhance crop yield, improve fruit quality, boost nutritional profile, and delay postharvest senescence in fruit and vegetables. It has been established that pre- and postharvest OA application delays ripening and senescence by down-regulating physiological processes such …

Dan Sharp, Dan Sharp

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Dan Sharp is the child nutrition director in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Effect Of Different Pre-Growth Temperatures On The Survival Kinetics Of Salmonella Enterica And Listeria Monocytogenes In Fresh-Cut Salad During Refrigerated Storage, Avninder Kaur, Veerachandra K. Yemmireddy

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

The effect of the pre-growth temperature of bacterial cultures on their subsequent survival kinetics in fresh-cut produce during refrigerated storage was investigated in this study. Three-strain cocktails of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica, cultured at different growth temperatures (4, 21, and 37 °C) were inoculated on fresh-cut mixed salad and on individual produce in the mixed salad. The inoculated samples were stored at 4 °C and 80 ± 2% relative humidity (RH) for up to 72 h and the growth, survival, or death kinetics were determined at regular intervals. The results indicate that depending upon the type of pathogen …

Effect Of Different Pre-Growth Temperatures On The Survival Kinetics Of Salmonella Enterica And Listeria Monocytogenes In Fresh-Cut Salad During Refrigerated Storage, Avninder Kaur, Veerachandra K. Yemmireddy

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

The effect of the pre-growth temperature of bacterial cultures on their subsequent survival kinetics in fresh-cut produce during refrigerated storage was investigated in this study. Three-strain cocktails of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica, cultured at different growth temperatures (4, 21, and 37 °C) were inoculated on fresh-cut mixed salad and on individual produce in the mixed salad. The inoculated samples were stored at 4 °C and 80 ± 2% relative humidity (RH) for up to 72 h and the growth, survival, or death kinetics were determined at regular intervals. The results indicate that depending upon the type of pathogen tested, …

Exploring Pathways To Food Science Careers In Southern California: A Case Study In Food Science Career Development, Jeremy L. Hsu, Sarah Ahles, Lilian W. Senger, Anuradha Prakash

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

Southern California is a diverse region that is home to a high concentration of food science companies, with an increasing demand for additional food scientists and technologists to join this workforce. Despite this abundance of food science companies and the high demand for jobs, there is currently a shortage in the number of qualified food scientists and technologists in the region. This shortage is also observed within higher education, with declining enrollments in the food science graduate and undergraduate programs across Southern California. Here, we conduct a case study to explore the factors that influence students from Southern California to …

Radiofrequency Inactivation Of Salmonella In Black Pepper And Dried Basil Leaves Using In-Package Steaming, Surabhi Wason, Rossana Villa-Rojas, Jeyamkondan Subbiah

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Radiofrequency (RF) heating has been extensively studied for pasteurizing low‐moisture foods. Currently, bulk foods are treated with radiofrequency; potential cross‐contamination may occur during packaging of pasteurized products. As an alternative, in‐package RF processing was evaluated for Salmonella inactivation on black peppercorns and dried basil leaves and prevention of cross‐contamination during storage postprocessing. Inpackage steaming refers to the process in which the samples were heated in a steam vent package to generate and retain steam during the treatment. This treatment achieved good heating uniformity which could be because of the circulation of steam within the package. One‐way steam vent allowed the …

A Novel Machine-Learning Framework Based On A Hierarchy Of Dispute Models For The Identification Of Fish Species Using Multi-Mode Spectroscopy, Mitchell Sueker, Amirreza Daghighi, Alireza Akhbardeh, Nicholas Mackinnon, Gregory Bearman, Insuck Baek, Chansong Hwang, Jianwei Qin, Amanda M. Tabb, Jiahleen Roungchun, Rosalee S. Hellberg, Fartash Vasefi, Moon Kim, Kouhyar Tavakolian, Hossein Kashini Zadeh

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

Seafood mislabeling rates of approximately 20% have been reported globally. Traditional methods for fish species identification, such as DNA analysis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), are expensive and time-consuming, and require skilled technicians and specialized equipment. The combination of spectroscopy and machine learning presents a promising approach to overcome these challenges. In our study, we took a comprehensive approach by considering a total of 43 different fish species and employing three modes of spectroscopy: fluorescence (Fluor), and reflectance in the visible near-infrared (VNIR) and short-wave near-infrared (SWIR). To achieve higher accuracies, we developed a novel machine-learning framework, where groups of …

Characterization Of The Probiotic Properties Of Yeast Strains Isolated From Different Food Sources And Unraveling The Potential Nutritional Benefits Of Fermented Date Palm Pomace With Selected Probiotic Candidates: Untargeted Metabolomics And Carbohydrate Metabolites Of In Vitro Digested Fraction, Nadia Al Kalbani

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Utilizing fermentation with probiotics offers a promising opportunity to leverage agricultural by-products, such as date palm pomace (DPP), in order to drive forward sustainable food production endeavors. This dissertation aimed to (1) isolate yeast from fermented food products as well as to characterize their probiotic properties; (2) investigate the physiochemical properties of fermented DPP by selected yeast isolates; (3) evaluate the health benefits of non-fermented and fermented DPP samples both pre and post-digestion (bioaccessible portions); and (4) analyze the untargeted metabolites and carbohydrates metabolites in the bioaccessible portions. The yeast isolates showed remarkable survivability in acidic environment while bile salt …

Comparison Of Dna Extraction Methods For The Detection Of Canned Tuna Species With Dna Mini-Barcoding, Aubrey J. Emmi, Biola Fatusin, Rosalee S. Hellberg

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

Tuna is susceptible to species mislabeling due to its high demand, quick rate of production, and wide range of price points. DNA barcoding, a sequencing-based technique, allows for the detection of species mislabeling by targeting a standardized region of DNA. A mitochondrial control region (CR) DNA barcode has been found to be capable of species discrimination for tuna, but it is challenging to recover the entire DNA fragment from canned tuna. While a short fragment of CR, referred to as a “mini-barcode,” has shown some success with canned tuna species identification, more research is needed to improve identification rates. The …

Storage Stability Of Chocolate Can Be Enhanced Using Locust Protein-Based Film Incorporated With E. Purpurea Flower Extract-Based Nanoparticles, Shubam Singh, Hina F. Bhat, Sunil Kumar, Rana Muhammad Aadil, Maneesha S. Mohan, Charalampos Proestos, Zuhaib F. Bhat

Dairy Science and Food Science Faculty Publications: 2022 to Present

The study aimed to develop a locust protein (Loct-Prot)-based film to enhance the lipid oxidative and storage stability of chocolate. The E. purpurea flower extract based-nanoparticles (EFNPs) were developed using ultra- sonication (500 W and 20 kHz for 10 min) following a green method of synthesis. The EFPNs were incorporated at different levels [T0 (0%), T1 (1.0%), T2 (1.5%), and T3 (2.0%)] to impart bioactive properties to the Loct-Prot- based films which were used for packaging of white chocolate during 90 days trial. The addition of EFPNs increased (P < 0.05) the density of the Loct-Prot-based film which in turn decreased (P < 0.05) the transmittance (%) and WVTR (water vapour transmission rate, mg/mt2) with increasing levels of addition. While brightness (L*) showed a decrease, redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) increased with increasing concentration of EFPNs. No significant (P > 0.05) effect was recorded on other physicomechanical parameters of the film. …

Characterization Of The Probiotic Properties Of Yeast Strains Isolated From Different Food Sources And Unraveling The Potential Nutritional Benefits Of Fermented Date Palm Pomace With Selected Probiotic Candidates: Untargeted Metabolomics And Carbohydrate Metabolites Of In Vitro Digested Fraction, Nadia Al Kalbani

Dissertations

The use of agricultural by-products, including date palm pomace (DPP), presents a promising opportunity for advancing sustainable food production. By fermenting DPP with novel probiotic yeast candidates, the bioactive properties of the by-product can be enhanced, potentially yielding health benefits. This dissertation aimed to (1) isolate yeast from fermented food products as well as to characterize their probiotic properties; (2) investigate the physiochemical properties of fermented DPP by selected yeast isolates; (3) evaluate the health benefits of non-fermented and fermented DPP samples both pre and post-digestion (bioaccessible portions); and (4) analyze the untargeted metabolites and carbohydrates metabolites in the bioaccessible …

The Association Between Total And Types Of Dietary Protein Intake And Prevelence Of Impaired Fasting Glucose And Type 2 Diabetes, Afra Salah Alsammach

Theses

People with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) need to modify their dietary composition. This could assist in the management and prevention of the disease. However, the role played by the composition of specific dietary macronutrients on the risk of IFG & T2D needs further research. This study sought to examine the association between total and type of dietary protein (animal and plant) consumption with prevalence of T2D and IFG. Aims: To investigate the association between total intake and types (animal vs plant) of dietary protein intake and prevalence of IFG & T2D in adults. Data …

Changes Of Chemical Components Of Tibetan Tea During Pile Fermentation Process, Deng Junlin, He Yanghang, Chen Jian, Liu Gang, Xia Chen

Food and Machinery

Objective: The changes in the main chemical components in water extracts of Tibetan tea during the pile fermentation process were investigated. Methods: Research was done on tea samples and water extracts from various fermentation stages of Tibetan tea. Soluble solids, soluble sugars, total polyphenols, total flavonoids, and in vitro antioxidant activity (ABTS and DPPH) were all examined. Additionally, ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) was used to find theophylline, caffeine, gallic acid (GA), and 8 catechins monomers. By using enzyme-linked immunoassay, the amount of theaflavin, thearubigin, and theabrownin were determined. Results: The soluble solids in Tibetan tea reduced and then slightly increased …

Evaluation Of The Performance Of Enrofloxacin In The Detection Of Egg By Quantum Dot Microsphere Immunochromatography Strip, Zhang Fusheng, Wang Yuchen, Lu Lisheng, Deng Jiajun, Chen Junsong, Yang Linfen, Guo Jing, Wu Renwei, Lai Weihua

Food and Machinery

Objective: This study aimed to realize rapid on-site screening of enrofloxacin in eggs. Methods: According to the requirements of the “Maximum residue limit of 41 veterinary drugs in the national food safety standard” and the “Opinions on regulating the use of rapid food testing” issued by the State Market Supervision and Administration in January 2023, the spiked samples at three concentration levels of enrofloxacin were prepared. Fifty blank samples and fifty spiked samples at a concentration level of 0.5 time the standard limit requirement (5 μg/kg) were used to evaluate the false positive rate of the rapid detection method. Fifty …

Protective Effects Of Procambarus Clarkii Shell Bioactive Peptides On Oxidative Stress Injury Of Zebrafish （Danio Rerio）, He Shuwen, Zhu Haojie, Han Pengwei, Yang Saijie, Cui Bo, Cheng Yunhui, Li Honghui, Wen Li

Food and Machinery

Objective: Explore the protective effect of Procambarus clarkii shell bioactive peptides （PCSBP） on oxidative stress injury in the organism. Methods: This study using alkaline protease hydrolysis method to prepare bioactive peptides and measured their antioxidant activity in vitro. Subsequently, the protective effects of PCSBP on oxidative stress injury in zebrafish under fasting stress was analyzed. Results: The PCSBP showed potential antioxidant capacity in vitro, with scavenging rates of DPPH radicals and hydroxyl radicals at （46.35±1.32）% and （75.22±2.18）%. The final body weight, body length and muscle amino acid content of zebrafish were decreased under fasting stress, but the growth …

Changes Of Peptides And Amino Acids In Acetes Chinensis Before And After Autolysis, Zhu Baohua, Li Xiaohui, Yang Zhiyan, Hui Tingting, Xu Chenchen, Li Yan

Food and Machinery

Objective: This study aimed to explore the changes of polypeptides and free amino acids in Acetes chinensis before and after autolysis. Methods: The optimal pH and temperature of the endogenous protease of the A. chinensis were determined and the autolysis conditions were optimized. Then changes of a polypeptide, amino acid and molecular weight in the product before and after autolysis were studied under the optimal conditions. Results: The optimum temperature and pH of endogenous protease were 45 ℃ and 8.0 respectively. Under the optimal autolysis conditions of pH 8.0, temperature 40 ℃, and reaction time 4 h, the polypeptide concentration …

Process Study On Mixed Bacterial Solid-State Fermentation Of Rice Bran For The Preparation Of Oryzanol And Evaluation Of Its Antioxidant Activity, Xia Xinxin, Lin Hai, Yang Guliang, Peng Xia, He Xinle

Food and Machinery

Objective: In order to improve the yield of oryzanol of rice bran. Methods: Rice bran was selected as the research subject, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Bacillus subtilis were selected as solid-state fermentation strains through single-factor experiments. The mixed bacterial solid-state fermentation process was optimized by Box-Behnken response surface method combined with the single factor experiments, based on the content of oryzanol. The antioxidant activity of the fermentation extracts was evaluated using DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging assays. Scanning electron microscopy （SEM） was used to analyze the principle of oryzanol enrichment in mixed bacterial solid-state fermentation. Results: Under the of …

Isolation, Purification And Structure Analysis Of Polysaccharide From Lance Asiabell Root, Liu Yanqiu, Wang Yaru, Mao Dirui, Chang Kai

Food and Machinery

Objective: The structure of CLPS1 (polysaccharide fraction 1 of Codonopsis lanceolata) was determined to provide a basis for the study of polysaccharide activity of C. lanceolata and the development of natural plant polysaccharides. Methods: After extraction, separation, and purification, the separation component CLPS1 was determined by gas chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, periodate oxidation, Smith degradation, and methylation analysis to determine the structure of CLPS1. Results: The specific rotation of CLPS1 is +44°, the content of the total polysaccharide is 97.6%, the uronic acid of CLPS1 is 13.18%, and the molecular weight of CLPS1 is 91.7. The monosaccharide …

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction And Antioxidant Study Of Crude Polysaccharide From Agrocybe Praecox, Han Xiaolei, Lu Huiying, Liang Jueqin, Fan Wei, Liu Tao, Huang Zhiqun, Yang Guoshun, Xiong Zhi

Food and Machinery

Objective: In order to explore the extraction method and antioxidant activity of crude polysaccharide from edible fungus resources of reed. Methods: The characteristic Agrocybe praecox of reed edible fungus of Dongting Lake District was used as raw material, the extraction rate of polysaccharide was used as the index, and the extraction was carried out by ultrasonic-assisted hot water alcohol precipitation method. After taking the liquid-material ratio, ultrasonic extraction time, ultrasonic extraction power, hot water extraction temperature, hot water extraction time as the factors to finish the single factor experiments. Then the experiments was optimized by Box-Behnken center combined experimental design …

Research Progress On Innovative Processing Technologies And Changes In Physicochemical Properties During The Pickling Of Pidan, Cheng Jing, Li Lichan, Wang Shaoyun, Yu Liyang, Yu Jie, Cai Xixi

Food and Machinery

In view of the limitations of the traditional processing technology of Pidan, this review summarizes the innovative processing technologies of Pidan, such as gradient temperature control, ultrasonic assisted, vacuum decompression, pulsating pressure, etc., and describes the changes of water, pH value, protein, free amino acids, texture, mineral elements and micro-morphology during the picking process of Pidan. Moreover, the development directions of Pidan products are prospected.

Research Progress On The Effect Of Whole Grain Components On Flour Product Qualities And Processing Characteristics, Shao Yulan, Sun Chenghang, Hu Bingbing

Food and Machinery

In this review, the effects of starch, protein, oil, polyphenols and other components in whole grains on the processing characteristics of dough and the quality of flour products were introduced, and problems and improvement measures of whole grain flour products were analyzed, in order to provide references for the research of whole grain flour products.

Research Progress On Constituent Structure And Extraction Technique Of The Polysaccharide From Agaricus Blazei, Cui Guomei, Liu Lina, Tian Guangrui, Li Shunfeng, Xu Fangfang, Wang Anjian

Food and Machinery

The composition, structure and functional properties of Agaricus blazei polysaccharide were summarized. The extraction techniques of polysaccharides and the features of different extraction methods were enumerated and compared. The problems in the research of A. blazei was discussed， such as unsystematic basic research, immature technological conditions, imperfect equipment and facilities, and low degree of specificity in seeds. In the end，the research direction of A. blazei polysaccharide was prospected.

Studying On The Hypoglycemic Activity Of Green Tea Polyphenols From Camellia Ptilophylla Chang Using High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry And Network Pharmacology, Huang Qiuyan, Li Bin, Lin Xiaorong, Lu Sen, Chen Zhongzheng, Zhang Yuanyuan

Food and Machinery

Objective: This study aimed to explore the composition and the functional bioactivity of tea polyphenols from cocoa tea. Methods: Chemical components of crude green tea polyphenol extracts from cocoa tea were analyzed and identified using high resolution mass spectrometry. Additionally, their potential functional effects were predicted by network pharmacological analysis. Results: The in vitro hyperglycemic potential of crude green tea polyphenol from cocoa tea was preliminarily confirmed based on their strong inhibition on α-glucosidase and α-amylase. Six key targets including GAPDH and AKT and multiple pathways such as PI3K-AKT were predicted to be involved in the underying mechanisms behind the …

Study On Ultrasonic Assisted Enzymatic Extraction Of Grass Carp Visceral Oil And Analysis Of Its Fatty Acid Composition, Wang Zhengyun, Liu Zixiao, Zhan Yueping

Food and Machinery

Objective: This study aimed to optimize the extraction process of visceral fish oil from grass carp. Methods: Using grass carp viscera as raw material, fish oil was extracted by using ultrasonic assisted enzyme method. The effects of enzyme type, enzyme addition amount, enzymatic hydrolysis time, enzymatic hydrolysis temperature, ultrasonic treatment time, and ultrasonic treatment power on the extraction rate of fish oil were investigated. Results: The optimal process conditions for ultrasonic assisted enzymatic extraction of fish oil were neutral protease hydrolysis, enzyme addition of 2.5%, enzymatic hydrolysis time of 2 hours, enzymatic hydrolysis temperature of 45 ℃, ultrasonic treatment power …

Nutrition, Allergenicity And Physicochemical Qualities Of Food-Grade Protein Extracts From Nannochloropsis Oculata, Sara Hamzelou, Damien Belobrajdic, Angéla Juhász, Henri Brook, Utpal Bose, Michelle L. Colgrave, James A. Broadbent

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Microalgae offer an opportunity to act as a sustainable source of dietary protein. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different protein extraction methods on the nutritional and physicochemical properties of Nannochloropsis oculata. Food-grade protein extracts were obtained by hypotonic osmotic shock using milli-Q water. Food grade (FG) and non-food grade (NFG) extraction buffers were compared along with three cell disruption methods including bead beating, probe sonication and a combination of both methods for protein extraction. Mass spectrometry was used for protein and putative allergen identification in FG extracts. Bead beating led to a slightly higher number of identifiable …