Food Science Commons^™

Covid-19 Pandemic, Climate Change, And Conflicts On Agriculture: A Trio Of Challenges To Global Food Security, Devendra Paudel, Ram Chandra Neupane, Sailesh Sigdel, Pradip Poudel, Aditya R. Khanal

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Global food security is a worldwide concern. Food insecurity is a significant threat to poverty and hunger eradication goals. Agriculture is one of the focal points in the global policy agenda. Increases in agricultural productivity through the incorporation of technological advances or expansion of cultivable land areas have been pushed forward. However, production growth has slowed in many parts of the world due to various endemic challenges, such as decreased investment in agricultural research, lack of infrastructure in rural areas, and increasing water scarcity. Climate change adversities in agriculture and food security are increasing. Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has severely …

Cooking With Chemistry: Marshmallows, Admin Stem For Success

STEM for Success Showcase

This lesson plan teaches students thermodynamics, foam, and other chemistry topics by cooking marshmallows.

Uv-C Inactivation Of Microorganisms In Droplets On Food Contact Surfaces Using Uv-C Light-Emitting Diode Devices, Aakash Sharma, Housyn Mahmoud, Brahmaiah Pendyala, Sampathkumar Balamurugan, Ankit Patras

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

The main objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of ultraviolet light (UV-C) emitting diodes for the decontamination of stainless steel food contact surfaces. Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC 19115), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (ATCC 700720) were chosen as challenge microorganisms. Target microorganisms were subjected to UV-C dosages of 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 mJ cm−2 at an average fluence of 0.163 mW/cm2 using a near-collimated beam operating at 279 nm wavelength. Escherichia coli showed lower sensitivity to UV-C light compared to Salmonella Typhimurium and followed first-order kinetics. Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium were …

Marginal Agricultural Land Identification In The Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, Prakash Tiwari

Theses and Dissertations

This study identified marginal agricultural lands in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley using crop yield predicting models. The Random Forest Regression (RFR) and Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) models were trained and validated using county-level crop yield data, climate data, soil properties, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The RFR model outperformed MLR model in estimating soybean and corn yields, with an index of agreement (d) of 0.98 and 0.96, Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiency (NSE) of 0.88 and 0.93, and root mean square error (RMSE) of 9.34% and 5.84%, respectively. Marginal agricultural lands were estimated to 26,366 hectares using cost and sales …

Upcycling Imperfect Broccoli And Carrot To Healthy Snacks Using An Innovative 3d Food Printing Approach, Taylor Clary

Food Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Vegetables are healthy foods with nutritional benefits; however, nearly one-third of the world’s fruits and vegetables are lost each year. The losses have the same nutritional value as an acceptable vegetable but have odd shapes or blemishes that make them unsuitable to consumers. 3D technology has numerous capabilities in the automotive, healthcare, and, now, food industries. Within the food industry, 3D food printing can bring customization to product design and nutrition as well as other advancements, including decreasing food waste. In this study, imperfect vegetables (i.e., broccoli and carrot) were upcycled into freeze-dried powders to improve their shelf-life before they …

Single-Laboratory Validation For The Detection Of Salmonella Enterica In Meat Analog Products, Amanda Tabb

Food Science (MS) Theses

Meat analogs are becoming increasingly popular for health, environmental, and ethical reasons. However, these products are at risk for contamination with Salmonella enterica. Therefore, it is important to ensure that detection methods for S. enterica in meat analog products are effective. Currently, the Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) chapter on Salmonella detection calls for pre-enrichment of meat analogs using lactose broth (LB) with added surfactants, Tergitol Anionic 7 or Triton X-100. However, it remains to be determined whether surfactants are necessary for pre-enrichment of meat analogs. Following pre-enrichment, screening with VIDAS is typically performed. While VIDAS is an effective screening method, …

Kinetic And Mass Spectrometric Characterization Of Anti-Greening Mechanisms Of Cysteine And Glutathione In Chlorogenic Acid-Lysine Solutions, Charles Taylor Drucker

Food Science (MS) Theses

Effective decolorization methods mitigating green compound formation from alkaline chlorogenic acid-amino acid reactions can facilitate greater consumption of chlorogenic acid-rich products. While thiols show promise as decolorization agents to replace sulfites, their application has not been optimized. In this work, cysteine and glutathione were probed for their varying kinetic effects on the onset of chlorogenic acid-lysine induced greening. A six-parameter model developed from a reparametrized Weibull cumulative distribution function accurately captured the time- and thiol concentration-dependence of greening in chlorogenic acid-lysine-thiol solutions at pH 8.0 and 9.0, illustrating the pH-dependence of each thiol’s effectiveness at lowering terminal greening magnitude as …

Filth Flies As A Vector For Some Pathogenic Bacteria Transfer, Ahmet Buyukyavuz

All Dissertations

Two separate sets of experiments were conducted to determine the transfer of bacteria by flies. An Escherichia coli ampicillin-resistant strain with a fluorescent gene was used during the experiments. The first set of experiments were divided into two trials to measure the transfer of E. coli by fruit flies to apple slices and bologna during short term exposure. Short time exposure (1, 5 and 15 min) of flies to inoculated apple slices were tested in the first trial to determine the transfer of E. coli to flies. No difference (P>0.05) in the number of bacteria transferred to flies were …

Effects Of Time, Temperature, And Cooking Vessel On Antioxidant Potential, Ph, And Degrees Brix In The Processing Of Black Garlic, Victoria Gargano

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Garlic, from the allium family, is known to contain organosulfur compounds. These compounds contain antioxidants, which provide a plethora of potential health benefits. Black garlic is created by processing regular garlic at temperatures ranging between 60-90°C, with high humidity for upwards of one month. The process of making black garlic alters these components, potentially increasing the antioxidant capacity. This end product yields a garlic that is a deep black color with a sweet flavor, pungent aroma, and a soft malleable texture. Black garlic is increasing popularity within the culinary world with more products making it to market shelves. PURPOSE: To …

Inhibiting Survival Of Salmonella During Desiccation Through The Use Of Naturally Occurring Signals, Joseph Headrick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A rising problem in agriculture is the increase of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella cases associated with chicken eggs, which transmit infection to humans. To counter this, new approaches to combat Salmonella in chickens and desiccated on eggshells are vital in the prevention of human foodborne illness. Disrupting signaling pathways with naturally occurring compounds provides a potential novel avenue for prevention of Salmonella infections, as this would disrupt sensing of these environments and inhibit subsequent optimal gene expression. Starting with signals identified in previous studies, salicylic acid was found to inhibit Salmonella desiccation survival on both eggshells and plastic. To expand upon this, …

Development Of An Intervention For Improving Food Acceptance Of People With Hearing Loss, Sara Esther Jarma Arroyo

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Hearing loss, defined as the partial or total inability to hear sound in one or both ears, is the most common sensory deficit in adults to date. Approximately 15% of American adults aged 18 and over report some trouble hearing. The impact of hearing loss may be profound, with consequences for the social, functional, and psychological well-being of the person. Surprisingly, very little attention has been paid on whether auditory loss can significantly impact consumers’ sensory perception and overall enjoyment of food. There were four objectives of this dissertation study. Chapter 1 aimed to determine the impacts of hearing loss …

Potential Control Of Invasive Mesquite Through Improving The Consumer’S Understanding Of Liquid Smoke Applications., Seth W. Ellsworth

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Mesquite trees continue to invade forests and range lands in many countries across the world. The cost to remove these trees is staggering. In Texas, landowners spent $25 million over a 10- year period to clear 300,000 ha of mesquite trees, a fraction of the 22 million ha of Texas land affected by this invasion. Estimates are that the mesquite continues to negatively impact one to two percent of additional land in selected counties each year in Texas. However, the problem is not unique to Texas, but rather to the 44 species of mesquite trees, belonging to the genus Prosopis …

Optimizing Soil Nutrient Management To Improve Dry Edible Bean Yield And Protein Quality, Emily Jundt

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Soil nutrient management is of the utmost importance to ensure crop yields are maximized to feed the world’s growing population. Micro and macronutrient deficiencies can be detrimental to plant growth and cause a drastic reduction in yield. Optimization of nutrient management needs extensive research. Nutrients such as nitrogen increase crop yield, even in legumes capable of using a large amount of nitrogen (N) via biological N fixation. Iron (Fe) fertilizers are also crucial for legumes as they are susceptible to Fe deficiency induced chlorosis.

Dry edible beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are leguminous plants and excellent dietary protein sources. Great …

Attitudes Towards Gluten Free Foods And Celiac Disease In Italy, Joellyn Speredelozzi

Senior Honors Projects

This project addresses the perception and realities of living with Celiac’s Disease in Italy. I combine a literature review with my own anecdotal experiences as an individual with Celiac’s Disease who has lived and studied in Italy. In my paper, I first describe the high awareness of gluten-free living that I noted the first time I studied abroad, being the impetus of this project. I follow this with the history and science of Celiac’s Disease for those who may be unaware of this serious chronic medical condition. I then continue to describe personal experiences I had while living in Naples, …

Higher Well-Being Individuals Are More Receptive To Cultivated Meat: An Investigation Of Their Reasoning For Consuming Cultivated Meat, Angela K. Y. Leung, Mark Chong, Tricia Marjorie Fernandez, Shu Tian Ng

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

It is evident that over-consumption of meat can contribute to the emission of hazardous greenhouse gases. One viable way to address such climate impact is to make people become more aware of more sustainable diet options, such as cultivated meat. However, it is challenging to instigate change in people's meat-eating habit, and empirical works have been examining the psychological factors that are related to consumers' willingness to consume cultivated meat. Research has suggested that psychological well-being can play a role in the meaning-making of food consumption, with higher well-being individuals showing more recognition of other sociocultural benefits of consuming food …

Estimating The Functional Consequences Of Intra-Specific Trichome Variation Of Tomato, Solanum Lycopersicum On The Specialist Herbivore, Manduca Sexta, Satinderpal Kaur

Theses and Dissertations

Chapter 1: Plants have a wide array of defenses against herbivores and hence they must confer trade-offs between growth and defense related traits. By using Solanum as a model genus, the major plant defense fitness trade-off hypotheses are reviewed in this chapter along with their assumptions and examples.

Chapter 2: This chapter provides an overview of the enormous intra-specific diversity in trichome morphology in tomato, Solanum lycopersicum. Also, the trichome sub-types are analyzed for the variations in density and dimensions in 10 varieties of tomato by using desktop scanning electron microscope.

Chapter 3: This chapter examines the functional consequences …

Determining The Effects Of Maternal Adiposity On Preterm Neonatal Microbiome And Short Chain Fatty Acid Profiles, Dalton James, William A. Clark Phd, Kristy L. Thomas

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The gut microbiota and its metabolites have vast impacts on the human digestive system, immune system, and health outcomes. Short chain volatile fatty acids (SCVFAs) present in feces can be representative of the interactions of the microbiota present in the gut. Low microbiota diversity in the human gut is highly associated with obesity and adverse health outcomes. Furthermore, the maternal microbiome has a direct impact on neonatal microbiota through various pathways such as environment, skin flora, breast milk composition, and vaginal secretions. This study is aimed to further understand the associations between various factors (maternal adiposity, gestational time, length of …

A New Method For Reducing Salmonella In Poultry Meat, Regis Yizerwe

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

An important approach to decreasing the transmission of Salmonella into the food chain is to treat raw chicken after processing. This can be, and has been done, by using antibiotics and chemical disinfectants. Using antibiotics is not a viable option due to the issue of antimicrobial resistance. Although some chemical disinfectants have been used effectively, they are restricted due to the amounts that can be used safely, the acceptance of their use and resistance to implementation in various parts of the world. This study has revealed that using a naturally occurring saponin–Quillaja Saponaria– in small concentrations under certain conditions of …

Study Of Weight Gain In Freshman Students At The University Of Arkansas, Lily Maleknia

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to examine the poor (non-nutritional) food choices that college freshman make when living on-campus and eating at on-campus dining facilities. These poor choices lead to excessive weight gain, eating disorders, declining health and wellness, and mental health issues (i.e. depression, anxiety, lack of self-confidence). These side effects can lead to a less than desirable 1st year college experience and lack of academic success. Based on these concerns, different investigations have been performed to determine the causes of this phenomena. Given adolescent weight gain is highly linked to being overweight and obesity in adults, a better understanding …

Using Genome Analysis Methods To Screen Lactococcus Starter Cultures For Bitter‐Related Genes And Establish A Differentiation Method Using Qpcr For Lactococcus Lactis And Lactococcus Cremoris Species In Cheddar Cheese, Brantzen R. Wood

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Consumers of Cheddar cheese expect consistent flavor and texture in the cheese they eat. Cheese flavor and texture is highly influenced by the bacteria cheese makers add during cheese production. These bacteria are generally responsible for the flavors and textures consumers associate with Cheddar cheese and are referred to as starters.

Sometimes during cheese manufacture off-flavors and textures can arise that make the cheese unappealing to eat. One such flavor that is off putting is bitterness. The bitter taste in cheese arises while the cheese is aging and is largely due to the same flavor producing starters added to the …