Consumers favour foods with fewer synthetic additives, but products must also be safe to eat and have a sufficiently long shelf-life. Biopreservation, the use of a product's natural microflora and its antibacterial products for protection against pathogens and spoilage, is a method of growing interest for the safe production of high quality minimally-processed foods. This book provides an essential overview of key topics in this area.Initial chapters review central aspects in food biopreservation, including the identification of new protective cultures and antimicrobial culture components, existing commercial fermentates including nisin and natamycin and the potential of novel fermentates and bacteriophages to improve food safety. Part II concentrates on the use of protective cultures, bacteriocins and bacteriophages to control the carriage of pathogenic microorganisms in food animals and to modulate human gut microflora. Chapters in the final section of the book review biopreservation of different types of foods, including milk and dairy products, fermented meats, fresh seafood and fruit. A review of active packaging for food biopreservation completes the volume.Edited by a leading expert, Protective cultures, antimicrobial metabolites and bacteriophages for food and beverage biopreservation is a fundamental reference for researchers and food industry professionals working to ensure the safety of the food supply. - Reviews the central aspects in food biopreservation, including the identification of new protective cultures and antimicrobial culture components - Examines the use of protective cultures, bacteriocins and bacteriophages to control the carriage of pathogenic microorganisms - Provides an overview of the biopreservation of different types of foods, including milk and dairy products, fermented meats, fresh seafood and fruit

Consumers favour foods with fewer synthetic additives, but products must also be safe to eat and have a sufficiently long shelf-life. Biopreservation, the use of a product's natural microflora and its antibacterial products for protection against pathogens and spoilage, is a method of growing interest for the safe production of high quality minimally-processed foods. This book provides an essential overview of key topics in this area. Initial chapters review central aspects in food biopreservation, including the identification of new protective cultures and antimicrobial culture components, existing commercial fermentates including nisin and natamycin and the potential of novel fermentates and bacteriophages to improve food safety. Part II concentrates on the use of protective cultures, bacteriocins and bacteriophages to control the carriage of pathogenic microorganisms in food animals and to modulate human gut microflora. Chapters in the final section of the book review biopreservation of different types of foods, including milk and dairy products, fermented meats, fresh seafood and fruit. A review of active packaging for food biopreservation completes the volume. Edited by a leading expert, Protective cultures, antimicrobial metabolites and bacteriophages for food and beverage biopreservation is a fundamental reference for researchers and food industry professionals working to ensure the safety of the food supply.

Consumers favor foods and beverages with fewer synthetic additives, but products must also be safe to eat and have a sufficiently long shelf-life. Biopreservation (using a food’s natural microflora and/or their antibacterial products for protection against pathogens and spoilage), is a method of growing interest for the safe production of minimally-processed foods. Protective Cultures, Antimicrobial Metabolites and Bacteriophages for Food and Beverage Biopreservation explores this critical process that effectively balances food safety and shelf life longevity.

The use of microorganisms and their metabolites for the preservation of foods began in prehistory. Lactic acid bacteria are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for this purpose. They produce organic acids, diacetyl, acetoin, hydrogen peroxide, reuterin, reutericyclin and bacteriocins, all of which inhibit foodborne pathogens and spoilage microorganisms. Bacteriocins and the strains that produce them are particularly effective as bio-preservatives in cheese, meat and vegetables. They hold the promise of ensuring the quality and safety of ready-to-eat, extended-shelf-life, fresh-tasting and minimally processed foods without chemical preservatives. This Research Topic provides an overview of bacterial cultures, bacteriocins and other metabolites that have shown promise for use as antimicrobial bio-preservatives in foods in general. Articles describing novel analytical technologies, strategies to reduce or eliminate pathogens in food systems or emerging technologies for the production or use of protective cultures or their bacteriocins are presented.

Natural additives are increasingly favoured over synthetic ones as methods of ensuring food safety and long shelf-life. The antimicrobial properties of both plant-based antimicrobials such as essential oils and proteins such as bacteriocins are used in, for example, edible preservative films, in food packaging and in combination with synthetic preservatives for maximum efficacy. New developments in delivery technology such as nanoencapsulation also increase the potential of natural antimicrobials for widespread use in industry. Part one introduces the different types of natural antimicrobials for food applications. Part two covers methods of application, and part three looks at determining the effectiveness of natural antimicrobials in food. Part four focuses on enhancing quality and safety, and includes chapters on specific food products. - Reviews different types of antimicrobials used in food safety and quality - Covers how antimicrobials are created to be used in different foods - Examines how the antimicrobials are used in foods to enhance the safety and quality

Food processing is expected to affect content, activity and bioavailability of nutrients; the health-promoting capacity of food products depends on their processing history. Traditional technologies, such as the use of antimicrobials and thermal processing, are efficient in increasing nutritional value to an extent, though they may not be effective at addressing food safety, particularly when it comes to maintaining the food's molecular structure. Modern food processing plants improve the quality of life for people with allergies, diabetics, and others who cannot consume some common food elements. Food processing can also add extra nutrients, such as vitamins. Processed foods are often less susceptible to early spoilage than fresh foods and are better suited for long-distance transportation from the source to the consumer. However, food processing can also decrease the nutritional value of foods and introduce hazards not encountered with naturally occurring products. Processed foods often include food additives, such as flavourings and texture-enhancing agents, which may have little or no nutritive value, and may in fact be unhealthy. This book deals with the subject of food processing in a unique way, providing an overview not only of current techniques in food processing and preservation (i.e., dairy, meat, cereal, vegetables, fruits and juice processing, etc.) but also the health and safety aspects: food technologies that improve nutritional quality of foods, functional foods, and nanotechnology in the food and agriculture industry. The text also looks into the future by defining current bottlenecks and future research goals. This work will serve as a ready reference for the subject matter to students and researchers alike.

Packaging plays an essential role in protecting and extending the shelf life of a wide range of foods, beverages and other fast-moving consumer goods. There have been many key developments in packaging materials and technologies in recent years, and Trends in packaging of food, beverages and other fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) provides a concise review of these developments and international market trends.Beginning with a concise introduction to the present status and trends in innovations in packaging for food, beverages and other fast-moving consumer goods, the book goes on to consider modified atmosphere packaging and other active packaging systems, including smart and intelligent packaging, and the role these play in augmenting and securing the consumer brand experience. Developments in plastic and bioplastic materials and recycling systems are then discussed, followed by innovations and trends in metal, paper and paperboard packaging. Further chapters review international environmental and sustainability regulatory and legislative frameworks, before the use of nanotechnology, smart and interactive packaging developments for enhanced communication at the packaging/user interface are explored. Finally, the book concludes by considering potential future trends in materials and technologies across the international packaging market.With its distinguished editor and international team of expert contributors, Trends in packaging of food, beverages and other fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) is an important reference tool, providing a practical overview of emerging packaging technologies and market trends for research and design professionals in the food and packaging industry, and academics working in this area. - Introduces the present status, current trends and new innovations in the field whilst considering future trends in materials and technologies - Considers modified atmosphere packaging and other active packaging systems including smart and intelligent packaging - Discusses developments in plastic and bioplastic materials and recycling systems