In developing countries, traditional fermentation serves many purposes. It can improve the taste of an otherwise bland food, enhance the digestibility of a food that is difficult to assimilate, preserve food from degradation by noxious organisms, and increase nutritional value through the synthesis of essential amino acids and vitamins. Although "fermented food" has a vaguely distasteful ring, bread, wine, cheese, and yogurt are all familiar fermented foods. Less familiar are gari, ogi, idli, ugba, and other relatively unstudied but important foods in some African and Asian countries. This book reports on current research to improve the safety and nutrition of these foods through an elucidation of the microorganisms and mechanisms involved in their production. Also included are recommendations for needed research.

Traditional fermented foods are not only the staple food for most of developing countries but also the key healthy food for developed countries. As the healthy functions of these foods are gradually discovered, more high throughput biotechnologies are being used to promote the fermented food industries. As a result, the microorganisms, process bioc

Due to the indigenous knowledge of pre-Colombian indigenous tribes and the new methods introduced by the immigrants arriving from Europe and other continents, a wide variety of fermented foods are produced in Latin America. In this book, we have collected information about the Latin American experience in the production of dairy, meat and wine. Special focus has been given to fermented fruits and vegetables as it is part of the genetic heritage of the South American continent. Pre-Columbian knowledge on preparation of various fermented food products is covered in the book.

With the application of new analytical techniques, the field of food fermentation has grown in recent years. This book provides the latest information and relevant advances on the microbial ecology of fermented foods and the application of molecular methods. This book serves as a guide for students and researchers on the most advanced techniques to identify bacteria and helps in choosing the most appropriate tools to study fermented food from a microbiological point of view.

Molecular Techniques in Food Biology: Safety, Biotechnology, Authenticity & Traceability explores all aspects of microbe-food interactions, especially as they pertain to food safety. Traditional morphological, physiological, and biochemical techniques for the detection, differentiation, and identification of microorganisms have severe limitations. As an alternative, many of those responsible for monitoring food safety are turning to molecular tools for identifying foodborne microorganisms. This book reviews the latest molecular techniques for detecting, identifying, and tracing microorganisms in food, addressing both good foodborne microbes, such as those used for fermentation and in probiotics, and harmful ones responsible for foodborne illness and food quality control problems. Molecular Techniques in Food Biology: Safety, Biotechnology, Authenticity & Traceability brings together contributions by leading international authorities in food biology from academe, industry, and government. Chapters cover food microbiology, food mycology, biochemistry, microbial ecology, food biotechnology and bio-processing, food authenticity, food origin traceability, and food science and technology. Throughout, special emphasis is placed on novel molecular techniques relevant to food biology research and for monitoring and assessing food safety and quality. Brings together contributions from scientists at the leading edge of the revolution in molecular food biology Explores how molecular techniques can satisfy the dire need to deepen our understanding of how microbial communities develop in foods of all types and in all forms Covers all aspects of food safety and hygiene, microbial ecology, food biotechnology and bio-processing, food authenticity, food origin traceability, and more Fills a yawning gap in the world literature on food traceability using molecular techniques This book is an important working resource for professionals in agricultural, food science, biomedicine, and government involved in food regulation and safety. It is also an excellent reference for advanced students in agriculture, food science and food technology, biochemistry, microbiology, and biotechnology, as well as academic researchers in those fields.

While many food science programs offer courses in the microbiology and processing of fermented foods, no recently published texts exist that fully address the subject. Food fermentation professionals and researchers also have lacked a single book that covers the latest advances in biotechnology, bioprocessing, and microbial genetics, physiology, and taxonomy. In Microbiology and Technology of Fermented Foods, Robert Hutkins has written the first text on food fermentation microbiology in a generation. This authoritative volume also serves as a comprehensive and contemporary reference book. A brief history and evolution of microbiology and fermented foods, an overview of microorganisms involved in food fermentations, and their physiological and metabolic properties provide a foundation for the reader. How microorganisms are used to produce fermented foods and the development of a modern starter culture industry are also described. Successive chapters are devoted to the major fermented foods produced around the world with coverage including microbiological and technological features for manufacture of these foods: Cultured Dairy Products Cheese Meat Fermentation Fermented Vegetables Bread Fermentation Beer Fermentation Wine Fermentation Vinegar Fermentation Fermentation of Foods in the Orient Examples of industrial processes, key historical events, new discoveries in microbiology, anecdotal materials, case studies, and other key information are highlighted throughout the book. Comprehensively written in a style that encourages critical thinking, Microbiology and Technology of Fermented Foods will appeal to anyone dealing in food fermentation – students, professors, researchers, and industry professionals.

Advances in Biotechnology for Food Industry, Volume Fourteen in the Handbook of Food Bioengineering series, provides recent insight into how biotechnology impacts the global food industry and describes how food needs are diverse, requiring the development of innovative biotechnological processes to ensure efficient food production worldwide. Many approaches were developed over the last 10 years to allow faster, easier production of widely used foods, food components and therapeutic food ingredients. This volume shows how biotechnological processes increase production and quality of food products, including the development of anti-biofilm materials to decrease microbial colonization in bioreactors and food processing facilities. - Presents basic to advanced technological applications in food biotechnology - Includes various scientific techniques used to produce specific desired traits in plants, animals and microorganisms - Provides scientific advances in food processing and their impact on the environment, human health and food safety - Discusses the development of controlled co-cultivations for reproducible results in fermentation processes in food biotechnology