A second nutrition transition seems to be emerging towards more plant-based diets, curbing meat consumption in developed countries at the beginning of the 21st century. This shift suggests that rational arguments tend to influence an increasing number of individuals to adopt vegetarian diets. This work aimed to understand and simulate the impact of different types of messages on the choice to change food diets at the individual level, and the impact of the diffusion of opinions at the collective level. It provided two results: (1) a network of arguments around vegetarian diets is modelled using an abstract argumentation approach. Each argument, formalized by a node, was connected with other arguments by arrows, thus formalizing relationships between arguments. This methodology made it possible to formalize an argument network about vegetarian diets and to identify the importance of health arguments compared to ethical or other types of arguments. This methodology also identified key arguments as a result of their high centrality in being challenged or challenging other arguments. The results of constructing this argument network suggested that any controversy surrounding vegetarian diets will be polarized around such high centrality arguments about health. Even though few ethical arguments appeared in our network, the health arguments concerning the necessity or not of animal products for humans were indirectly connected with ethical choices towards vegetarian diets; (2) an agent-based simulation of the social diffusion of opinions and practices concerning meat consumption is then introduced. The purpose of this simulation was to capture the balance of vegetarian vs. meat-based diets. It contributes to modelling consumer choices by exploring the balance between individual values and external influences such as social pressure, communication campaigns and sanitary, environmental or ethical crises.

This study produced fish mortadella from Mechanically Separated Meat (MSM) of Nile tilapia added with animal fat. Three formulations were developed: M1 (MSM - 89 % and 5 % pork fat), M2 (MSM - 84 % and 10 % pork fat) and M3 (MSM - 79 % and 15 % pork fat). The elaborated products were tested for technological, physical, physico-chemical, microbiological and sensory parameters. The results showed that the fish mortadella were microbiologically stable with a particular texture for an emulsified meat product, attractive colour and characteristic flavour. All formulations met the expected identity and quality requirements. They also achieved good acceptance by the judges, in which formulation M1 may be highlighted for presenting an emulsion stability of 97 %, higher protein content (18.09 %) and lower lipids (16.31 %). In addition, it also reached higher mean scores for texture attributes and purchase intent. Therefore, it is possible to prepare fish mortadellas from tilapia MSM using less animal fat.

Lactobacillus spp. are lactic acid bacteria which have important implications for the food industry due to their fermentation capacities. The aims of this research were to produce fermented goat milks with Lactobacillus plantarum B7 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus D1, isolated from Brazilian artisanal cheeses, and to evaluate their physico-chemical, microbiological and sensorial qualities during 30 days of storage at 7°C. The goat milks, fermented by B7, D1, co-culture and a Lactobacillus casei Shirota control, possessed acceptable physico-chemical characteristics to meet fermented milk standards established by Brazilian legislation and maintain the viability of Lactobacillus spp. throughout the shelf life of the products. The products were microbiologically safe. D1 fermented goat milk gave higher consumer sensory quality acceptance and purchase intention (p<0.05) than other treatments, thus Lactobacillus rhamnosus D1 is recommended for fermented goat milk production.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of raw chicken meat content on the rheological properties and 3D printability of minced meat mixtures using different concentrations of raw and cooked chicken meat. The meat mass contained yolk, crushed ice, lean raw meat and cooked meat with a high concentration of connective tissue. The concentrations of raw meat added to cooked meat as a percentage of the total weight of meat were 0; 30; 40; 50; 60; 70 and 100. To determine the rheological properties, amplitude sweep and frequency sweep were carried out with a Rheostress RS 300 (Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.). Cubes were printed, and the printability and optical impression were evaluated using grades from 1-5. The results showed that rheological properties had a strong influence on the printability of meat mass and it is necessary for G' (storage modulus) at the LVR (linear viscoelastic region) to be higher than 7000 Pa. The complex viscosity |η*| should be higher than 170 Pa, at a shear stress τ = 10 Pa, and a frequency f = 10 Hz used to guarantee sufficient solidity.

Other than the edible oils extracted from the Acrocomia aculeata fruit, there is a growing interest in the palm to generate other high value-added products. Relatively high amounts of carotenoids (up to 378 mg kg-1) have been found in the esculent oils mechanically obtained from the fruit mesocarp. From industrial application perspectives, several processes have been proposed to modify native vegetable oils to yield high functional properties of structured lipids. For interesterified products, the thermal effects of industrial reactors are crucial in reaction mechanisms. The present study has taken into account previously estimated kinetic parameters for the overall disappearances of all-trans β-carotene in the Acrocomia aculeata oil (ko= 2.6 x 10-4 min-1; Ea = 105.0003 kJ mol-1; ΔH = 9.8 x 104 J kg-1) to develop a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) kinetic treatment that obeys first-order kinetics. A system of ordinary dierential equations - mass and energy balances - was solved by the 4th order Runge-Kutta method (GNU Octave software). Under research conditions related to interesterification processing (2 h; 393.15 K), the initial concentration of carotenoids (around 11%) showed no significant decrease. Overall, realistic processing effects and conditions have been assessed, integrating results and knowledge, improving prospects of Acrocomia aculeata as a promising source of high-quality raw material, for producing functional ingredients and food with nutraceutical properties.

Gari (roasted fermented cassava grits) is the most popular product consumed in West Africa and an important food product in the diet of millions of people in developing countries. The study investigated the effect of packaging materials (PM) and storage periods on the functional and pasting properties of Gari produced from white-fleshed cassava roots and sensory attributes of the cooked Gari dough (eba). Gari was produced using the standard method and packaged in a polypropylene woven sack (PP) and polyvinyl chloride container (PVC). Gari was stored for 24 weeks at room temperature and sampled at four-week intervals for functional and pasting properties, and sensory evaluation of the eba, using standard methods. The results showed that the storage periods significantly affected all the functional (except swelling power) and pasting properties of the Gari, and PM had no significant (p>0.05) effect on the functional (except bulk density) and pasting properties. Also, the PM had no significant effect on the sensory attributes of the eba except for the mouldability (p<0.05). The setback viscosity of the Gari packaged in PVC had a significant (p<0.05, r= -0.58) negative correlation with the texture of the eba. The panellists preferred all the sensory attributes of the eba made from the Gari stored in PP compared to that made from Gari stored in PVC. Therefore, packaging Gari in PP may keep most of the properties preferred by consumers when stored for up to 5 months.

Consumer trends towards shelf-stable, safe, more natural and free from additives foods drove the need to investigate the commercial application of non-thermal food processing technologies. High pressure processing (HPP) is one such emerging technology where foods are generally subjected to high pressure (100-1000 MPa), with or without heat. Similar to heat pasteurization, HPP deactivates pathogenic microorganisms and enzymes, extends shelf life, denatures proteins, and modifies structure and texture of foods. However, unlike thermal processing, HPP can retain the quality of fresh food products, with little or no impact on nutritional value and organoleptic properties. Moreover, HPP is independent of the geometry (shape and size) of food products. The retention of food quality attributes, whilst prolonging shelf life, are enormous benefits to both food manufacturers and consumers. Researches have indicated that the combination of HPP and other treatments, based on the hurdle technology concept, has potential synergistic effects. With further advancement of the technology and its large-scale commercialization, the cost and limitations of this technology will probably reduce in the near future. The current review focuses on the mechanism and system of HPP and its applications in the processing of fruit, vegetables, meat, milk, fish and seafood, and eggs and their derived products.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of the addition of swine skin on the technological characteristics of mortadella formulations produced on industrial scale. The effects of concentrations of swine skin (1.5 to 5.5 %) and sodium chloride (2 to 3 %) on total protein, total fat, starch, moisture, water activity, sodium, pH and texture profile (hardness, adhesiveness, elasticity, cohesiveness and chewiness) were evaluated and compared to a mortadella formulation without swine skin addition. The mortadella formulations with addition of 3.5 to 5.5 % swine skin and 2 to 2.5 % sodium chloride are in accordance with Brazilian legislation and provided an increase of approximately 12 % in protein content, a decrease of 14 % in sodium content and a water activity less than 0.9488. The swine skin and sodium chloride provided stability to the mortadella and influenced its texture, mainly in hardness, elasticity and chewiness.

Tomato is a horticultural crop of interest, that is widely consumed fresh or as processed products. The present investigation was to evaluate the antioxidant indices (total phenolic content, flavonoid content, ferric reducing antioxidant power, radical scavenging activities, inhibitory action against lipid oxidation) and anti-cholinesterase action (acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase) of tomato fruits (ripe and unripe) and  pastes (paste 2 and paste 1) after simulated gastrointestinal digestion. The total phenolic content (mg/g GAE) of the In vitro digested tomato fruits and pastes showed higher values (ripe tomato: 61.08; tomato paste1: 56.02; tomato paste 2: 60.36; unripe tomato: 38.97) than the ethanolic extracts, with digested ripe tomato ranking higher. Similar results were also obtained for total flavonoid content, ferric reducing antioxidant power, and the radical scavenging activities (DPPH*, ABTS˙+, NO*, OH*), with the in vitro digested samples ranking high. The ability of the enzyme digested and ethanolic extracts of tomato fruits and pastes to inhibit iron and sodium nitroprusside induced lipid oxidation in rat’s liver and brain homogenate increased in a concentration dependent manner, with the enzyme digested tomato fruits and pastes ranking high. Similarly, the ability of the in vitro digested tomato fruit and pastes to enhance activities of the antioxidant enzymes (GPx, GSH, SOD and Catalase) and to inhibit the formation of cholinesterases ranked high. The result of this investigation showed that the studied tomato fruit and pastes possess antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase activities that would be bio-available after the gastrointestinal digestion and by implication could be harnessed as functional food.

Barhi Dates are an important food and often consumed and sold in the market during the stage Khalal, when the colour is yellow and their taste is sweet with the disappearance of their astringent taste. During the Khalal stage, these dates become physiologically mature with gives the sweet taste. For this reason, they are sold and consumed in a short period of time before these fruits turn into Rutab, a stage at which they lose that distinguishing characteristic. The high moisture, rapid ripening, and delays in transportation or improper storage conditions quickly result in Rutab stage. Thus The Khalal stage lasts for a short time until the fruits get ripe. In the present study, Barhi Khalals were packaged in air (control) and by two types of modified atmosphere packaging: MAP A (5% O2+ 20% CO2 and 75% N2) and MAP B (40% O2+ 20% CO2 and 40% N2). Afterwards, all samples were stored at 5°C for 30 days. On days zero, 10, 20 and 30 of storage, the fruits were evaluated in terms of the changes in the quality indices of weight loss, colour, Total Soluble Solids (TSS), and firmness of the fruits and sensory features. The results showed that the minimum weight loss was 0.45% in modified atmosphere packaging, especially with MAP A and the minimum increase in the TSS was 37.35 Brix° after 30 days of the storage. On the other hand, the results for firmness, colour, and sensory evaluation were better with control packaging.