Innov2Eat: Innovative and powdered ready-to-eat dairy and vegetable-based yogurts

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Powdered foods: structure, processing, and challenges: a review

Publication . Ueda, Jonata Massao; Morales, Patricia; Fernandez-Ruiz, Virginia; Ferreira, Anabela; Barros, Lillian; Carocho, Márcio; Heleno, Sandrina A.

Powdered foods are easy to store and transport, with a longer shelf life that minimizes potential waste, contributing to sustainable development. Each food category has a unique composition, responsible for its chemical and physical attributes, which directly influences the stability of powdered products. The drying method used is essential to obtain the desired characteristics of the powdered food, and the choice of each technology can provide unique morphological properties regarding size, shape, and density, among other factors. Furthermore, rehydration properties must also be investigated, as they play a fundamental role in the reconstitution of powdered foods, influencing the dispersion and dissolution of the powder in liquids. Therefore, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the powdered food manufacturing process and its advantages. Special attention is given to the desirable properties of food powders, challenges related to stability, powdered food reconstitution properties, and case studies regarding many powdered foods.

2023Journal article

Open access

Polyphenol composition by HPLC-DAD-(ESI-)MS/MS and bioactivities of extracts from grape agri-food wastes

Publication . Ueda, Jonata Massao; Griebler, Karoline Ribeiro; Finimundy, Tiane C.; Rodrigues, Daniele Bobrowski; Verissimo, Lavinia; Pires, Tânia C.S.P.; Gonçalves, João Carlos B.; Fernandes, Isabel P.; Pereira, Eliana; Barros, Lillian; Heleno, Sandrina A.; Calhelha, Ricardo C.

Grape agri-food wastes, such as skin, seeds, and other discarded by-products, contain phytochemical compounds that offer potential health benefits. Methods: This study aimed to investigate the polyphenol composition and bioactivities of different extracts obtained from grape marc and seeds, with the goal of exploring their potential for application as natural food additives. Results: Regardless of the extraction method used (dynamic maceration, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE)), all extracts exhibited relatively high concentrations of phenolic compounds. The chemical characterization of the extracts revealed the presence of specific compounds and chemical groups associated with each extraction methodology. Moreover, the extracts displayed satisfactory antioxidant activities, especially in inhibiting lipoperoxidation as assessed by the TBARS assay. Additionally, the extracts demonstrated effective inhibition against different strains of bacteria and fungi known as food contaminants. Taken together, these findings indicate that those extracts have the potential to be tested as natural antioxidants and preservatives with sustainable origins in food and beverage systems. Among the extraction methods evaluated, traditional maceration and UAE provided extracts with the highest antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Conclusions: Our results suggest the opportunity to explore grape marc and seeds discarded by the winery industry in Portugal as natural sources of bioactive compounds, which could be employed as functional food ingredients or technological additives. The valorization of grape biowastes offers a promising strategy to reduce waste and harness their potential health benefits.

2023Journal article

Open access