The increasing interest in functional and sustainable alternatives to dairy products has driven the development of fermented plant-based foods. However, the diversity of plant matrices, microbial cultures, and fermentation strategies employed in these products requires a comprehensive evaluation of their technological and functional potential. This systematic review, conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, analysed 64 studies published from January 2015 to April 2025 concerning the development of fermented plant-based products and dairy analogues. The review focused on plant matrices, the use of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains, and the applied fermentation strategies. The most extensively studied matrices are soy, oat, and rice. The most widely applied microorganisms include Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lacticaseibacillus casei, Streptococcus thermophilus, and emerging probiotic strains such as Weissella confusa. Other microorganisms have also been used in the fermentation of underutilised food matrices. Beverages predominated among the developed products. Ice creams and plant-based yoghurts have also been reported. Symbiotic formulations, including the addition of prebiotics such as inulin and fructooligosaccharides, were also explored. Studies showed that fermentation is an effective process to improve texture and volatile profiles and to reduce antinutritional factors. Some reported formulations achieved high probiotic viability and survival under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. This review provides an integrated perspective on the relationship among plant matrices, microbial selection, and fermentation approaches, highlighting current advances, technological challenges, and future directions for developing fermented plant-based dairy analogues.
Soy okara is a dietary fiber-rich side stream residue from tofu production, but its limited digestibility and sensory properties restrict its application in food systems. This study investigates a novel two-step fermentation strategy combining solid-state fermentation with Cyclocybe aegerita and subsequent submerged fermentation with five food-associated lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains (Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, Lacticaseibacillus casei, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Pediococcus acidilactici, and Pediococcus pentosaceus) to improve nutrient accessibility, sensory properties, and bioactive functionality of soy okara. Fungal fermentation served as an active bioconversion step, improving nutrient accessibility for subsequent bacterial fermentation. C. aegerita reduced total fiber content by approximately 22
Gelatin is widely used in food, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical products; however, extensive processing during gelatin production can compromise DNA integrity and complicate the detection of source-specific biomarkers. This study compared the performance of DNA-based real-time PCR (qPCR) and peptide-based Q-Exactive Orbitrap LC–MS/MS approaches for the detection of fish gelatin-derived biomarkers in commercial products and evaluated their performance across different product matrices. A total of 55 commercial products declared by their manufacturers to contain fish gelatin, including gelatin powders, capsules, tablets, and complex supplements, were analyzed using both methods. Fish DNA detection was performed by species-specific qPCR, while collagen-derived marker peptides generated by tryptic digestion were identified using high-resolution Q-Exactive Orbitrap LC–MS/MS based on accurate mass and MS/MS fragmentation criteria. The Q-Exactive Orbitrap LC–MS/MS approach detected the selected collagen-derived marker peptides in all analyzed samples (55/55), whereas qPCR detected fish DNA in 29 of 47 analytically valid samples (61.7
The condiment industry faces significant challenges with inconsistent chili quality due to variability in raw material. This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of color, pungency, taste and aroma compounds across five representative dried chili peppers (Qinjiao, Moguijiao, Sanyingjiao, Erjingtiao, Bohu). Integrated gas chromatography-ion migration spectrometer and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses identified 18 key differential volatiles (variable importance in projection score > 1) and 27 aroma-active compounds (odor activity value > 1). Erjingtiao was the most sensorially preferred, which was strongly correlated with its exceptionally high linalool content (16-, 28-, and 5-fold greater than Sanyingjiao, Qinjiao, and Bohu, respectively), imparting dominant floral and citrus notes. Significant variations in capsaicinoid content were found, with Moguijiao possessing the highest level (6.49 g/kg), classifying it as very strongly pungent. Qinjiao and Sanyingjiao exhibited superior taste potential due to higher taste active value of umami- and sweet-associated free amino acids. Bohu displayed the most intense red color, as evidenced by its highest L*, a*, and color value (48.74, 26.36, 18.25). This study elucidates the distinct chemical-sensory profiles of major dried chili peppers, identifying key chemical markers responsible for their flavor differentiation. The findings are expected to provide scientific basis for a flavor-oriented raw material evaluation system, enabling the targeted selection and blending of chilies to optimize condiment quality and production efficiency.
The safety of plant-based dairy analogues remains poorly investigated. Antifungal adjunct cultures have been studied in dairy fermentations but their effect in plant-based systems remains unknown. In this study, antifungal adjunct cultures were evaluated in plant-based cheese analogues. Strains of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, Furfurilactobacillus milii, Lentilactobacillus parabuchneri and Levilactobacillus hammesii were selected to include both homo- and heterofermentative organisms. Each strain was inoculated into lupin- and buckwheat-based cheese analogues that were fermented with Lactococcus lactis, Lactococcus cremoris and Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides as acidification cultures. Microbial community analysis by culture and full-length 16S rRNA sequencing revealed a strong matrix effect on the community composition. Lactate and acetate concentrations were higher in lupin-based products. Hydroxy-unsaturated fatty acids were identified both in lupin- and buckwheat-based products. Plant-based cheese analogues were challenged with environmental conidia, Penicillium caseicolum or Penicillium roqueforti. The adjunct cultures delayed growth of environmental conidia and of P. caseicolum in products with lupin and buckwheat. Growth of P. roqueforti 3969 was inhibited only in buckwheat products, resulting in a 4–10-fold extension of mould-free storage time. These findings demonstrate that antifungal adjunct cultures are also active in plant-based fermentations and emphasise the matrix effects of the antifungal activity of adjunct cultures.
The antioxidant potential of Aspalathus linearis (rooibos), either fermented (FR) or unfermented (UR), used as a natural additive in dry or wet marinades for pork loin cooked using oven, pan, sous-vide and microwave methods was investigated. Their effect on lipid peroxidation (LP), on the content and oxidative status of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), on cooking-related meat weight loss and on sensorial properties were evaluated. All cooking methods increased LP endpoints, however pan-cooking lead to lower oxidation in terms of hydroperoxides (PV) (0.020 ± 0.003 mEq O₂/100 g in wet-marinated and 0.025 ± 0.000 mEq O₂/100 g in dry-marinated meat) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (0.124 ± 0.015 mg/100 g in wet-marinated and 0.163 ± 0.002 mg/100 g in dry-marinated meat). FR limited the increase in PV in dry-marinated samples cooked using oven (0.031 ± 0.007 mEq O₂/100 g), sous-vide (0.023 ± 0.007 mEq O₂/100 g) and microwave (0.260 ± 0.006 mEq O₂/100 g), compared to the control (C) (oven = 0.045 ± 0.004 mEq O₂/100 g sous-vide = 0.042 ± 0.003 mEq O₂/100 g, microwave = 0.046 ± 0.005 mEq O₂/100 g). For MDA levels, FR was effective in dry marinated and microwaved samples (C = 0.265 ± 0.061 mg/100 g, FR = 0.106 ± 0.026 mg/100 g) and in oven-cooked samples previously wet-marinated (C = 0.211 ± 0.022 mg/100 g, FR = 0.128 ± 0.005 mg/100 g) or dry-marinated (C = 0.247 ± 0.019 mg/100 g; FR = 0.159 ± 0.005 mg/100 g). Conversely, UR was able to significantly counteract both PV and MDA in oven, sous-vide and microwave cooked meat, regardless of the marinating technique used, proving even more effective in counteracting LP. On the other hand, FR seems to provide a more favourable sensory profile, particularly in samples cooked in the microwave with a wet marinade and in samples cooked in the oven with a dry marinade. The use of rooibos influenced CoQ10 oxidative status under certain conditions. This study demonstrates the ability of rooibos extracts to modulate early oxidative changes occurring during meat cooking, indicating its potential use as a natural alternative to synthetic preservatives.
Growing interest in low-carbohydrate (low-carb) dietary patterns has stimulated research and industrial efforts toward reformulated foods with low carbohydrate content. However, carbohydrates are multifunctional components that contribute not only to sweetness, but also to structural stability, water distribution, viscosity, and sensory perception, making their reduction a major technological challenge. To address these challenges, this narrative review analyzed the main carbohydrate sources in processed foods, including sugars, starches, and wheat flour, highlighting the reformulation strategies, sensory implications, and technological barriers involved in developing low-carb alternatives. An exploratory keyword co-occurrence analysis was also conducted to contextualize current research trends and identify thematic gaps in literature. Current evidence suggests that no single ingredient or replacement strategy consistently reproduces the physicochemical and sensory properties of conventional carbohydrate-rich ingredients across different food systems. Instead, carbohydrate reduction frequently involves trade-offs between nutritional improvement, structural stability, processing behavior, and consumer acceptance. This review highlights the need for integrated and multidisciplinary approaches combining ingredient functionality, nutritional balance, processing strategies, and sensory optimization to support the development of technologically feasible and acceptable low-carb foods. This review provides a mechanistic and integrative framework to support future advances in low-carb food reformulation.
Cucumber fruits are highly susceptible to postharvest moisture loss and surface wrinkling, leading to rapid quality deterioration and reduced marketability. This study evaluated the potential of handheld visible–near infrared (Vis–NIR) spectroscopy combined with unsupervised machine learning algorithms for non-destructive identification of wrinkling stages during storage. A total of 220 greenhouse cucumbers were stored for 16 days under controlled conditions. Reflectance spectra were collected from the middle and stem-end regions in the 400–1100 nm range and analyzed in both the 400–1100 and 700–1100 nm intervals. Raw, Savitzky–Golay (SG), Multiplicative Scatter Correction (MSC), and Standard Normal Variate (SNV) preprocessing methods were evaluated. The clustering performances of Artificial Bee Colony (ABC), Fuzzy C-Means (FCM), Gaussian Mixture Models (GMM), K-Means, and Self-Organizing Maps (SOM) algorithms were assessed using the Davies–Bouldin (DB) and Silhouette indices. The results revealed significant effects of spectral preprocessing, sampling location, and wavelength range on clustering performance. Spectra collected from the stem-end region generally provided better class separability than those from the middle section. Among preprocessing methods, SG, MSC, and SNV improved clustering quality depending on the algorithm applied. K-Means, ABC, and SOM consistently outperformed FCM and GMM across most spectral scenarios. The highest clustering performance was achieved using K-Means combined with SG preprocessing in the stem-end region within the 700–1100 nm range, yielding a Silhouette coefficient of 0.844 and a Davies–Bouldin index of 0.472. Results further indicated that wrinkling progression followed a continuous physiological gradient, causing partial overlap among intermediate quality classes. Portable Vis–NIR spectroscopy coupled with unsupervised learning provides an effective tool for non-destructive monitoring of cucumber wrinkling and postharvest quality changes.
Peanut protein is a valuable plant-based protein resource; however, its application in food systems is restricted by poor solubility and functional performance resulting from its compact structure and heat-induced aggregation. Although various modification strategies have been explored, achieving effective functional enhancement through simple and sustainable processing while elucidating the underlying structural mechanisms remains challenging. This study investigated the effects of high-speed shear (0–13000 rpm) treatment on the functional properties of peanut protein and established the corresponding structure-function relationships through comprehensive structural analyses. Compared with the control, the soluble protein content of peanut protein increased significantly from 0.223 to 0.788 mg/mL at 12,000 rpm, accompanied by a marked increase in strongly bound water. This change was positively correlated with the enhanced N-H and O-H stretching vibrations observed in the FTIR spectra. High-speed shear significantly reduced the particle size of peanut protein from 502.67 to 307 nm at 11,000 rpm. Meanwhile, the increased surface hydrophobicity and enhanced ultraviolet and intrinsic fluorescence intensities indicated the disruption of the tertiary structure and exposure of previously buried hydrophobic groups. The improved balance of hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups enhanced emulsion stability. Additionally, the decreased α-helix and β-sheet contents suggested partial unfolding and increased disorder of secondary structures, contributing to reduced thermal stability (from 84.89 to 68.67 °C), while the primary structure remained unchanged. These findings establish a comprehensive structure-function relationship for shear-modulated peanut protein, providing new insights and theoretical guidance for the development and application of functional plant-based protein ingredients.
Fermentation is widely recognized as a sustainable strategy for improving the nutritional quality of plant-based foods; however, its effectiveness remains highly variable and context-dependent. Existing reviews predominantly describe fermentation outcomes without providing a unifying framework to explain this variability. This review proposes a substrate-microbe-process (SMP) framework to elucidate the non-linear and trade-off-driven nature of fermentation-induced nutritional changes in cereals, legumes, and tubers. We demonstrate that fermentation outcomes are governed by multi-scale interactions, where microbial metabolism, substrate composition, and process conditions collectively determine nutrient bioavailability, protein digestibility, and anti-nutritional factor reduction. A comparative analysis demonstrates that fermentation generates distinct substrate-specific outcomes, with cereals showing improved mineral bioavailability, legumes exhibiting enhanced protein quality and digestibility, and tubers benefiting primarily from detoxification and safety enhancement. Importantly, these benefits are accompanied by trade-offs, including process variability, sensory limitations, and scalability challenges. Emerging strategies such as controlled starter cultures, mixed-culture systems, and precision fermentation are discussed as key approaches to optimize fermentation performance. Overall, this review shifts the perspective of fermentation from a universally beneficial process to a context-dependent bioprocessing strategy, providing a conceptual foundation for targeted and scalable applications in sustainable food systems.
This study aims to develop a rapid, non-destructive technique using Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) with Data-Driven Soft Independent Modeling of Class Analogy (DD-SIMCA) and Orthogonal Partial Least Squares (OPLS) for the subsequent determination of added urea and Solid Non-Fat (SNF) in cow milk. For this purpose, different sets of adulterated milk samples were prepared by adding water (2.50–50.00
Fruit juice clarification is a crucial processing step that enhances visual appearance, filtration efficiency, stability, and consumer acceptability by reducing turbidity and viscosity while improving overall juice quality. In this study, pectinase immobilized in a PVA–alginate matrix was applied for the clarification of pomegranate (Punica granatum) and pineapple (Ananas comosus) juices, as the PVA–alginate support provides excellent mechanical stability, structural integrity, enzyme retention, and reusability for sustainable juice processing. The immobilized enzyme beads exhibited good structural integrity with a swelling ratio of 2.57. Immobilization shifted the optimum pH from 4.0 to 5.0 and the optimum temperature from 40 to 50 °C, while enhancing thermal stability, storage stability, and reusability, retaining measurable activity after six reuse cycles and approximately 37
Honey is a natural product valued for its nutritional and therapeutic properties. This study comprehensively investigated the chemical composition, quality parameters, antioxidant capacity, and enzyme inhibitory activities of Bingöl honey, produced in Bingöl and recognized as the first and only polyfloral honey with geographical indication registration from the European Union. Chemical parameters (aroma profile, mineral composition, moisture (12.6
Enzymatic protein hydrolysis is a promising strategy for the valorization of protein rich meat by-products such as porcine liver, allowing the production of hydrolyzates with potential bioactive and taste-enhancing properties. Previous studies on porcine liver hydrolyzates have mainly focused on free amino acids and di- and tripeptides, while the medium-size peptide fraction remains underexplored despite its potential contribution to taste and bioactivity. In this context, peptidomics combined with in-silico tools offers valuable insights for the identification and characterization of functional peptides. This study aimed to evaluate the bioactive and taste-related potential of porcine liver hydrolyzates containing peptides from 7 to 25 amino acids, obtained under different processing conditions, including ultrasound pretreatment, single and sequential hydrolysis. Peptidomic profiling revealed that enzyme selection was the main factor driving sample differentiation, followed by hydrolysis time and ultrasound probe pretreatment. According to UMPred-FRL and BERT4Bitter prediction tools, all hydrolyzate groups contained a higher proportion of predicted umami than bitter peptides. PeptideRanker tool identified novel 92 unique peptide sequences with bioactivity scores above 0.9, with Protana Prime sequential hydrolyzates showing the highest scores. The main predicted biological activities were antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic and antihypertensive. After simulated in-silico gastrointestinal digestion, 47 peptides were associated to 18 distinct biological activities in the BIOPEP-UWM database, highlighting antihypertensive and antidiabetic activities. Overall, this study provides new insights into the contribution of the 7–25 amino acid peptide fraction to the taste and bioactive potential of porcine liver hydrolyzates, promoting their potential application as functional food ingredients and contributing to the valorization of meat by-products.
Cold plasma has emerged as a promising non-thermal technology for improving the microbial safety, storage stability, cooking quality, and germination performance of brown rice. Previous studies have reported representative effects, including microbial reductions of more than 6 log and decreases in cooking time, hardness, and chewiness by 27.4
Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is a globally important legume valued for its high nutritional content and economic significance. In Indonesia, two commonly cultivated varieties are Lurik and Garuda. Mutagenic agents have the potential to induce genetic variation, enabling the development of plant varieties with improved yield and enhanced nutritional profiles. In this study, we investigate the effects of Biocatharantine (a mutagenic agent derived from the leaves of Catharanthus roseus containing vincristine and vinblastine) on the chromosome stability, phenotypic traits, nutritional composition, fatty acid profiles, and metabolomic landscape of the Indonesian Lurik peanut cultivar, with Garuda used as a comparative reference. Seeds were treated with two concentrations of biocatharantine (1
Three different kilning schedules (low temperatures; medium temperatures; and high temperatures) were applied to eight varieties of different wheat species (three durum wheat, three soft wheat, one emmer variety, and one spelt variety) to evaluate the effects of kiln temperature on the main qualitative parameters of wheat malt, the difference among varieties and their interaction. For the most significant quality parameters of malt, including diastatic power, Kolbach index, FAN, and viscosity, KSA consistently yielded more favorable outcomes than medium temperature and high temperature, whose effects on malt parameters, although significant, were not particularly relevant. PCA analysis showed in Dim1, the main source of variability is the intrinsic varietal structure, and that in Dim2, a secondary but relevant source of variation, was due to kilning schedule intensity. Furthermore, the response to thermal treatment was genotype-specific rather than species-specific, and the principal technological shift occurred between low temperature and the most intense kilning schedules (medium temperature/high temperature). To gain insight into the suitability of varieties with malt quality closer to industry requirements, a non-statistical, multi-criteria deterministic tool called High Performance Index, but consistent with PCA analysis, being highly correlated with the PC1 score, was used to provide a useful decision-making tool by attempting to translate industrial requirements from analytical parameters of interest. The highest High Performance Index values were obtained from the Federico II and Antalis varieties using the kilning schedule low temperature. In the future, the study will be aimed at evaluating the same varietal set considering higher temperature levels with the prospect of reaching the production of beer.
To systematically evaluate the efficacy of different edible coatings in postharvest tomato preservation, we conducted a comprehensive search across multiple databases for relevant randomized controlled trials and screened them against predefined eligibility criteria. Seven eligible studies (comprising 32 intervention groups) were included. We then performed a network meta-analysis to quantitatively compare the effects of various coatings on tomato fruit quality, nutritional composition, and physiological parameters during storage, ranking their relative effectiveness using the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA). The results indicated that immersion in 0.1
Dried citrus peel is rich in flavanone glycosides and polymethoxyflavones, yet their transformation in high-salt fermented sauce matrices remains insufficiently characterized. This study evaluated the effects of low-temperature fermentation on flavonoid biotransformation and in vitro colonic fermentation potential in a controlled dried citrus peel-gochujang matrix. A sterilized gochujang-based matrix containing dried citrus peel was divided into low-temperature fermentation (LT F; 10 degrees C), room-temperature fermentation (RT F; 25 degrees C), corresponding sterile controls, and an unfermented baseline. Fermentation dynamics, targeted flavonoid quantification, untargeted metabolomics, in vitro digestion, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, and metabolite-function correlations were analyzed. Time-dependent changes in pH, acidity, reducing sugars, and viable counts confirmed active fermentation, with stronger acidification at 25 degrees C. At the endpoint, LT F retained more hesperidin than RT F (+ 34.73
Great interest is given nowadays to preserving the quality and prolonging the shelf life of herbs marketed as fresh. Storage of these products under non-optimum conditions could result in high perishability. The current work investigated the impact of storage temperature (2, 6 and 20 °C) and relative humidity (RH) (high-95
