Quality,functionality, and microbiology of fermented fish: a review

Abstract

Fermentation is a traditional food preservation method and is widely used for improving food safety, shelf life, and organoleptic and nutritional attributes. Fermented fish are produced and consumed in different parts of the world and are an integral part of many food cultures. Furthermore, fermented fish are a source of interesting microbes and are an important industry in many countries. This review tries to update the types and manufacturing processes for fermented fish around the world. The emphasis is on this work related to fermented fish and their health benefits, as well as the contribution of microorganisms to their fermentation. A variety of different approaches have been used to determine and understand microbial composition and functionality. Moreover, some challenges and future research directions regarding fermented fish are also discussed in this review. Further research into fermented fish products is of crucial importance not only for the food industry but also for human health. However, extensive in vivo and toxicological studies are essential before the application of bioactive-rich fermented fish products for human health benefits.     

A review on selection of fermentative microorganisms for functional foods and beverages: the production and future perspectives

Fermentation has been employed as a traditional means of improving the shelf life and nutritional contents of foods, thus making fermented foods and beverages functional and therapeutic. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) plays a major role in determining the health benefits of fermented milk and related products. This review takes into cognizance numerous investigations reporting certain microbial strains and mixes to contribute safety, quality, stability, health and organoleptic properties to fermented foods, due to increased consumers’ awareness of food products with health claims. A look was taken at selection criteria for the ideal fermentative microbial species and strains, their usefulness and prospective ‘OMICS‘-based approaches to elucidating fermentative complex communities in relation to their effects on fermented food products. Moreover, recommendations were given for improved fermentation of beverages and functional foods. It is projected that fermented foods and beverages will continually be a paramount in the global food and emerging functional food market.     

Antioxidant phenolics and their microbial production by submerged and solid state fermentation process: A review

BackgroundBioactive phenolic compounds have recently received great attention in the food and clinical sectors due to their antioxidant potential. Extensive studies have been carried out to explore antioxidant potential of different phenolics from various natural sources in order to replace the use of health hazard synthetic antioxidants in food products.Scope and approachThe present review aims to provide an update of existing state-of-art and future prospect of both submerged fermentation (SmF) and solid-state fermentation (SSF) processes for the production/extraction of bioactive phenolics utilizing various substrates and microorganisms. Studies on enhancement of antioxidant potentials by increasing phenolics content of food materials including cereals and legumes by mainly SSF are reviewed and discussed thoroughly.Key findings and conclusionsMicrobial fermentation processes have been established as a potent tool for the production of antioxidant phenolic compounds due to their cost-effectiveness and environmental advantages. Extraction of phenolics through fermentation process is by far a more efficient process considering that conventional extraction methods using organic solvents do not allow complete release of bound phenolics from plant materials. During fermentation process, antioxidant phenolics are either produced by microorganisms through secondary metabolic pathway or released from the matrix of the substrate by extracellular enzymatic action. Fermentation technology is no doubt proving to be a boon for the food industry; however, extensive in vivo and toxicological researches are essential before the application of antioxidant-rich fermented foods for human health benefits.     

超声波技术在发酵食品领域的应用

发酵是一种古老的技术,主要用于保存易腐烂的食物。而发酵食品通常比原材料具有更多优点,例如安全、更加稳定,并具有独特的感官和营养属性以及治疗特性。目前发酵食品在食品市场中占据重要地位(产品占有率约80%以上)。随着生物工程技术的进步,发酵食品领域也在同步快速增长和创新。超声波作为一种新兴的非热食品加工技术,可以通过其对发酵剂、食品基质和两者之间相互作用的影响,用于提高发酵过程的效率,并改善发酵食品的感官和功能特性。因此,本文综述了超声波作为一种加工或分析技术在食品发酵中的众多应用,总结了其对发酵产品功能特性的影响,以期为后续研究提供参考。     

Impact of small scale fermentation technology on food safety in developing countries

Fermentation is one of the oldest technologies used for food preservation. Over the centuries, it has evolved and been refined and diversified. Today, a variety of food products is derived from this technology in households, small-scale food industries as well as in large enterprises. Furthermore, fermentation is an affordable food preservation technology and of economic importance to developing countries. In the report of an FAO/WHO Workshop (FAO/WHO, 1996), fermentation was reviewed and the nutritional and safety aspects of fermentation technologies and their products were assessed. Fermentation enhances the nutritional quality of foods and contributes to food safety particularly under conditions where refrigeration or other foods processing facilities are not available. Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) studies of some fermented products have demonstrated that depending on the process and the hygienic conditions observed during preparation, some fermented foods, e.g. togwa prepared in Tanzania, may pose a safety risk. Fermented foods must therefore be studied following HACCP principles and small-scale food industries and households must be advised on the critical control points of fermentation processes and the control measures to be applied at these points. This paper reviews the risks and benefits of fermentation and demonstrates the application of the HACCP system to some fermented foods in developing countries.     

传统发酵食品营养保健功能与质量安全评价

传统发酵食品对人体有抗氧化、降血脂﹑提高免疫力、抑制肿瘤﹑延缓衰老﹑防止肠胃疾病等保健作用。由于世界传统发酵食品总体工业化水平不高,在产品的生产过程中,较多依赖人的经验与知识,产品质量不稳定,安全隐患较多。因此,传统发酵食品的安全控制十分重要。通过对传统发酵食品的分类﹑保健功能﹑安全风险及评价的文献回顾,提出了传统发酵食品质量安全性的评价与风险识别是控制食品质量安全的前提。现代微生物风险评估技术(microbiological risk assessment)是目前应用最广泛的评价手段之一。它通过目标陈述﹑危害识别﹑暴露评估﹑危害特征描述﹑风险特征描述5个阶段对微生物的安全性进行评价,为避免食品安全隐患,控制食品质量安全提供了有效且科学的方法。     

Tropical traditional fermented food,a field full of promise. Examples from the Tropical Bioresources and Biotechnology programme and other related French–Vietnamese programmes on fermented food

In tropical countries, traditional fermented foods are usually home‐made products obtained through spontaneous fermentation or backslopping. They are now facing an evolution aiming at responding to quality, safety and mass production issues. This requires acquisition of knowledge on raw materials, microbial ecosystems and fermentation processes. Vietnam is a laboratory for such studies as traditional fermented foods play an important role in the diet of Vietnamese and as these foods are very diverse. Among the most popular are nem chua (sausage reminding Thai Nham), dua muoi (cabbage reminding Kimchi), tom chua (shrimps) and the well‐known nuoc mam. The challenge for these products to enter the industrial era is to reach a level of quality and safety without losing their character. Beside the research for starters to elaborate these products, the world of fermented products is also a world of innovation and the microbial ecosystem of traditional products can also be used for the adaptation of fermented products from other regions, such as wines (from grape or other fruits), for cross‐cultural innovations such as soy‐yogurts, for technology transfer from one fermentation (soy sauce) to another one (fish sauce) and for evolution of traditional products towards higher nutritional qualities such as nem chua nam (replacing part of the sausage meat by mushrooms). Finally, these complex microbial ecosystems are a source of probiotic, antimicrobial compounds and biocatalysts, which can benefit health and improve food processes worldwide. After a presentation of Vietnamese traditional fermented foods, this article aims at illustrating the diverse applications of research on fermented products through examples obtained in past research and in the Tropical Bioresources and Biotechnology project.     

Omics in traditional vegetable fermented foods and beverages

Abstract

For a long time, food microbiota has been studied using traditional microbiological techniques. With the arrival of molecular or culture-independent techniques, a strong understanding of microbiota dynamics has been achieved. However, analyzing the functional role of microbial communities is not an easy task. The application of omics sciences to the study of fermented foods would provide the metabolic and functional understanding of the microbial communities and their impact on the fermented product, including the molecules that define its aroma and flavor, as well as its nutritional properties. Until now, most omics studies have focused on commercial fermented products, such as cheese, wine, bread and beer, but traditional fermented foods have been neglected. Therefore, the information that allows to relate the present microbiota in the food and its properties remains limited. In this review, reports on the applications of omics in the study of traditional fermented foods and beverages are reviewed to propose new ways to analyze the fermentation phenomena.     

Fermented Milks and Milk Products as Functional Foods—A Review

Fermented foods and beverages possess various nutritional and therapeutic properties. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) play a major role in determining the positive health effects of fermented milks and related products. The L. acidophilus and Bifidobacteria spp are known for their use in probiotic dairy foods. Cultured products sold with any claim of health benefits should meet the criteria of suggested minimum number of more than 10⁶ cfu/g at the time of consumption. Yoghurt is redefined as a probiotic carrier food. Several food powders like yoghurt powder and curd (dahi) powder are manufactured taking into consideration the number of organisms surviving in the product after drying. Such foods, beverages and powders are highly acceptable to consumers because of their flavor and aroma and high nutritive value. Antitumor activity is associated with the cell wall of starter bacteria and so the activity remains even after drying. Other health benefits of fermented milks include prevention of gastrointestinal infections, reduction of serum cholesterol levels and antimutagenic activity. The fermented products are recommended for consumption by lactose intolerant individuals and patients suffering from atherosclerosis. The formulation of fermented dietetic preparations and special products is an expanding research area. The health benefits, the technology of production of fermented milks and the kinetics of lactic acid fermentation in dairy products are reviewed here.     

Quality, antioxidative ability, and cell proliferation-enhancing activity of fermented black soybean broths with various supplemental culture medium

The fermented soybean-based foods have played an important role in traditional diets around the world for many centuries, and Bacillus subtilis is typically used in the fermentation of soybean-based foods. The fermentation process may improve not only the flavor but also the nutritional value of food, and substances produced in this fermented broth were affected by many factors including culture medium and the selected soybeans. In this study, we use 3 potential culture mediums in the fermentation of black soybean and the fermented black soybean broths were used for the examination of amino acid composition, total phenolics content, flavonoids and anthocyanins contents, the antioxidant properties, and cytotoxicity. Our results indicated that the fermented black soybean broth, fermentation III, have the most abundant essential amino acid (79.77 mg/g), phenolics (19.33 mg/g), flavonoids (46.01 mg/g), and anthocyanins (1.06 mg/g). Besides, all of the fermented black soybean broths exhibited the significant antioxidative abilities with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effect, reducing power and ferrous ion chelating effect. In addition, the fermented black soybean broths demonstrated the cell proliferation-enhancing activity in Detroit 551 cells. The cells were augmented up to the maximum value of 183.6% (compared with control) at 10 mg/mL of the fermentation I. Therefore, the different supplemental culture medium fermented black soybean broths may be used as a functional ingredient in the products of nutritional drinks and health foods. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The present study illustrated the potential of various supplemental culture medium fermented black soybean broths in the application of functional ingredient for nutritional drinks and health foods.     

传统发酵食品及其营养保健功能

该文主要介绍了世界各国的传统发酵食品,包括生产原料、发酵采用的微生物种类、发酵形式等。传统发酵食品具有丰富的营养价值和保健功能,但目前国内外传统发酵食品总体工业化程度较低,结合现代生物技术,论述了其发展方向。     

A review on technological parameters and recent advances in the fortification of processed cheese

BackgroundAlthough the consumption of processed foods is growing in overseas markets, the increased awareness of consumers to health and wellbeing in recent years has led to a decline in the growth of processed food sales in the Western market. The added pressure on the food manufacturing industry to increase the perceived healthiness of processed foods has opened up new market potential in the area of fortified processed foods, such as processed cheeses.Scope and approachThis review paper provides an overview of the current methodologies into the production of a processed cheese with added health benefits, including the use of probiotics and prebiotics, vitamin and mineral fortification and the addition of plant macromolecules.Key findings and conclusionsProcessed cheeses with increased health benefits have been of great interest to manufacturers, with reduced salt and reduced fat options commercially available. Although processed cheeses fortified with vitamins, mineral, probiotics and prebiotics are not as widespread, further work in these areas has been identified as a way to produce high value processed cheese products with added health benefits.     

Transforming the fermented fish landscape: Microbiota enable novel,safe, flavorful,and healthy products for modern consumers

Regular consumption of fish promotes sustainable health while reducing negative environmental impacts. Fermentation has long been used for preserving perishable foods, including fish. Fermented fish products are popular consumer foods of historical and cultural significance owing to their abundant essential nutrients and distinct flavor. This review discusses the recent scientific progress on fermented fish, especially the involved flavor formation processes, microbial metabolic activities, and interconnected biochemical pathways (e.g., enzymatic/non-enzymatic reactions associated with lipids, proteins, and their interactions). The multiple roles of fermentation in preservation of fish, development of desirable flavors, and production of health-promoting nutrients and bioactive substances are also discussed. Finally, prospects for further studies on fermented fish are proposed, including the need of monitoring microorganisms, along with the precise control of a fermentation process to transform the traditional fermented fish to novel, flavorful, healthy, and affordable products for modern consumers. Microbial-enabled innovative fermented fish products that consider both flavor and health benefits are expected to become a significant segment in global food markets. The integration of multi-omics technologies, biotechnology-based approaches (including synthetic biology and metabolic engineering) and sensory and consumer sciences, is crucial for technological innovations related to fermented fish. The findings of this review will provide guidance on future development of new or improved fermented fish products through regulating microbial metabolic processes and enzymatic activities.     

Solid-state fermentation by S. cerevisiae with high resistance to ferulic acid improves the physicochemical properties of wheat bran and quality of bran-rich Chinese steamed bread

Wheat bran has numerous health benefits, but its poor processing and sensory properties limit its application in the staple food industry. Fermentation by S. cerevisiae changes the performance of wheat bran. However, high levels of ferulic acid (FA) inhibit S. cerevisiae. The effects of solid-state fermentation of S. cerevisiae with high resistance to FA on the physicochemical properties of wheat bran and the quality of bran-rich Chinese steamed bread (CSB) were investigated. The results showed that the growth of S. cerevisiae was inhibited by FA in a dose-dependent manner. Short-term adaptation strategies efficiently improved the tolerance of S. cerevisiae to FA stress. Compared with the parental strain (PS), fermentation of the short-term adapted strains (adapted strains) significantly increased the FA, total phenol, and soluble dietary fiber content in wheat bran. Wheat bran fermented by the adapted strains had a higher antioxidant capacity than wheat bran fermented by PS. In addition, compared with the PS, the wheat bran fermented by the adapted strains can decrease the hardness, improve the specific volume, and the quality of CSB. Thus, solid-state fermentation of the adapted strain is a potentially effective method to improve the nutritional and physicochemical properties of wheat bran as a cereal food ingredient.     

Legume-based fermented foods: their preparation and nutritional quality

Legume-based fermented foods are very popular in the Southeast Asia, the Near East, and parts of Africa. They form an appreciable part of daily diet of people as a main source of protein, calories, and certain vitamins. Preparation of legume-based fermented foods has remained to some extent an art, and their nutritional quality has been of interest to both professionals and layman. The fermentation process helps not only in improving the organoleptic quality of legumes but also enhances nutritional quality. This review examines the production of various legume-based fermented foods and critically assesses their nutritional quality.     

发酵类食品中微生物鉴定方法及功能研究进展

发酵类食品是主要通过直接接种微生物而产生特殊风味或者将食物浸入含有微生物的臭卤水中,从而获得特殊食品风味的中国传统食品。其中,采用含有微生物的卤水进行发酵是常见的发酵方式。因此,微生物在该类食品中一直扮演着一种非常重要的角色,具有较高的研究价值。本文阐述了发酵类型的食品所需要的卤水中微生物的鉴定常用方法,以及卤水微生物与风味成分的产生之间的关系,同时论述了卤水中微生物在各种发酵食品制作过程中所起到的功能特性,包括提高豆制品的营养价值、延长保质期、去除有害成分等问题,并提出了较为可行的新型发酵类食品卤水改进方向,为进一步开发理想的食品微生物发酵剂,控制有害物质的残留、拓展相关有益微生物资源的研究提供较为明确的指导方向。     

Phytopharmacology of Acerola (Malpighia spp.) and its potential as functional food

BackgroundThe fruits of Malpighia glabra and M. emarginata (Family: Malpighiaceae) are commonly known as ‘Acerola cherry’ or ‘Barbados cherry’. Acerola fruits are well known for their high content of vitamin C, phenolic compounds, including benzoic acid derivatives, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and carotenoids. In recent years, there is a growing interest in the role of Acerola as a nutraceutical or functional food with increasing market value. Extracts and bioactive compounds isolated from Acerola are studied for their various health promoting activities and biological activities such as antioxidant, antitumor, antihyperglycemic and skin protecting/skin whitening.Scope and approachThis article reviewed the scientific studies regarding the bioactive chemical constituents and the health beneficial effects of Acerola extracts and isolated compounds. These findings may help in future research concerning Acerola and Acerola based nutritional products.Key findings and conclusionsAcerola fruits can be considered as good candidates for the development of novel functional foods. However, detailed in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies, particularly mechanism-based studies are needed for the development of evidence-based functional food products in future.     

Legume‐based fermented foods: Their preparation and nutritional quality

Legume‐based fermented foods are very popular in the Southeast Asia, the Near East, and parts of Africa. They form an appreciable part of daily diet of people as a main source of protein, calories, and certain vitamins. Preparation of legume‐based fermented foods has remained to some extent an art, and their nutritional quality has been of interest to both professionals and layman. The fermentation process helps not only in improving the organoleptic quality of legumes but also enhances nutritional quality. This review examines the production of various legume‐based fermented foods and critically assesses their nutritional quality.     

Nutritional and medicinal improvement of black tea by yeast fermentation

Black tea fermentation with Dabaryomyces hansenii for 10 days resulted in accumulation of major vitamins, such as A, B₁, B₂, B₁₂ and C in sufficient quantities to fulfil the recommended dietary allowances (RDA). Fermentation of tea by yeast resulted in reduction of caffeine and excess tannins in significant amounts. After fermentation, the amount of theophylline was increased to make fermented tea a potent bronchodilator. Tea fermentation with D. hansenii improved its nutritional and medicinal values. Our observations suggest that intake of fermented tea is advantageous over black tea in terms of its nutritive and therapeutic values.