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Review
. 2023 Nov 28;10(1):85.
doi: 10.1186/s40643-023-00702-y.

An overview of fermentation in the food industry - looking back from a new perspective

Shahida Anusha Siddiqui  1   2 , Zeki Erol  3 , Jerina Rugji  3 , Fulya Taşçı  3 , Hatice Ahu Kahraman  3 , Valeria Toppi  4 , Laura Musa  5 , Giacomo Di Giacinto  4 , Nur Alim Bahmid  6 , Mohammad Mehdizadeh  7   8 , Roberto Castro-Muñoz  9   10
Affiliations
Review

An overview of fermentation in the food industry - looking back from a new perspective

Shahida Anusha Siddiqui et al. Bioresour Bioprocess. .

Abstract

Fermentation is thought to be born in the Fertile Crescent, and since then, almost every culture has integrated fermented foods into their dietary habits. Originally used to preserve foods, fermentation is now applied to improve their physicochemical, sensory, nutritional, and safety attributes. Fermented dairy, alcoholic beverages like wine and beer, fermented vegetables, fruits, and meats are all highly valuable due to their increased storage stability, reduced risk of food poisoning, and enhanced flavor. Over the years, scientific research has associated the consumption of fermented products with improved health status. The fermentation process helps to break down compounds into more easily digestible forms. It also helps to reduce the amount of toxins and pathogens in food. Additionally, fermented foods contain probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that help the body to digest food and absorb nutrients. In today's world, non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and allergies have increased. In this regard, scientific investigations have demonstrated that shifting to a diet that contains fermented foods can reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases. Moreover, in the last decade, there has been a growing interest in fermentation technology to valorize food waste into valuable by-products. Fermentation of various food wastes has resulted in the successful production of valuable by-products, including enzymes, pigments, and biofuels.

Keywords: Fermentation; Fermented dairy; Fermented meat; Fermented plant-based foods; Non-communicable disease; Waste valorization.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Fermentation’s primary benefits. “Created with BioRender.com”
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
a Chemical fermentation path of the seaweeds, and b physical appearance of the fermentation of process in seaweeds. “Created with BioRender.com”
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Coffee fermentation from wet processing. Created with BioRender.com
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Precision fermentation. “Created with BioRender.com”
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Valorization of food waste by fermentation. “Created with BioRender.com”
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