Food Colloids

The field of food colloids is concerned with the physical chemistry of food systems viewed as assemblies of particles and macromolecules in various stages of supramolecular and microscopic organization. Butter, cheese, ice cream, margarine mayonnaise and yogurt are all examples of food colloids. This book describes experimental and theoretical developments in the field over the past 10-15 years. The authors have tried to strike a reasonable balance between theory and experiment, between principles and applications, and between molecular and physical approaches to the subject.

Food Colloids: Interactions, Microstructure and Processing describes the principles and practice underlying the formulation of food emulsions, dispersions, gels, and foams. Emphasis is on understanding how the functional properties of biopolymers and surfactants determine the texture and shelf-life of multiphase food materials. This book provides essential new findings by experts in the field on specific topics including: the interfacial rheological properties of proteins; the use of microscopy and image analysis to probe structure and phase transitions; the control of colloidal stability during thermal and mechanical processing; the interactions of proteins with polysaccharides and emulsifiers; the incorporation of neutraceuticals into food colloids; and the consumer perception of taste and texture. Food Colloids: Interactions, Microstructure and Processing provides a link between current research on the fundamental physical chemistry of colloidal systems and the requirements of the food technologist to use modern colloid science in new product formulation. It is suitable for postgraduates and researchers, both in industry and academia.

The field of food colloids is concerned with the structural and dynamic aspects of multi-phase food systems - dispersions, emulsions, foams, gels - viewed from a physical chemistry perspective as assemblies of molecules and particles in various states of organisation. The main molecular components of food colloids are proteins, lipids and polysaccharides. The primary objective of the field is to relate the structural, stability and rheological properties of such systems to the interactions between constituent components and to their distribution between the bulk phases and various kinds of interfaces. This volume records most of the lecture programme at the international conference on "Food Colloids - Proteins, Lipids and Polysaccharides" held in Sweden on 24-26th April 1996.

The theme and contents of this book have assumed a new significance in the light of recent ideas on nanoscience and nanotechnology, which are now beginning to influence developments in food research and food processing. The fabrication of nanoscale structures for food use relies on an in-depth understanding of thermodynamically driven interactions and self-assembly processes involving the major food structure-forming components: proteins and polysaccharides. This understanding has the potential to provide thermodynamically inspired approaches that can be used to manipulate food structures rationally in order to enhance the nutritional and health-promoting properties of foods and beverages.

This overview describes ideas and techniques for the study of structure and dynamics of direct relevance to food. It pays particular attention to the microstructure and rheology of concentrated systems containing deformable particles, emulsion droplets and gas bubbles, and describes factors affecting the composition, structure and dynamic properties of fluid interfaces, particularly the role of adsorbed polymers and surfactants in controlling stability. In addition, coverage of the application of new physical concepts to systems containing fat crystals and starch particles gives insight into the processing of food colloids.

Food scientists aim to control the taste and texture of existing food products and to formulate new structures of high quality using novel combinations of ingredients and processing methods. Food Colloids, Biopolymers and Materials describes the physical chemistry and material science underlying the formulation and behaviour of multi-phase food systems and includes: * descriptions of new experimental techniques * recent food colloids research findings * authoritative overviews of conceptual issues Essential new findings are presented and emphasis is placed on the interfacial and gelation properties of food proteins, and the role of colloidal and biopolymer interactions in determining the properties of emulsions, dispersions, gels and foams. Specific topics include: confocal microscopy; diffusing wave spectroscopy; protein-polysaccharide interactions; biopolymer phase separation; fat crystallization; bubble/droplet coalescence; and bulk and surface rheology. This book is the latest addition to the highly regarded food colloid series published by the Royal Society of Chemistry and is of relevance to those working and researching in food science and surface and colloid science.

Volume 4 of Formulation Science and Technology is a survey of the applications of formulations in a variety of fields, based on the theories presented in Volumes 1 and 2. It offers in-depth explanations and a wealth of real-world examples for research scientists, universities, and industry practitioners in the fields of Agrochemicals, Paints and Coatings and Food Colloids.

Food structure at the molecular level and how it impacts on health, taste, texture and shelf life is becoming an increasingly important area of science. Food Colloids: Self-Assembly and Material Science describes new developments in the theory and practice of the formulation of food emulsions, dispersions, gels and foams. Particular emphasis is placed on the self-assembly of surfactants and biopolymers in food. Topics include: colloid science in food nutrition and the relationship of texture to sensory perception of food materials. It also discusses the exploitation of surfactant mesophases for nanoscale encapsulation, the interfacial rheological properties of mixed interfaces, the dynamics and microrheology of gels and emulsions, the stability of droplets and bubbles, the effects of thermal and mechanical processing on food colloid stability and the electrostatic interactions of proteins with polysaccharides. This authoritative book will serve as a guide and reference to researchers in the field of food colloids.