Processed meals, particularly ultra-processed meals (UPF) is, for many individuals, one of many present demons of the meals trade. Nevertheless, in accordance with a brand new white paper by the Institute of Meals Technologists (IFT), there are vital upsides to meals processing, particularly with regards to bolstering meals safety.
Stemming from the outcomes of a roundtable performed by the IFT, the white paper aimed to deal with a few of the advantages of meals processing. For instance, how meals processing is significant for the preservation of meals, and has the flexibility to reinforce sure dietary elements of meals, akin to nutrient bioavailability. The paper aimed to assuage what it noticed has misconceptions about processed meals being linked to poor well being.
“Meals processing is underneath intense scrutiny within the public well being area and on account of confusion with formulation, processing is commonly considered as unfavorable for well being,” Anna Rosales, Senior Director of Authorities Affairs and Vitamin for the IFT, advised FoodNavigator.
“Nevertheless, processing of meals is important and might improve nutrient bioavailability, enhance meals security, and make meals extra reasonably priced and obtainable. Rising applied sciences that use much less power, decrease nutrient loss, and enhance shopper acceptability are being developed, however better funding is required, notably for top affect applied sciences, to carry these applied sciences to scale.”
Misunderstanding processed meals
The white paper grapples with the widespread conception of processed meals as unhealthy for well being. Processing, it states, is how the meals is made, which is totally different from formulation, which consists of the substances which make up a meals.
The NOVA classification system, states the white paper, is based totally on formulation, particularly the definition given for group 4 (ultra-processed meals), relatively than the variety of steps concerned in processing. Moreover, it differentiates between manufacturing unit and residential processing even supposing, in accordance with the IFT’s reviews, the processes are related and solely the dimensions and the tools used is totally different.
“The dietary high quality of a meals is predominately impacted by the formulation of the meals,” Rosales advised us. “Consider a recipe in dwelling cooking. The formulation is identical because the substances whereas processing is the equal of the directions. Whereas the method of baking, mixing, roasting, drying, and so forth., does affect the diet of a meals, it might probably each improve and protect the dietary availability of some vitamins, minimising pure losses and at instances can scale back some vitamins (like nutritional vitamins).”
Quite than focusing solely on such formulation, the white paper suggests, we should take into account the function of meals processing know-how in rising meals’s dietary profile. For instance, it might probably change the meals matrix and improve bioavailability. ‘Antinutritional components,’ akin to phytic acid, enzyme inhibitors, phenolic compounds, and saponins, may also be minimised by way of processing, in flip enhancing bioavailability.
For instance, fermentation can improve bioavailability by simplifying advanced proteins. “Conventional fermentation has been demonstrated to extend protein digestibility by degrading advanced proteins into less complicated peptides and amino acids for digestion and absorption,” Rosales advised us.
“It has additionally been proven to enhance starch digestibility by activating starch hydrolyzing enzymes, akin to alpha-amylase and maltase. Additional, micronutrient bioavailability could also be improved by way of fermentation by enhancing anti-oxidative attributes and enhancing phytase manufacturing that releases free mineral ions.
“Novel protein sources developed by way of rising applied sciences, akin to precision fermentation, can even meet rising calls for for extra plant-based consuming patterns with much less demand for animals, power, and carbon.”
Preserving meals protected
One other key good thing about meals processing is preserving meals to maintain it protected for consumption, which the white paper suggests is a serious side of meals safety, and all the time has been, since meals processing meant solar drying, roasting, and preserving with salt.
“Meals processing has been round because the prehistoric age,” Rosales advised us. “These applied sciences had been important on the time to make sure meals was edible, preserved, and protected.
“As we speak, applied sciences proceed to develop to protect and improve the dietary high quality and security of meals whereas minimizing the affect on the setting. Processing applied sciences permit us to protect meals, scale back meals loss and waste and guarantee an reasonably priced, obtainable, accessible, and acceptable meals provide. Continued innovation in applied sciences and processes can be important to make sure our rising inhabitants is nicely fed for improvement and longevity.”
Rising applied sciences in heating, drying and cooling meals are each meals processing and meals preservation, the white paper suggests. One instance of that is Microwave Assisted Thermal Sterilization and Pasteurization, which the white paper says is a extra power environment friendly manner of preserving meals than conventional strategies.
“Rising meals preservation applied sciences are being developed that may use much less power, decrease nutrient loss, and enhance style and texture high quality, with out compromising meals security,” Rosales advised us.
Meals processing know-how can be utilized to mitigate starvation in creating international locations. For instance, rice extrusion can assist mitigate hidden starvation, and photo voltaic meals dehydrators can minimise post-harvest losses.
There are, nevertheless, obstacles to the adoption of latest applied sciences. “A problem to adopting these novel applied sciences is the substantial analysis funding that have to be dedicated to idea improvement, pilot-scale testing, regulatory acceptance, and scale-up and manufacturing, which might take a number of many years and hundreds of thousands of {dollars},” Rosales advised us.
“Moreover, uptake of latest and disruptive know-how is commonly gradual on account of lack of understanding, coaching, and assets, notably in small companies and start-ups which are sometimes the early adopters of latest applied sciences. There may be additionally a scarcity of correct and clear knowledge to find out engineering feasibility, financial viability, and sustainability of latest applied sciences.”
