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Food Chemistry

Code: 103238 ECTS Credits: 6
2024/2025
Degree Type Year
2501925 Food Science and Technology OB 2

Contact

Name:
Victoria Francisca Ferragut Perez
Email:
victoria.ferragut@uab.cat

Teachers

Nuria Aguilar Puig

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

No official requirements are defined for this course. However, we strongly recommend that the student has passed the courses Chemistry I and II, and Biochemistry I.


Objectives and Contextualisation

This subject is in close relation with "Food Products", a subject that belongs to the same knowledment area. Likewise, the study of this subject cannot be conceived without taking into account the different manipulations to which the foods are subjected during processing, that is why a good assimilation of the matter Composition and Properties of Foods is necessary to take advantage for later subjects related to food processing.

Objectives of the subject are to know and contextualise:

  • Properties and non-nutritional functions of the food components.
  • Chemical and biochemical reactions involved in the transformation and deterioration of food,   its   mechanisms, factors and consequences.
  • Additives, their functions, mechanisms of action and limitations.
  • How to prevent food deterioration reactions.
  • How the main technological treatments and the storage affect food components.

Competences

  • Communicate effectively with both professional and non-professional audiences, orally and in writing, in the first language and/or in English.
  • Display knowledge of the physical, chemical, biochemical and biological properties of raw materials and foods.
  • Search for, manage and interpret information from different sources.
  • Show understanding of the mechanisms by which raw materials deteriorate and the reactions and changes that take place during storage and processing, and apply the methods for controlling this.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Classify and describe foods in terms of their nature and composition, and know their principal structural and stability characteristics.
  2. Classify technological additives and auxiliaries and their applications in foods.
  3. Communicate effectively with both professional and non-professional audiences, orally and in writing, in the first language and/or in English.
  4. Describe the enzymes of food origin, their functions and their applications.
  5. Describe the mechanisms and causes of abiotic deterioration of fresh and processed foods.
  6. Explain the most important fermentation processes that take place in foods and their technological applications.
  7. Identify potential interactions between food components in a specific context.
  8. Identify the principal factors causing modifications to foods during storage and processing and evaluate their importance.
  9. Identify the technologically-useful properties of food components.
  10. Search for, manage and interpret information from different sources.

Content

 

THEORETICAL PROGRAM

The theoretical contents will be carried out in a non-face-to-face mode, through the Moodle platform. Power Point presentations with voice will be used. Likewise, several sessions will be held through Teams to reinforce the content and ask questions.The planning will be carried out for weeks for an adequate follow-up of the subject. The detailed planning will be published in the Moodle of the subject.

Introduction: The Food Chemistry in the context of CTA.

Colloidal systems: Types and characteristics. Colloidal stability

Water in food:Structure and properties of water. Water activity. Factors that determine aw in foods. Sorption isotherms Influence of aw in degradative food reactions.

Sugars: Distribution Chemical characteristics. Sugars and syrups commonly used in food formulation. Physicochemical and functional properties. Applications

Polysaccharides: Starch structure and properties. Formation of starch gels. Retrogradation. Modified starches. Gums, cellulose and polysaccharides of animal origin: structure, chemical and functional properties. Modifications during processing. Applications. Food fibre.

Lipids: Distribution. Chemical characteristics. Functions of lipids in food. Types of lipids. Physical and functional properties. Effect of food processing.

 Proteins: Distribution. Chemical and functional properties. Modifications of proteins in processing. Proteins of interest in food technology

Additives: Introduction. Use of additives. Clasification. Description and applications of the main families of additives.

Non-enzymatic degradation reactions: Non-enzymatic browning: effects, factors and control. Lipid oxidation: active oxygen, activation mechanisms. Oxidative reactions through radicals: autocatalytic oxidation of lipids: mechanism, products, causes. Influence of water activity.

Modifications caused by freezing: The growth of ice crystals. Cryoconcentration Changes in protein structures. Cryoprotectors. Effects on water activity. Water retention in frozen foods. Effects on enzymatic reactions. Modifications of the organoleptic properties.

Pigments: Porphyrin pigments. Chlorophylls. Carotenes and derivatives. Antocianines. Flavonoids Other natural pigments. Degradation reactions.

Vitamins: Classification and distribution. Main degradations during manipulation and processing of foods.

Enzymes in food chemistry: Sources of enzymes. Use. Immobilization mechanisms. Types of enzymes and use in the food industry.

Degradation enzymatic reactions: Reactions of enzymatic darkening. Amylases Pectic enzymes Lipolytic enzymes Lipoxygenase. Proteases Gustatory enzymes Peroxidase and catalase. Others

Fermentation in foods: Biochemical bases of fermentation. Types of fermentation: alcoholic, lactic, acetic and others. Fermentable substrates. Involved organizations Control of fermentation. Applications

2) SEMINARS

The program consists of two  face-to-face seminars (SQA1 and SQA2) in which teamwork is carried out through real cases, applying and relating themes of theory. Likewise, the results of practices, prior delivery of a report.

3) PRACTICES

Each group carries out four face-to-face practice sessions lasting 3-4 hours on consecutive days (total 15 h). 

  1. Water activity anf hidrocoloids
  2. Pectinesterases enin the fruit juices elaboration
  3. Enzimatic browning
  4. Protein foams and revrsible/non reversible gels 

Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Practical training 15 0.6 2, 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 7
Seminars and directed work 8 0.32 10, 2, 1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 7
Theoretical seminars 30 1.2 2, 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 7
Type: Autonomous      
Personal study 61 2.44 10, 2, 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 7
Self-learning 30 1.2 10, 2, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 7

 
 

Theoretical classes. The student acquires the scientific knowledge of the subject through the material provided and complementing it with personal study of the topics covered.

Seminars and supervised group sessions. The seminars are designed to discuss, resolve doubts and delve into specific topics as a result of work carried out (practices and their report) or self-learning activities. They consist of sharing with teachers to delve into the issues of self-learning.

Self-learning. In groups of students, work is done in relation to specific foods that are on the market in order to deepen the knowledge of food chemistry: functionality of the components, additives, and modifications produced during processing and storage. Two seminars will be scheduled (SQA1 and SQA2) where the groups will make a presentation and discussion of the work commissioned according to the criteria established in the provided rubric.

 

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Practical training 15 0 0 2, 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 7
Self-learning 25 4 0.16 10, 2, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 7
Self-learning 20 2 0.08 10, 2, 3, 8, 9, 7

learning outcames will be evaluated by means of:

- A test type assesment and a written assesment (which will include all the material worked throughout the course). Each of these qualifications has the same weight and must be passed individually to calculate the final mark of this theoretical part (65% of the final mark of the subject).

- Self-learning work account for 20% of the final grade.

- The evaluation of the practical training (15%) will be carried out by means of a test type assesment on the practice guideline before its completion and the delivery of the report on the results obtained.

Who has not submitted any of tests, can only do it by passing  and exam with a minimum score of 6.

Assessment criteria: the student must demonstrate in each proposed activity that have sufficient knowledge of the subject. This means that, in addition to achieving the learning outcomes proposed for this subject, it must be demonstrate that she/he is able to express her/himself orally and in writing according to the level that corresponds to the university studies (without committing faults) spell and logical structuring of speech, especially when writing).

A serious conceptual error can mean the fail of the activity evaluated. Likewise, the scientific and technical lexicon of the subject must be used properly.

The student will be considered not evaluable if they have participated in evaluation activities that represent ≤ 15% of the final grade

This course does not include a single evaluation system.

 

 


Bibliography

  • Badui Dergal, Salvador (2006) 4ªedición. Química de los Alimentos. Ed. Pearson, México. También en digital (5ª ed., 2013)

https://www.ingebook.com/ib/NPcd/IB_Escritorio_Visualizar?cod_primaria=1000193&libro=4685

  • Belitz H.D. I W. Grosch (2004) Food Chemistry. Ed. Springer‑Verlag, Nueva York.
  • Bowers, J. (1992). Food theory and applications. Maxwell Macmillan International, Oxford.
  • Coultate, Tom. (2016). Food - The Chemistry of its Components (6th Edition). Royal Society of Chemistry. Retrieved from

https://app.knovel.com/hotlink/toc/id:kpFTCCE018/food-chemistry-its-components/food-chemistry-its-components

  • Cubero, N., Monferrer, A., Villalta, J. (2002). Aditivos Alimentarios. ED. Mundiprensa, Madrid.
  • Damodaran, Srinivasan Parkin, Kirk L. (2017). Fennema's Food Chemistry (5th Edition). CRC Press.
    https://app.knovel.com/hotlink/toc/id:kpFFCE001G/fennemas-food-chemistry/fennemas-food-chemistry
  • Eskin, M.; Robinson, D.S. (2001). Food shelf life stability: chemical, biochemical and microbiological changes. CRC Press, London.
  • Multon J.L. (1988) Aditivos y auxiliares de fabricación en les industrias agroalimentarias. Ed. Acribia, Zaragoza.
  • Ordoñez, J. A. (1998). Tecnología de los Alimentos. Vol I. Ed. Síntesis, Madrid.
  • Pomeranz I. (1991) Functional properties of food components. Ed. Academic Press, San Diego.
  • Primo Yúfera, E. (1998) Química de los alimentos. Ed. Síntesis, Madrid.
  • Robinson, D.S. (1991). Bioquímica y valor nutritivo de los alimentos. Ed. Acribia, Zaragoza.
  • Taub, I. A., Singh, R.P. (1998). Food storage stability. CRC Press, London.
  • Tucker,G.A I Woods, L.F.J. (1991). Enzymes in the food processing. Avi Pub Comp., Inc., Westport.

Some sections of interest  (KNovel)

  • Water activity

Singh, R. Paul Heldman, Dennis R. (2009). Introduction to Food Engineering (4th Edition) - 12.1.1 Water Activity. Elsevier. Online version available at:

http://app.knovel.com/hotlink/pdf/id:kt00CBUAG1/introduction-food-engineering/water-activity

  • Food stability

Kilcast, David Subramaniam, Persis. (2000). Stability and Shelf-Life of Food. Woodhead Publishing. Online version available at:

http://app.knovel.com/hotlink/toc/id:kpSSLF0002/stability-shelf-life/stability-shelf-life

  • Additives

Saltmarsh, Mike. (2013). Essential Guide to Food Additives (4th Edition). Royal Society of Chemistry. Online version available at:

http://app.knovel.com/hotlink/toc/id:kpEGFAE018/essential-guide-food/essential-guide-food

  • Ingredients

Linden, G. Lorient, D. (1999). New Ingredients in Food Processing. Woodhead Publishing. Online version available at:

http://app.knovel.com/hotlink/toc/id:kpNIFP0004/new-ingredients-in-food/new-ingredients-in-food


Software

Non specífic programs are required


Language list

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 2 Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 2 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 3 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 4 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 1 Spanish first semester morning-mixed