SCHOOL OF BIO AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY B.TECH – BIOTECHNOLOGY UNIT – I - FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION - SBT1607 HISTORY OF FOOD PROCESSING AND FOOD PRESERVATION FOOD PROCESSING Food processing dates back to the prehistoric age when crude processing including various types of cooking, such as over fire, smoking, steaming, fermenting, sun drying and preserving with salt were in practice. Foods preserved this way were a common part of warriors’ and sailors’ diets. These crude processing techniques remained essentially the same until the advent of the Industrial Revolution. Nicolas Appert developed a vacuum bottling process to supply food to troops in the French army, which eventually led to canning in tins by Peter Durand in 1810. Modern food processing technologies, in the 19th century were also largely developed to serve military needs. In the early 20th century, the space race, change in food habits and the quality conciousness of the consumers in the developed world furthered the development of food processing with advancements such as spray drying, juice concentrates, freeze drying and the introduction of artificial sweetners, colourants, and preservatives. In the late 20th century products including dried instant soups, reconstituted fruit juices, and self cooking meals such as ready-to-eat food rations etc., were developed. Benefits of Processing . Converts raw food and other farm produce into edible, usable and palatable form. Helps to store perishable and semi-perishable agricultural commodities, avoid glut in the market, check post harvest losses and make the produce available during off-season. Generates employment. Development of ready-to-consume products, hence saves time for cooking. Helps in preservation. Helps in improving palatability and organoleptic quality of the produce by value addition. Helps in easing marketing and distribution tasks. Increases seasonal availability of many foods. Enables transportation of delicate perishable foods across long distances. Makes foods safe for consumption by checking of pathogenic microorganisms. Modern food processing also improves the quality of living by way of healthy foods developed for allergics, diabetics, and other people who cannot consume some common food elements. Food processing can also bring nutritional and food security. FOOD PRESERVATION: During the 20th century the continued application of scientific research to food production has significantly changed the way the world eats. Food preservation is as old as human civilization. Preservation of foods inhibits spoilage cause by bacterial growth, oxidation, insects or desiccation. The Chinese reportedly preserved vegetables by fermentation in prehistoric times and Plinius preserved white cabbage in earthenware pots in Italy in the first century. The earliest recorded instances of food preservation date back to ancient Egypt and the drying of grains and subsequent storage in seal silos. Fermentation, oil packing, pickling, salting, and smoking are all ancient preservation technologies. Refrigeration in caves or under cool water were also well known ancient techniques of food preservation. But the potential of this particular food preservation technique was not fully realized until the 1900’s when Clarence Birdseye introduced frozen foods to the American public. People in many parts of the world developed techniques for drying and smoking foods as far as 6000 BC. Microorganism need water to carry out their metabolic processes. Ancient Mesoamericans used salt as a preservative for trade in fish and other food stuff over long distances, as well as for storing food for long periods of time. Since Phoenician times (from around 1250 BC) the standard practice for preserving fish was to gut it, dry it and pack it in layers with salt. The first dehydrator for drying fruits and vegetables was introduced in France in 1795. In 1803, a French chef named Nicholas Appert invented a new technique for preserving food. He prepared and preserved soup, beef with gravy, beans and pea. The French navy store it for three months, Then they tried it. The food was delicious and safe to eat. When Appert published this method in 1810 he had no knowledge of bacteria. It took another 50 years and Louis Pasteur to elucidate the relationship between microorganism and the spoilage of food. In 1854 Louis Pasteur began his investigation in wine. And pasteurization process of milk was begun in Germany and United States in 1880 and 1890 respectively. Freezing did not fully develop until the 1950s. Freezing keeps food safe by slowing the movement of molecules, causing microbes to enter a dormant stage. It extended periods of time because it prevents the growth of microorganisms that cause both food spoilage and foodborne illness; so frozen food is theoretically safe forever. The term of irradiation appeared only around 1950s, but the technology can be traced back to the late 19th century. Although food preservation has now reached a high standard at least in the developed countries, the quantities of food still spoiled are astonishing. WHAT IS FOOD BORN DISEASE? Foodborne illness is caused by consuming contaminated foods or beverages. Many different disease-causing microbes or pathogens can contaminate foods. Most foodborne diseases are infections caused by a variety of bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Other diseases are poisonings caused by harmful toxins or chemicals that have contaminated food. Of note many foodborne pathogens also can be acquired through recreational or drinking water, from contact with animals or their environment, or through person-to-person spread. Symptoms of Foodborne Illness . Common symptoms of foodborne illness are diarrhea and/or vomiting, typically lasting 1 to 7 days. Other symptoms might include abdominal cramps, nausea, fever, joint/back aches, and fatigue. What some people call the “stomach flu” may actually be a foodborne illness caused by a pathogen (i.e., virus, bacteria, or parasite) in contaminated food or drink. The incubation period (the time between exposure to the pathogen and onset of symptoms) can range from several hours to 1 week. Causes of Foodborne Illness Campylobacteriosis Listeriosis (Listeria Salmonellosis Vibrio Infection (Campylobacter) monocytogenes) (Salmonella) (Vibrio parahaemolyticus) Yersiniosis Toxoplasmosis Scombroid Fish Shigellosis (Shigella) (Yersinia species) (Toxoplasma gondii) Poisoning Norovirus Infection Giardiasis (Giardia) Escherichia coli Cyclosporiasis O157:H7 Infection (Cyclospora spp.) Types of Foodborne Illnesses There are dozens of different bacteria, viruses, parasites and other pathogens which can contaminate raw or improperly prepared food thereby leading to human infection and the transmission of various foodborne diseases. The CDC estimates that about 90% of all foodborne illness in this country is caused by the following seven pathogens: Norovirus, Salmonella, Clostridium perfrigens, Campylobacter, Listeria, E. coli 0157:H7 and Toxoplasma. The following are the most significant foodborne illnesses based upon frequency of occurrence and/or severity of potential adverse health consequences: Salmonellosis - a potentially life threatening infectious disease caused by various species of Salmonella bacteria. This infection can cause a debilitating condition referred to as Reactive Arthritis (“Reiter’s Syndrome”). Hemorrhagic Colitis - infectious disease primarily caused by the bacterium Escherichia coli O157:H7. E. coli infection can lead to a serious complication known as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). Listeriosis - infectious disease caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. This infection is particularly dangerous for pregnant women because it can cause stillbirth, premature labor and/or infection of the baby. Campylobacteriosis - infectious disease caused by the bacterium Campylobacter jejuni. This infection can lead to a serious disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system known as Guillain – Barre Syndrome. Shigellosis (bacillary dysentery) - infectious disease caused by various species of Shigella bacteria. This infection can also cause HUS or Reactive Arthritis. Perfringens Poisoning - enteric disease caused by the bacterium Colostridium perfrigens. Foodborne Botulism - life threatening disease caused by consumption of foods containing neurotoxins produced by the bacterium Colostridium botulinum. Norovirus Gastroenteritis - highly contagious disease caused by the Norwalk virus family. This viral infection can sometimes result in a chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder known as Post Infectious Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Acute Viral Hepatitis A - infectious disease of the liver caused by the Hepatitis A virus (HAV). Toxoplasmosis - infectious disease caused by a microscopic parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. In pregnant women, this infection can be transmitted and harmful to the fetus. The Potential Complications of Foodborne Illnesses Infants and young children Pregnant women (and their unborn fetus) Elderly adults over the age of 65 Persons with a weakened or compromised immune system Cancer patients especially those undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments Persons who are HIV positive or suffering AIDS Persons with a certain chronic conditions such as diabetes, liver disease or kidney failure Persons who have sickle cell anemia or other disorders affecting red blood cells Transplant recipients especially while taking medications to reduce the risk of rejection Persons taking antibiotics,