• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.994-1002
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• 2024

The rise in plant-based food consumption is propelled by concerns for sustainability, personal beliefs, and a focus on healthy dietary habits. This trend, particularly in alternative meat, has attracted attention from specialized brands and eco-friendly food companies, leading to increased interest in plant-based alternatives. The dominant plant-based proteins, derived mainly from legumes, include soy protein isolates, which significantly impact sensory factors. In the realm of plant-based fats, substitutes are categorized into fat substitutes based on fats and fat mimetics based on proteins and carbohydrates. The production of these fats, utilizing gums, emulsions, gels, and additives, explores characteristics influencing the appearance, texture, flavor, and storage stability of final plant-based products. Analysis of plant-based proteins and fats in hamburger patties provides insights into manufacturing methods and raw materials used by leading alternative meat companies. However, challenges persist, such as replicating meat's marbling characteristic and addressing safety considerations in terms of potential allergy induction and nutritional supplementation. To enhance functionality and develop customized plant-based foods, it is essential to explore optimal combinations of various raw materials and develop new plant-based proteins and fat separation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.1019-1025
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• 1998

Proteins and polysaccharides are major food macromolecules. Generally, the mixture of these macromolecules can be separated into two phases because of their thermodynamic incompatibility. Phase separ-ation is explained by equilibrium phase diagram, which comprises binodal curve, critical point, phase separation threshold, tie-line and rectilinear diameter. Phase separation of protein-polysacc-haride solution is affected by pH, temperature, ionic strength, molecular weight, molecular structure, etc. Membraneless osmosis has been developed to concentrate protein solutions, using the phase diagram constituted by proteins and polysaccharides. Protein-polysaccharide mixtures are very promising fat mimetics because solution of mixtures forms water-continuous system with two phase-separated gels, which give plastic texture and a fatty mouthfeel.