Nutrition Analysis
ANSWERS
The process of determining the nutritional content of food is known as nutritional analysis. It is an essential component of analytical chemistry because it provides information about chemical composition, processing, quality control, and food contamination. It ensures that trade and food laws are followed. Nutritional analysis can be performed using a variety of certified methods.
Analyses in the Laboratory
Food companies use this approach by sending food samples to laboratories for physical analysis. The food sample is analyzed for the components that comprise the nutritional information required using scientific methods and equipment.
The laboratory analysis measures the actual levels of nutrients in the prepared food, resulting in high analysis accuracy. The analysis considers changes in nutritional value caused by the cooking and processing of the food. This is extremely valuable because calories tend to rise or fall during the cooking process depending on the method used. For example, added fats raise calorie content when frying and lower it when grilling. Furthermore, salt can be added during food preparation, increasing the dish’s final sodium content.
Food item sampling, food analysis, and result interpretation all necessitate specialized knowledge.
Software for Nutrient Analysis
The user can use this technique to determine the nutritional content of food. However, the accuracy and standardization of the recipes significantly impact the quality of the analysis.
Standardized recipes have been modified and saved for use in a food service operation. The nutrition analysis yields the same results when ingredients are used in standardized recipes with the same quantity and quality.
The number of ingredients available in the food database limits the scope of this analysis. This method ignores the effects of cooking and processing on food, which can significantly alter the content.
It is critical and recommended that a food preparation and nutrition expert perform the analysis.
Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (LSCM)
In addition to chemical and physical analysis of food samples, this method is used in food analysis and research. The LSCM method, instead of the Laser Scanning (LS) method, focuses the illumination on specific sample positions. A small portion of the image is illuminated simultaneously, increasing contrast and decreasing out-of-focus blur. The images of the sample can be examined individually or grouped to form a 3D image using image analysis software. Observing optically small sections of a food sample provides insight into the product’s 3D structure.
LSCM employs compound-specific fluorescent probes to image components’ presence, state, and spatial organization, like protein and fat. This technique enables a close and detailed examination of components’ physical condition and movement distribution within multi-component foods.
Immunoassays
For three reasons, immunoassays are widely used in food analysis for detecting and quantifying proteins in a given food.
First, immunoassays are used to detect low-cost ingredients used to replace high-quality products. Examples include adding cheaper meats such as sheep, goat, and rabbit or soybean proteins to beef and pork, including cow’s milk in goat’s milk products, and replacing more expensive nuts such as hazelnuts with cheaper ones.
The second application of immunoassays is the detection and quantification of proteins involved in food intolerance and allergic reactions.
The third reason for using this technique is that it detects tissue-specific antigens in food that may be associated with transmittable encephalopathies.
Spectrometry by mass
This method separates ionized atoms and molecules based on their mass-to-charge ratio difference. Because atoms and molecules have different fragmentation patterns, mass spectrometry can identify structural components.
The pathway for the use of mass spectrometry in food analysis is provided by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). GC-MS analyzes qualitative and quantitative components such as sterols, alcohol, fatty acids, and low-mass carbohydrates. It also detects food contaminants like pesticides, toxins, and drugs. It is regarded as a primary method for determining fatty acid compositions. Polyphenols in fruits and vegetables are quantified using GC-MS. Polyphenols are a type of chemical compound found naturally in plants.
Conclusion
The nutritional value of the product, the additional materials added, the presence of any toxic components, and the effect of processing on the food structure and quality are all considered in food analysis.
These are just a few of the food analysis methods that are currently available. Food analysis is a complex matrix that typically necessitates the application of several techniques in order to complete a comprehensive nutritional analysis. The increasing regulations governing food production have contributed to expanding research in the food production industry.
QUESTION