This book was developed from the papers presented at a symposium on "Water Relationships in Foods," which was held from April 10-14, 1989 at the 197th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Dallas, Texas, under the auspices of the Agricultural and Food Chemistry Division of ACS. The editors of this book organized the symposium to bring tagether an es teemed group of internationally respected experts, currently active in the field of water relationships in foods, to discuss recent advances in the 1980's and future trends for the 1990's. It was the hope of all these con tributors that this ACS symposium would become a memorable keystone above the foundation underlying the field of "water in foods. " This strong foundation has been constructed in large part from earlier technical conferences and books such as the four milestone International Symposia on the Properties of Water (ISOPOW I-IV), the recent IFT BasicSymposium on "Water Activity" and Penang meeting on Food Preservation by Maisture Control, as well as the key fundamental contributions from the classic 1980 ACS Symposium Series #127 on Water in Polymers, and from Felix Franks' famous seven-volume Comprehensive Treatise on Water plus five subsequent volumes of the ongoing Water Science Reviews. The objective of the 1989 ACS symposiumwas to build on this foun dation by emphasizing the most recent and maj or advanc.

This second edition of Water Activity in Foods furnishes those working within food manufacturing, quality control, and safety with a newly revised guide to water activity and its role in the preservation and processing of food items. With clear, instructional prose and illustrations, the book’s international team of contributors break down the essential principles of water activity and water–food interactions, delineating water’s crucial impact upon attributes such as flavor, appearance, texture, and shelf life. The updated and expanded second edition continues to offer an authoritative overview of the subject, while also broadening its scope to include six newly written chapters covering the latest developments in water activity research. Exploring topics ranging from deliquescence to crispness, these insightful new inclusions complement existing content that has been refreshed and reconfigured to support the food industry of today.

Water Relations of Foods consists of proceedings of an international symposium on "Water Relations of Foods held in Glasgow, in September 1974. Organized into seven sections, the book presents the various papers delivered in the symposium. It describes the physical chemistry of water in simple systems as well as in the more complex food component systems (carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins), with emphasis on the nature of the intermolecular forces involved. It also reports the various techniques used to measure the state of water in food and in model systems made up of food components. Furthermore, the book discusses water activity and the growth of food spoilage and pathogenic organism; water relations of enzymic and non-enzymic deteriorative reactions in food; effects of freezing and thawing of water in food systems; and the significant aspects of food quality as affected by water in the system. Lastly, the modification of the state of water in foods is addressed. This publication will indeed help advance the understanding on this field of interest.

Handbook of Food Isotherms: Water Sorption Parameters for Food and Food Components is the first English handbook entirely devoted to water vapor sorption data of foods and food components. It contains more than 1,000 isotherms with the mathematical description of over 800 of these isotherms. The water sorption isotherms of foods show the equilibrium relationship between the moisture content of foods and the water activity at constant temperatures and pressures. Composed of three chapters, this book initially discusses the main types of changes in foods affected by water activity. It goes on describing the principal methods of water activity determination, namely, gravimetry, manometry, and hygrometry. Data presented as plots of moisture content versus water activity are given. The last chapter presents several mathematical equations for describing water sorption isotherms of food materials. It emphasizes a statistical analysis on fitting abilities of various two-parameter equations as applied to each experimental isotherm collected. It contains tables of parameters for mathematical description of food isotherms. Supplementary texts on nonlinear regression program used for determination of statistical parameters in this text are also provided.

This book is the first comprehensive effort to bring together Water, Food Security and Nutrition (FSN) in a way that goes beyond the traditional focus on irrigated agriculture. Apart from looking at the role of water and sanitation for human well-being, it proposes alternative and more locally appropriate ways to address complex water management and governance challenges from the local to global levels against a backdrop of growing uncertainties. The authors challenge mainstream supply-oriented and neo-Malthusian visions that argue for the need to increase the land area under irrigation in order to feed the world’s growing population. Instead, they argue for a reframing of the debate concerning production processes, waste, food consumption and dietary patterns whilst proposing alternative strategies to improve water and land productivity, putting the interests of marginalized and disenfranchized groups upfront. The book highlights how accessing water for FSN can be challenging for small-holders, vulnerable and marginalized women and men, and how water allocation systems and reform processes can negatively affect local people’s informal rights. The book argues for the need to improve policy coherence across water, land and food and is original in making a case for strengthening the relationship between the human rights to water and food, especially for marginalized women and men. It will be of great interest to practitioners, students and researchers working on water and food issues.

With over 2900 references, tables, and drawings, this book covers a wide variety of conventional and potential food preservation techniques. Emphasizing practical, cost-effective, and safe strategies, the book facilitates the selection of the best food ingredients and preservation techniques. It covers postharvest handling, explains conventional preservation methods, details the use of natural antimicrobials, antioxidants, edible coating, nitrites, food packaging, and HACCP in food safety. Highlighting the effects of preservation methods on the functional and sensory properties of foods, the book also features the exact mode or mechanisms involved in each preservation method.

Introduction to the Chemistry of Food describes the molecular composition of food and the chemistry of its components. It provides students with an understanding of chemical and biochemical reactions that impact food quality and contribute to wellness. This innovative approach enables students in food science, nutrition and culinology to better understand the role of chemistry in food. Specifically, the text provides background in food composition, demonstrates how chemistry impacts quality, and highlights its role in creating novel foods. Each chapter contains a review section with suggested learning activities. Text and supplemental materials can be used in traditional face-to-face, distance, or blended learning formats. - Describes the major and minor components of food - Explains the functional properties contributed by proteins, carbohydrates and lipids in food - Explores the chemical and enzymatic reactions affecting food attributes (color, flavor and nutritional quality) - Describes the gut microbiome and influence of food components on its microbial population - Reviews major food systems and novel sources of food protein

Water in Foods: Fundamental Aspects and their Significance in Relation to Processing of Foods contains the proceedings of the Fifth International Symposium on the Properties of Water in Foods (ISOPOW-V), held in Peniscola, Valencia, Spain, on November 8-14,1992. Organized into 31 chapters, each chapter representing the papers presented in the meeting, this book begins with a review of the theoretical aspects of hydration. Some chapters follow discussing the basic physical chemistry and links between hydration and solute interactions; computer modeling studies of the interaction of water with carbohydrates; and theories of liquid-glass transition. This book also describes the NMR imaging in the study of diffusion of water in foods, mechanical properties of frozen model solutions, and the role of water in biomembrane structures. Other chapters relate water to the methods of food preservation.

The world of development thinkers and practitioners is abuzz with a new lexicon: the idea of "the nexus" between water, food, and energy which is intuitively compelling. It promises better integration of multiple sectoral elements, a better transition to greener economies, and sustainable development. However, there appears to be little agreement on its precise meaning, whether it only complements existing environmental governance approaches or how it can be enhanced in national contexts. One current approach to the nexus treats it as a risk and security matter while another treats it within economic rationality addressing externalities across sector. A third perspective acknowledges it as a fundamentally political process requiring negotiation amongst different actors with distinct perceptions, interests, and practices. This perspective highlights the fact that technical solutions for improving coherence within the nexus may have unintended and negative impacts in other policy areas, such as poverty alleviation and education. The Water–Food–Energy Nexus: Power, Politics and Justice lays out the managerial-technical definitions of the nexus and challenges these conceptions by bringing to the forefront the politics of the nexus, around two key dimensions – a dynamic understanding of water–food–energy systems, and a normative positioning around nexus debates, in particular around social justice. The authors argue that a shift in nexus governance is required towards approaches where limits to control are acknowledged, and more reflexive/plural strategies adopted. This book will be of interest to academic researchers, policy makers, and practitioners in the fields of international development studies, environmental politics, and science and technology studies, as well as international relations.

Water Activity in Foods: Fundamentals and Applications is a one-of-a-kind reference text that brings together an international group of food scientists, chemists, and engineers to present a broad but thorough coverage of an important factor known to influence the attributes of foods – water activity. A team of experienced editors designed this book for lasting value as a sound introduction to the concept of water activity for neophytes and seasoned professionals in both academe and industry. Topics have been carefully selected to provide a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms by which water activity influences the quality, shelf life, and safety of food products. Water Activity in Foods belongs on the shelves of all food science professionals for use in product development, quality control, and food safety. Students and newcomers to these areas will appreciate the instructional approach adopted by the experienced teachers and industry specialists who have contributed chapters to this comprehensive overview.