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A white, crystalline compound, 1-aspartyl-1-phenylalanine methyl ester (APM), used as an artificial sweetener. Aspartame is composed of two amino acids: aspartic acid and phenylalanine [structure (1)]. Amino acid Artificial sweetener Aspartame…

Products derived from the seeds of the tropical tree Theobroma cacao. The cacao tree (Fig. 1) grows within a narrow belt along both sides of the Equator. There are three basic varieties: Criollo, which was native to Central and South America;…

Keeping perishable products at low temperatures to extend shelf life. Cold storage vastly retards the natural deterioration of perishable products at higher temperatures. Time and temperature are the key factors that determine how well foods (see…

Equipment used in the production and processing of milk and milk products, including milking machines, cream separators, coolers, pasteurizers, homogenizers, butter-making equipment, evaporators and dryers, and related items of equipment. The…

A subdiscipline in the field of microbiology concerned with the study of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that grow in or are transmitted by foods. Food microbiology is a broad field that can include not only microbiology, but also sanitation,…

Grasses and legumes that make up grasslands and are consumed by grazing livestock. The grasslands represent an ancient renewable natural resource. They form 25% of the world's vegetation and occupy the largest area of any single plant type. They…

A hardy perennial, Allium sativum, of Asiatic origin and belonging to the plant order Asparagales. Garlic is grown for its pungent bulbs (see illustration). Segments of these are used primarily for seasoning. Europeans have grown garlic for probably…

An important spice or condiment; also the plant from which it is obtained, Zingiber officinale, of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae). The plant is a native of southeastern Asia. It is an erect perennial herb (see illustration) having thick, scaly,…

A commercial dairy food made by freezing while stirring a pasteurized mix of suitable ingredients. Ice cream (Fig. 1) may include milk fat, nonfat milk solids, or milk-derived ingredients; other ingredients may include sugar, water, flavoring, egg…

The treatment of foods or beverages with mild heat, irradiation, or chemical agents to improve keeping quality or to inactivate disease-causing microorganisms. Originally, Louis Pasteur observed that spoilage of wine and beer could be prevented by…

The sodium salt of o-sulfobenzimide. The free imide, called insoluble saccharin (see illustration), is insoluble in water and has limited use as a flavoring agent in pharmaceuticals. The sodium (see illustration) and calcium salts are very soluble…

Diseases caused by Salmonella bacteria. Infections that are engendered by Salmonella bacteria are known as salmonelloses (the singular form is salmonellosis). In general, salmonelloses are commonly spread through contaminated food or water, leading…

An erect annual legume, Glycine max, known for its high protein and oil contents. Soybean (Glycine max, order Fabales) is one of the most significant commercial legume species. Native to China, soybean is widely cultivated for forage and for its…

Ingredients added to food to provide all or a part of the flavor. Spices, a unique category of flavorings which are given preferred legal status because of the long history of their use in foods, are pungent or aromatic substances of vegetable…

A type of cell receptor in taste buds that detects the savory taste quality known as umami. Umami is one of the five basic taste qualities that humans can detect, along with sweet, bitter, salty, and sour. It was discovered in 1908 by Kikunae Ikeda,…

The techniques and methods used in plowing, harrowing, planting, tilling, harvesting, drying, storing, and processing of agricultural crops. Agricultural soil and crop practices seek to keep the quality and fertility of soils at high levels so as to…

The dried, unripe fruits (berries) of a small, tropical, evergreen tree, Pimenta dioica (P. officinalis), of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae). Allspice (see illustration), which is also known as Jamaica pepper, is a native of the West Indies and parts…

Prunus dulcis (also known as Prunus amygdalus or Amygdalus communis), a small deciduous tree of the order Rosales that is closely related to the peach and other stone fruit trees, and grown widely for its ellipsoidal edible seeds. The fruit of the…

Substances suitable for the nutrition of animals, including livestock and poultry feed and pet food. Animal feed includes plant and animal products and by-products as well as vitamin and mineral supplements. Livestock and poultry feed In formulating…

An annual herb, Pimpinella anisum (family Apiaceae), whose fruit is used to provide food flavoring and to make a distilled oil. Anise is one of the earliest aromatics mentioned in literature. The anise plant (see illustration) is an annual herb that…

Substitutes for sugar (sucrose) in foods and beverages that provide intense sweetness with few to no calories. Artificial sweeteners are sometimes called low-calorie sweeteners, high-intensity sweeteners, noncaloric sweeteners, non-nutritive…

A fermented beverage produced from grain. Beer is a generic term used to describe alcoholic beverages made from cereal grains, especially barley (Fig. 1), in the form of malt. Ale, lager, porter, and stout are different kinds of beer made by…

One of the oldest and most important of the spices. Black pepper is the dried, unripe fruit of a weak climbing vine, Piper nigrum (see illustration), which is a member of the pepper family (Piperaceae). It is a native of India and has spread…

An illness produced by the exotoxin of Clostridium botulinum and occasionally other bacterial members of the genus Clostridium, and characterized by paralysis and other neurological abnormalities. Botulism is a serious (though rare) condition caused…

A herbaceous, erect annual plant belonging to the Polygonaceae family (typically the genus Fagopyrum), whose dry seed or grain is used as a source of food and animal feed. Buckwheat is not a true cereal and is one of the very few plants, other than…

A food product made by churning cream. In the United States, butter is not defined by Standard of Identity in the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act as are most foods, but instead it was defined in 1923 by an act of Congress. Butter must contain at least…

An important spice and flavoring agent from the fruits of the white-flowered perennial herb Carum carvi (family Apiaceae). Caraway is a native plant of Europe and western Asia. It is now cultivated in many temperate areas of both hemispheres of the…

A spice from the perennial herbaceous plant Elettaria cardamomum (family Zingiberaceae); alternatively spelled cardamom. The cardamon plant grows to a height of 1.8–3.6 m (6–12 ft) and is native to India. The small, light-colored seeds (see…

The principal protein fraction of cows' milk. It accounts for about 80% of the protein content and is present in concentrations of 2.5–3.2%. The term casein, derived from the Latin word for cheese, caseus, was introduced into the scientific…

A medium-sized, spreading evergreen tree (Anacardium occidentale), native to Brazil, which is grown widely in the tropics for its kidney-shaped edible nuts and the resinous oil in the shells. Cashews belong to the family Anacardiaceae in the order…

Any member of the grass family (Poaceae or Gramineae) that produces edible grains usable as food by humans and livestock. Common cereals include rice, wheat, barley, oats, maize (corn), sorghum, rye and certain millets. Triticale is a cereal derived…

A dairy product made by selectively concentrating major milk components. Cheese is generally rich in flavor and contains high-quality nutrients. There are many varieties of cheese, all produced in the following general manner: Raw or pasteurized…

A perennial herb, Cichorium intybus, with a long taproot; a coarse, branching stem; and a basal rosette of numerous leaves. Chicory (see illustration) is a member of the Asteraceae (Compositae) family with a history of cultivation dating back to…

An evergreen shrub or small tree, Cinnamomum verum (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), of the laurel family (Lauraceae). The cinnamon plant (see illustration) is a native of Sri Lanka, which is the dominant producer of the world's supply of cinnamon. In…

A shrubby, evergreen citrus tree, Citrus medica, in the order Sapindales cultivated for its edible, large, lemonlike fruit. The citron, a species of true citrus, was very highly valued in ancient times, especially when it was the only known citrus…

The unopened flower bud of a small, conical, symmetrical, evergreen tree, Syzygium aromaticum (also Eugenia caryophyllata), of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae). Cloves (see illustration) are picked by hand and dried in the sun or by artificial means.…