Book review: Industrial Chocolate Manufacture and Use

Chocolate manufacture
Chocolate manufacture
Ed by Steve T. Beckett, pub. by Wiley-Blackwell 2008, 720pp,e181.30
Since the third edition of this standard work was published in 1999, there has been a significant increase in the amount of chocolate manufactured worldwide.

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Bagging and conveying systems

robagFXIS 3ci series
The tna robagFXIS 3ci series for polyethylene (PE) packaging is the latest addition to the revolutionary vertical form fill and seal (VFFS) tna robag range and is designed with performance, simplicity and flexibility in mind. The new range features the world’s first rotary impulse sealing jaws system for the efficient packaging of ready to eat fruit and fresh vegetables at bagging speeds of up to 150bpm with consistent quality.

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Automated protein association and aggregation system

There are numerous methods for detecting protein interactions and aggregation kinetics, each varying in sensitivity and specificity. Composition-Gradient Multi-Angle Light Scattering (CG-MALS) is an ideal means for measuring proteins in their natural solution: protein samples need not be tagged, immobilised on a surface, or otherwise modified from their natural state.

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Anthocyanins for improving eye function

Anthocyanins for improving eye function. The anthocyanins and bioflavinoids present in many blue and purple coloured berries, such as bilberries and blackberries, are known to have beneficial effects in improving night vision by stimulating the production of rhodopsine, which increases blood circulation in capillary vessels.

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All-in-one case/tray forming and packing system

A typical case or tray packing line requires multiple machines to form, pack and seal cases or trays; however, Eagle’s Case/Tray Packing System All-In-One solution takes a flat blank and discharges a shelf or pallet-ready package. By replacing three or four machines, the Case/Tray Packer not only uses significantly less space, it also reduces the owner’s carbon footprint by requiring less energy.

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Air disperser for full-scale spray dryer

Niro Air Disperser
The GEA Niro Air Disperser type DDD is a key component in a spray drying plant and its performance is crucial for both product quality and plant efficiency. The DDD Air Disperser incorporates all the latest knowledge within spray drying and is designed using GEA’s proprietary CFD simulation tools.

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Almost 20,000 visitors attended Vitafoods Europe 2017

Vitafoods Europe has enjoyed another record-breaking year, with visitor and exhibitor numbers both significantly up on 2016.
Almost 20,000 (19,951) visitors attended the global nutraceutical event in Geneva between 9 and 11 May –13% more than last year. Furthermore, a record 1,034 companies exhibited – up 15% on 2016.

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Eggs significantly increase growth in young children

Eggs significantly increased growth in young children and reduced their stunting by 47 percent, finds a new study from a leading child-nutrition expert at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. This was a much greater effect than had been shown in previous studies.

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Smoked foods are tastier, less harmful with a tip from the auto industry

Infusing foods with smoke can impart delicious nuanced flavours, but could also come with an unwelcome side of carcinogens. To reduce the carcinogen content of smoked foods, researchers took a lesson from the automobile industry, running the smoke through a zeolite filter to remove harmful compounds. It worked, and with a happy bonus: superior smoke flavour.

Coconut Water often adulterated with undeclared sugars

Coconut water is the liquid obtained from the unripe fruits of the coconut tree. It has seen as substantial increase in popularity over the past couple of years. However, the analyses by QSI, a Tentamus company, revealed that more than a quarter of the products from shops contain undeclared extraneous sugars. As a low-calorie, low sugar and isotonic soft drink coconut water is an obvious alternative for consumers and athletes to the more common sugared soft drinks. Coconut water is also said to exert a health promoting effect due to its constituents like vitamins and minerals, for example potassium. Unlike coconut water, coconut milk is obtained from the pulp of the ripe fruit instead.

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