Principles of Food Science Assignment Life Sciences Coursework

Food Science
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PART 1
The Yves Jumbo Veggie Dogs has two vegetable gums and two vegetable proteins, which are meant to give this product a good structure. The vegetable proteins are wheat gluten and soy protein, while the vegetable gums are wheat starch and carrageenan (Mittal, 2006). All these ingredients possess different functionalities, but their purpose is to contribute to the structure and thickness of the Yves Jumbo Veggie Dogs. I will now provide more explanations to make things clear and understandable.
The first vegetable protein is soy protein, which is an excellent source of vegetable proteins and is widely used by vegetarians to fulfill their bodies’ requirements of proteins. As the name indicates, this does not come from meat but it has equivalent protein contents. Soy protein is low in saturated fats and does not have cholesterol. In addition, it contains all essential amino acids and can easily and conveniently absorb fats and water, with the ability to hold the same texture as is held by animal proteins in different meat products. Soy protein lets people consume more and more vegetable fats and is an excellent alternative to animal proteins. It has the same nutritional values as are present in chicken, beef and other meat products.
The second vegetable protein I have discussed above is wheat gluten. It can be created by removing starch from wheat flour. When the starch is removed, the remaining gluten is dried so that its natural properties or features are preserved. This then takes the form of an insoluble product, ingredient or thing. Due to its structural properties, wheat gluten is being used in different food products and is trusted for its quality. In wheat gluten, the molecules of water create a viscoelastic mass. This contributes to the texture of the product and ensures the same kind of density and texture as is found in different meat products. Gluten is biodegradable, renewable and great for our environment. It can be called a substitute for meat as it provides a definite structure to the food and can be flavored according to one’s desire. It is suitable for those who are on vegetarian diets.
As far as the vegetable gum is concerned, the first one is carrageenan. It is extracted from red seaweed, which is known to form a gum named Gymnogongrus tenuis. Carrageenan has various properties, all of which contribute to a definite structure and functions of the Yves Jumbo Veggie Dogs. For instance, it ensures great texture and density of meatless products and can stabilize and thicken hot dogs without any major issue. Furthermore, carrageenan can absorb different fluids and keeps the originality and freshness of hot dogs maintained.
On the other hand, wheat starch is a good example of vegetable gum. It is a carbohydrate that is formed when the processing of wheat flour is done in order to re...