MICROBIOLOGY OF PROCESSED FOODS
cod. 1003912

Academic year 2018/19
3° year of course - Second semester
Professor
Benedetta BOTTARI
Academic discipline
Microbiologia agraria (AGR/16)
Field
Discipline della tecnologia alimentare
Type of training activity
Characterising
42 hours
of face-to-face activities
6 credits
hub: PARMA
course unit
in ITALIAN

Learning objectives

The course aims to know the biological phenomena behind the use of virtuous microorganisms for the production of the main fermented foods. The knowledge of the principles of food processing obtained by fermentation will allow the student to understand the concepts of the interactions which occur between process technology and microorganisms used in the production of fermented foods healthy and of high quality. The knowledge acquired will enable students to learn how to control the growth of microorganisms necessary for the production of fermented foods both in industrial and in typical productions in spontaneous and driven fermentations. Particularly the students will be able to comprehend the meaning of presence and development of microorganisms in fermented food when they are added as starter or they are naturally present in raw material recognizing the role of autochthonous microorganisms. The course aims to put the student in a position to draw conclusions about the effect of the presence and development of virtuous microorganisms involved in in fermented food characteristics
The student should be able to appropriately utilize the scientific language and the specific lexicon of food microbiology, showing the ability to describe and transfe the acquired concepts.

Prerequisites

Knowledge of basic aspect of microbiology and food microbiology

Course unit content

The first lessons are about general aspect relating to spontaneous or driven fermentation as food processing method.
The second part of the course covers the knowledge of the main players of the microbial fermentation: lactic acid bacteria and yeasts and their use as natural or selected starter
The third part of the course deals with the characteristics and microbial dynamics responsible for the production of the main fermented foods of animal and vegetable origin

Full programme

Fermentation as a method of food processing
Spontaneous and driven fermentation
Presence of microorganisms in fermented food: Lactic acid bacteria, yeast, natural and selected starter.
Microorganisms in dairy products: fermented milk, yogurt and cheeses.
The microbiological role in wine production. Yeast, lactic acid bacteria and mould in red win, white wine and special wine.
Role of microorganism involved in vinegar and balsamic vinegar production.
Microbiological role in bear production.
Microbiological role in meat fermentation.
The microbiological role in bread production, yeast and lactic acid bacteria.
Other vegetal fermented food: role of microorganisms in soia products,
olives, sauerkrauts,
Extractive fermentation: cacao

Bibliography

Giovanni Antonio Farris, Marco Gobbetti, Erasmo Neviani, Massimo Vincenzini “Microbiologia dei prodotti alimentari” (2012) Casa Editrice Ambrosiana ISBN: 978-88-08-18246-

Slides used during forntal lesson

Teaching methods

The teaching will be carried out through frontal lessons using slides that represent teaching material made also available online in pdf format for students

Assessment methods and criteria

At the end of the course, the level of learning of all the contents offered during the lessons will be verified. The learning test will be carried out by means of a written examination. The written exam is divided into three parts.
1. The first part consists of 10 closed-ended questions. The complete correctness of the answers to this first part is binding for the second and third part correction.
2. The second part consists of a series of closed-ended questions that will be evaluated in thirtieth. The achievement of the threshold of sufficiency (18/30) of this second part is binding for the correction of the third part. The vote won in this second part will weigh 70% on the final evaluation
3. The third part consists of an open-ended question where the student must demonstrate that he knows how to correctly understand the acquired concepts with the specific scientific language of the food microbiology. The answer will be evaluated in thirtieth. The vote in this third party will weigh 30% on the final evaluation

Other information

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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development

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