B3 Topic 1 Biotechnology

Production of yoghurt

• Equipment is sterilized
• Milk is pasteurized and then cooled
• Starter culture of bacteria is added, mixture is incubated in a fermenter
• Bacteria ferment the lactose sugar to form lactic acid - causes milk to solidify
• Flavors/colors added

Functional foods - Food that has a health benefit (e.g. prevent disease)

 Plant stanol esters 

• Lower blood cholesterol
• Found in spreads and dariy products
• Stanols occur natrally in plants but in small quantities, so they are produced commercially by using bacteria to convert sterols (fat found in plants) into stanols

Prebiotics

• Food supply for "good bacteria" in the gut
• Are carbohydrates (e.g. oligosaccharides)
• Occur In leeks, onions, oats and supplements