Examining Committee

Dr. Lisa Duizer, Chair

Dr. Alejandro Marangoni, Advisor

Dr. Erica Pensini, Advisory Committee Member

Dr. Art Hill, Department Member

TITLE: FIBER-REINFORCED PROTEIN-STARCH COMPOSITE AS THE BASIS FOR MEAT ANALOGUES

ABSTRACT:

This thesis investigates using zein protein as a filamentous structure for the creation of a whole muscle meat analogue.  Zein alone does not have the nutritional profile or structure to mimic meat, thus, we developed a novel method using  rapid  swelling  starch  and  pea  protein  isolate  to  create  a  proteinaceous  supporting matrix that suspends the zein fibrils. First, we investigated the physical, rheological, and molecular properties of the   rapid swelling starch-proteincomposite. We then explored the viscosity of 5%w/v protein-starch suspensions, in order to further understand the key interactions.  This  investigation was then extended to other commercial pea protein isolates, to identify the functional properties contributing to the interactions. We then combined the best performing starch and pea protein composite with zein protein to create a filamentous meat analogue, whose textural properties we compared againstcooked chicken and beef to determine the product’s viability as a whole muscle meat analogue.