Pasta production is a good opportunity for product innovation in different forms. The aim of this work was to assess the use of flaxseed components for pasta production. We examined the chemical composition and cooking quality, at different contents of flaxseed flour (FF) and flaxseed cake (FC), added for pasta processing. The analysis showed that the addition of flaxseed components to the dough caused a substantial difference in the International Commission on Illumination color model (CIE) parameter, compared to control samples. The samples of pasta with FF and FC were darker, redder, and less yellow than the control. The minimum cooking time for the enriched pasta was longer than that for the control pasta, although cooking losses were lower. The increasing content of flaxseed components did not significantly change the weight and volume increase index. The enrichment of pasta with 23% FF and 17% FC yielded good quality pasta. The results of the chemical composition of the flaxseed-enriched pasta indicate considerably enhanced nutritional quality, particularly the levels of protein, fat, and dietary fiber of the pasta, without affecting its quality. Moreover, flaxseed cake can be an important source of nutritional ingredients for pasta production, although it is a by-product of the oil cold pressing technology.

Functional foods include cold-pressed oils, which are a rich source of antioxidants and bioactive n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of rapeseed oils supplemented with Spanish sage and cress oils. Seven oil mixtures consisting of 70% of rapeseed oil and 30% of sage and/or cress oil were prepared for the analyses. The oil mixtures were analyzed to determine their acid value, peroxide value, oxidative stability, and fatty acid composition. In terms of the acid value and the peroxide value, all mixtures met the requirements for cold-pressed vegetable oils. The enrichment of the rapeseed oil with α-linolenic acid-rich fats resulted in a substantially lower ratio of n-6 to n-3 acids in the mixtures than in the rapeseed oil. The mixture of the rapeseed oil with the sage and cress oils in a ratio of 70:10:20 exhibited higher oxidative stability than the raw materials used for enrichment and a nearly 20% α-linolenic acid content. The oils proposed in this study can improve the ratio of n-6:n-3 acids in modern diets. Additionally, mixing the cress seed oils with rapeseed oil and chia oil resulted in a reduction in the content of erucic acid in the finished product. This finding indicates that cress seeds, despite their high content of erucic acid, can be used as food components. The production of products with a positive effect on human health is one of the most important factors in the sustainable development of agriculture.

As a result of agri-food production large amounts of organic waste are created in the form of press cakes. Until now, they were mainly used as animal fodder and also utilized for biofuels production. No other way usage has been found yet. A large quantity of these by-products is usually discarded in open areas, which leads to potentially serious environmental problems. The rich chemical composition of these waste products makes it possible to use them for producing other food products valuable for consumers. Based on the test results obtained, it can be stated that moisture content of press cakes is varied and depends on the input material. However, appropriately composed mixtures of various waste products and a properly conducted compaction process allows for obtaining a new product with functional properties. In addition, application of honey powder and starch tablet coating creates a product of resistant to compression and cutting. Results seem to have commercial importance, as they demonstrate that properly processed by-products can be used in food preparations as dietary supplements.

Due to their different properties compared to other materials, nanoparticles of iron and iron oxides are increasingly used in the food industry. Food technologists have especially paid attention to their ease of separation by magnetic fields and biocompatibility. Unfortunately, the consumption of increasing amounts of nanoparticles has raised concerns about their biotoxicity. Hence, knowledge about the applicability of iron nanoparticle-based materials in the food industry is needed not only among scientists, but also among all individuals who are involved in food production. The first part of this article describes typical methods of obtaining iron nanoparticles using chemical synthesis and so-called green chemistry. The second part of this article describes the use of iron nanoparticles and iron nanoparticle-based materials for active packaging, including the ability to eliminate oxygen and antimicrobial activity. Then, the possibilities of using the magnetic properties of iron nano-oxides for enzyme immobilization, food analysis, protein purification and mycotoxin and histamine removal from food are described. Other described applications of materials based on iron nanoparticles are the production of artificial enzymes, process control, food fortification and preserving food in a supercooled state. The third part of the article analyzes the biocompatibility of iron nanoparticles, their impact on the human body and the safety of their use.

Cold Atmospheric pressure Plasma (CAP) is a non-thermal method used in food processing. CAP generated with the use of nitrogen in a Glide-arc device for 300 to 600 s exhibited high potential for microbial decontamination and did not induce substantial changes in the physicochemical properties of NFC tomato juice. Samples exposed to cold atmospheric plasma had mostly an intact structure, as revealed by digital microscopy. The investigations indicate that CAP can be applied for biological and chemical waste-free decontamination of food and extension of its shelf life.

The process of pelleting miscanthus biomass often encounters issues related to the low durability of the obtained pellets and high energy inputs. To solve these issues, the use of copra meal as a supplement is proposed. This paper presents the results of research on energy parameters of miscanthus biomass pellets supplemented with copra meal in terms of energy consumption in the pressure agglomeration process. As part of this research, the energy parameters of miscanthus biomass, copra meal biomass, and their blends were characterized. Next, the raw materials were used for the production of pellets in the pressure agglomeration process. The investigations included proximate and ultimate analysis and estimation of heating values. Moreover, the total fat content, mechanical durability, kinetic strength, and bulk density were determined, and the energy consumption in the pelleting process was assessed. The results indicate that the energy consumption in the miscanthus biomass pelleting process can be substantially reduced by adding copra meal as a biocomponent. When the copra meal addition did not exceed 30%, the pellets exhibited over 95% durability, over 1200 kg∙m⁻³ density, and over 417 kg∙m⁻³ bulk density. Given the 44% reduction in energy consumption in the pellet production process and the energy efficiency of 4815 Wh·kg⁻¹ determined in this study, copra meal may be an interesting material for use as an additive in the production of miscanthus biomass pellets.