Food Oral Processing

'It is critically important not only what we eat but also how we eat!' Eating and drinking are essential daily activities, providing us with the energy and nutrients we require as well as great sensory pleasure and enjoyment. The practices of eating and drinking are known to everyone, but the physical, physiological and psychological principles involved are not as obvious. The eating quality and sensory experience of a food always remains a top concern to food researchers, food manufacturers and retailers, as well as consumers. Eating is no longer seen as a simple process of food breakdown, but is recognised as a highly sophisticated process of human responses to the changing physicochemical properties of the food. This book reviews the latest research findings on food oral processing and sensory perception, providing readers with up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the underpinning principles of food physics, oral physiology, and sensory psychology of an eating process as well as the experimental techniques available for food oral studies. A range of topics are covered, including the main physical and physiological functionalities of the mouth, the location and functionalities of various oral receptors and receptor organs (such as taste buds), the main sequences of eating and drinking, and the associated food disintegration and destabilisation. Emphasis is given to the significance of oral processing for sensory perception, food texture, flavour release, new product development and nutrition. Food Oral Processing will be of interest to food scientists and technologists in industry and academia, especially those involved in sensory science and new product development. It will also appeal to oral physiologists, oral biologists and dentists. The book will be a valuable reference for undergraduate and postgraduate students of these disciplines.