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Food Ingredients and Function


Course Description

Major food ingredients used in processed foods for specific functionalities are described, with a focus is on ingredients to prepare foods that have desirable quality attributes of taste, cost, and convenience for consumers and are health and healthy weight promoting.


Athena Title

Food Ingredients and Function


Non-Traditional Format

This course will be taught 95% or more online.


Pre or Corequisite

FDST 7020E or permission of department.


Semester Course Offered

Offered fall


Grading System

A - F (Traditional)


Course Objectives

1. Describe the function of ingredients in processed foods and beverages 2. Select ingredients for use in low-, intermediate-, and high- moisture foods 3. Identify the fundamental physical and chemical properties of ingredients in food 4. Explain the challenges of ingredient addition, removal, or substitution in processed foods 5. Utilize synergies between food ingredients to improve food quality and health attributes 6. Choose approaches to formulation of healthier foods using appropriate ingredients


Topical Outline

1. Consumer trends and preferences in processed foods; overview of food ingredients and role in food products 2. Water – hardness, minerals, quality for specific applications 3. Carbohydrates (starches, other hydrocolloids, dietary fibers - structures and ingredient functionality; sweeteners: sugar, sugar substitutes, synergism, taste interaction 4. Proteins (muscle foods, dairy foods, soy-based foods, other legumes) 5. Lipids- animal and plant-based fats, shortenings, margarines, specialty oils 6. Emulsifiers, HLB values, applications, use and stabilization of emulsion 7. Fat Mimetics- physicochemical properties and applications 8. Acidulants – acidity, acidification rates, flavor effects 9. Colorants- FD&C colors, natural extracts 10. Flavorants, flavor enhancers 11. Stabilizers, thickening agents, humectants, anticaking agents, clarifying


Syllabus