Visualization of phase separation in extruded plant-based meat analogues through tomography

Purpose and goal

The project focuses on visualizing the fibrous structure of meat analogs using X-ray and neutron tomography to understand the underlying mechanisms of how these are formed, as well as how they relate to flavor and texture when fat is included. AAK´s objective is to develop plant-based meat analogues that include healthy fats. With the help of the equipment that is already available at RISE, Exiscope and Lunds Universitet, we want to go in depth to analyze what we can observe at the lab level and understand when the larger facilities should be used for better utilization by the industry.

Expected effects and result

The project will generate a greater understanding of how the fibrous protein structure in meat analogues arises due to phase separation when beneficial fats are included. The project is led by the Department of Agriculture and Food at RISE with project partners from Lund Universitet, Exciscope and AAK. Med AAKs´s knowledge of fats and wax-based products as well as knowledge of instrumentation and analyzes from RISE, Lunds Universitet, Exiscope, in-depth mechanistic knowledge of process development and the role of large-scale facilitators in this can be obtained.

Planned approach and implementation

Meat analogs with healthy fats will be manufactured based on previous knowledge and experience available at AAK and RISE. Then lab instrumentation available with regards to microscopy and tomography at RISE, Lunds Universitet and Exciscope will be utalized. The samples will also be analyzed with x-ray tomography at ForMAX, MAXIV, and with neutron tomography at NeXT-Grenoble. Image analysis will be used on the results from the lab and the larger facilities for an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms of the arise of the structures .