October 08, 2024 | Food Frontiers |
A study conducted by Northwest A&F University and Shaanxi Bairui Kiwifruit Research Co., Ltd. explored the potential of utilizing waste and inferior tropical fruits as a source of starch. The growing interest in sustainability and resource conservation has made the recycling of tropical fruit waste an important area of research. This review highlights the extraction methods, chemical composition, and physical properties of tropical fruit-derived starch, as well as its potential applications and benefits.
Tropical fruit-derived starch is unique compared to traditional starch, offering distinctive structural and processing properties that make it suitable for use in the food industry as a supplement or replacement for industrial starch. Additionally, this starch retains some of the nutrients and functional components of the fruits, providing potential health benefits. Although research is still in its early stages, mainly at the laboratory level, the increasing awareness of health and environmental issues is expected to drive the future development and commercialization of tropical fruit-derived starch. This approach presents an opportunity for reducing fruit waste while adding value to underutilized fruit resources.