Fungus: Role in Food Products

Article by Reet (1,467 pts ) , published Jun 19, 2008

A previous article threw light on the general role played by fungus. This article gives insights to the role of fungus in food products. Most of the foodstuffs we eat are what they are because of fungi.

Nuts and Chocolate? All nut trees need to have a fungi association that helps them survive and prosper! Don’t believe it? Check it out.

 
The sweet cocoa beans that you use are processed using fungi for fermentation. The trees survive only because of the action and reaction between them! As for the bitter cocoa beans, these are processed by fermentation of fungi called Candida Krusel and Geotrichum. Further, the trees survive because of a variety of fungi on them!

 Similarly, the same process happens with the natural bitter cocoa beans!

 
Baking bread requires yeast does it not?  Yes it does. Yeast is one fungus which makes the dough rise by creating carbon dioxide. It also produces alcohol which evaporates. Vitamin B 2 is another fungi produced during the baking process!

 The brewers’ yeast is also a fungus, and is necessary for producing wine, champagne, beer, and other holiday spirits. This is prepared by the fermentation by anaerobic fungi, producing ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide.

 
We all know that most cheese is the outcome of curdling milk. How does this happen? It happens because of the action of enzymes of certain Bacteria in the milk! The curds that fall out are pressed together. Most good varieties such as blue cheese and others are taken a step further: they are ripened through the action of fungi.

 
Mushrooms are a MUST at every Christmas aren't they? Edible mushrooms are delicious and nutritious. Many contain a protein profile which is very high, and also contain large amounts of Vitamin Bs and other nutrients. Mushrooms are also a form of fungus!

 

So not all fungus is bad for your health. There are good ones, which help to make your food and drink tasty, and provide all kinds of healthy vitamins, nutrients, etc.

Happy eating!

Read other articles on fungi:

More About Fungus in Our Lives

Fungus: Role in Medication

Is Fungus Good or Bad? Interesting Facts About Fungi

 
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