Predictive modelling of health aspects in the food production chain: a case study on glucosinolates in cabbage

Abstract In this paper, it is demonstrated that many steps in the food production chain of vegetable products can have large influence on the final intake of health protective phytochemicals. The wide variations in levels at each step in the production chain makes an experimental quantification of the dietary intake of phytochemical extremely difficult. We present a concept for predictive modelling of the effects of various processes in the production chain of vegetable products on the intake of phytochemicals with potential health benefits. This approach is intended to be used for the developments of tools to facilitate both product and process development for health products as well as epidemiological input data for bioactive substances in the diet. Protective glucosinolates present in Brassica vegetables are used to illustrate the value of such a predictive model. The described model provides a powerful tool for handling the variation of glucosinolate levels throughout the chain in a quantitative way. Product development, consumer advice and human intervention trials are important areas that could benefit enormously from this approach.

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