About the Laboratory

The laboratory conducts research in the field of food structure and the impact of food ingredients on creating food structure such as emulsion, gel and foam, that serve as model for food products and examination of research on food quality and its organoleptic characterization (food sensory analysis): appearance; texture; smell and taste. The research deals with the impact of innovative food ingredients from the field of alternative proteins from plants, insects and sea sources, through ingredients from food waste, sustainable ingredients and local agricultural products. The laboratory also works on understanding food sensing during food oral processing. 

Research Areas

Food structure
Alternative proteins
Food sensory – sensory evaluation
Functional food
Dairy science
 

Accordion Title Staff and Researchers

Staff and Researchers

Dr. Ofir Benjamin – Head of the laboratory

Email: [email protected]

Yaara Cattan – Laboratory director

Email: [email protected]

Daria Yisraeli – Research assistant, in collaboration with the Redefine Meat company

Taima Batheesh – MSc student

Naama Degany – MSc student 

תמונה
צוות המעבדה לחקר מבנה מזון וחישת מזון
Research at the Laboratory

Research at the Laboratory

Accordion Title Apple waste and uses in emulsion systems with plant protein (2021-2022)

Apple waste and uses in emulsion systems with plant protein (2021-2022)

Valorization of apple pomace waste as functional emulsifier in Pickering and multilayer emulsion system stabilized with soy protein (Taima Batheesh MSc).

Accordion Title Study examining the impact of food texture on release of volatile organic compounds during the chewing process, using a robotic chewing model (2021-2022)

Study examining the impact of food texture on release of volatile organic compounds during the chewing process, using a robotic chewing model (2021-2022)

Sandip Panda Post-Doc, Naama Degany MSc
 

Accordion Title The effect of quinoa protein on the physico-chemical properties of quinoa starch-based gels, comparison between native and fibrillar protein (2020–2021) 

The effect of quinoa protein on the physico-chemical properties of quinoa starch-based gels, comparison between native and fibrillar protein (2020–2021) 

Shir Cohen MSc
 

Accordion Title Functional characterization of moringa oleifera protein from leaf extract and pulp and its effect on an emulsion model system (2019-2021)

Functional characterization of moringa oleifera protein from leaf extract and pulp and its effect on an emulsion model system (2019-2021)

Yaara Cattan MSc
 

Accordion Title Study characterizing the scent profile and nutritional values of edible insect powders and their impact on rheology in bread as a model product (2017-2019)

Study characterizing the scent profile and nutritional values of edible insect powders and their impact on rheology in bread as a model product (2017-2019)

Matan Hever MSc
 

Accordion Title Publications

Publications

Cattan Y., Patil D., Vaknin Y., Rytwo G., Lakemond C, Benjamin O. (2022) Characterization of Moringa oleifera leaf and seed protein extract functionality in emulsion model system. Innovative Food Science and Emerging Technologies 75 (102903).

Oluwatofunmi S., Lakemond C., Benjamin O. (2022) Flavor release and stability comparison between nano and conventional emulsion as influenced by saliva. Journal of Food Science and Technology 59(11):4530-4541
 

Accordion Title Laboratory Equipment

Laboratory Equipment

The laboratory provides analytical and sensory services:
•    Electronic tongue – characterizes flavor profiles 

תמונה
Artificial tangue1
תמונה
Artificial tangue2

•    Electronic nose – characterizes scent profiles 

תמונה
electronic nose

•    Robotic mouth – characterizes impact of chewing and mouth conditions on food texture and release of scents and flavors 

תמונה
artificial mouth

•    Taste testing