Water Activity in Foods: Fundamentals and Applications

Dedication ix

Preface xiii

Acknowledgments xv

List of Contributors xvii

1. Introduction: Historical Highlights of Water Activity Research 3
Jorge Chirife and Anthony J. Fontana, Jr.

2. Water Activity: Fundamentals and Relationships 15
David S. Reid

3. Water Activity and Glass Transition 29
Yrjö H. Roos

4. Water Mobility in Foods 47
Shelly J. Schmidt

5. Water Activity Prediction and Moisture Sorption Isotherms 109
Theodore P. Labuza and Bilge Altunakar

6. Measurement of Water Activity, Moisture Sorption Isotherms, and Moisture Content of Foods 155
Anthony J. Fontana, Jr.

7. Moisture Effects on Food’s Chemical Stability 173
Leonard N. Bell

8. Water Activity and Physical Stability 199
Gaëlle Roudaut

9. Diffusion and Sorption Kinetics of Water in Foods 215
Theodore P. Labuza and Bilge Altunakar

10. Effects of Water Activity (aw) on Microbial Stability: As a Hurdle in Food Preservation 239
María S. Tapia, Stella M. Alzamora, and Jorge Chirife

11. Principles of Intermediate-Moisture Foods and Related Technology 273
Petros S. Taoukis and Michelle Richardson

12. Desorption Phenomena in Food Dehydration Processes 313
Gustavo V. Barbosa-Cánovas and Pablo Juliano

13. Applications of Water Activity Management in the Food Industry 341
Jorge Welti-Chanes, Emmy Pérez, José Angel Guerrero-Beltrán, Stella M. Alzamora, and Fidel Vergara-Balderas

14. Applications of Water Activity in Nonfood Systems 359
Anthony J. Fontana, Jr., and Gaylon S. Campbell

15. The Future of Water Activity in Food Processing and Preservation 373
Cynthia M. Stewart, Ken A. Buckle, and Martin B. Cole

Appendices

A Water Activity of Saturated Salt Solutions 391
Anthony J. Fontana, Jr.

B Water Activity of Unsaturated Salt Solutions at 25°C 395
Anthony J. Fontana, Jr.

C Water Activity and Isotherm Equations 399
Anthony J. Fontana, Jr.

D Minimum Water Activity Limits for Growth of Microorganisms 405
Anthony J. Fontana, Jr.

E Water Activity Values of Select Food Ingredients and Products 407
Shelly J. Schmidt and Anthony J. Fontana, Jr.

F Water Activity Values of Select Consumer and Pharmaceutical Products 421
Anthony J. Fontana, Jr., and Shelly J. Schmidt

Index 423