During her studies, Ida Schwartz Roland investigated the protein quality and storage stability of plant-based drinks. Plant-based drinks are subject to ultra-high temperature (UHT) treatment and other relatively harsh processing steps during manufacturing. These steps can influence the chemical and physical stability of plant-based drinks and the derived modifications may continue developing during storage. This thesis aimed to explore commercially available plant-based drinks made from oat, almond, pea, soy, barley, hemp, and rice in relation to the interplay between protein composition and content, particle size, and level of processing-induced markers. The findings sheds light on some of the physical and chemical properties of plant-based drinks and how they change during their storage period, especially focusing on the content and development of processing-induced chemical changes.

The PhD degree was completed at the Department of Food Science, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Friday 28 June 2024 at 10:00

Place:  Building 5910, room 214, Department of Food Science, Agro Food Park 48, 8200 Aarhus N

Title of PhD thesis: Protein quality and nutritional value in plant-based drinks

Contact information: Ida Roland, email: isr@food.au.dk, tel.: +45 28740612

Members of assessment committee:

Professor Seamus O’Mahony, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, Ireland

Professor Poul Erik Jensen, Department of Food Science, Copenhagen University, Denmark

Professor Carl-Otto Ottosen (chair), Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Denmark

Main supervisor:

Professor Lotte Bach Larsen, Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Denmark

Co-supervisors:

Associate Professor Nina Aagaard Poulsen, Department of Food Science, Aarhus University

Scientist Søren Drud-Heydary Nielsen, Arla Foods Ingredients, Videbæk, Denmark

Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defense is public

The PhD thesis will be available for reading at the Graduate School of Science and Technology/GSST, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C.