Plant Proteins: Applications, Biological Effects, and Chemistry Downloaded from pubs.acs.org by 146.185.201.107 on 12/08/18. For personal use only.
PREFACE C J R O W I N G W O R L D P O P U L A T I O N S , different degrees of income, religious beliefs, and health concerns have contributed to the increased interest in research on novel sources of protein from seeds, plants, and single-cell organisms. Such research has given rise to changes in consumption patterns and nutritional value of new protein food products. In addition, it has led to concern over the effects of potential antinutrients and large quantities of vegetable protein on health. Research on these subjects has been reported in several books (cf. Chapter 1, Literature Cited), but emphasis was devoted to the major cereals, oilseeds, and legumes (e.g., corn, wheat, barley, soybeans, peanuts, rapeseed). As technology has improved, the literature reporting new achievements in research on vegetable proteins has also grown. Plans for the symposium from which this book was developed were initiated in 1982-83. The aim was to bring together specialists in three primary phases of research on plant proteins and to feature applications in both new and traditional foods, the biological effects of all-vegetable protein diets on human health, and the chemistry of some lesser known plant proteins that are important sources of food in some countries. The speakers and subjects were carefully selected to cover these three areas—the ABCs of plant proteins—and, although it was not possible to include all possible facets of these areas, the organizers sought to provide a good balance on important subjects covered very little or not at all in other symposia and books. The problem of protein malnutrition is very complex and cannot be completely covered in one book, but the chapters of this book provide up-todate balanced coverage of this important subject. This book, I hope, will fill a need for nutritionists, food scientists, and clinicians concerned about nutritional aspects of plant proteins for humans. Views and conclusions expressed herein are those of the authors, whom 1 sincerely thank for their time and effort in presenting their research at the symposium and in preparing their manuscripts for publication in this book. ROBERT L . ORY
U.S. Department of Agriculture New Orleans, LA 70179 December 10, 1985
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