Researchers
Faculty of Food and Nutrition Sciences

Artificial intelligence for sustainable food quality in supply chains

Project status: Active I Duration 40 months I 01.09.2022 - 31.12.2025

We! innovation alliance agar-textile-food - from residual material to recyclable material to nutrient

Project status: Active I Duration 01.01.2022 - 31.12.2027

Sustainable Production of Healthy Food

Project status: Active | Duration 43 months | 01.12.2023 - 30.06.2027

"Excellent communal catering" certification concept

Over a period of more than 10 years (from mid-2014 to the beginning of 2025), the "Excellent Communal Catering" certification concept enabled all key catering areas in communal catering (in company restaurants, hospitals, retirement homes, day-care centres, all-day schools and university canteens) to be reviewed and certified. With the help of the corresponding concept, a comprehensive and holistic analysis and evaluation of the catering in the respective communal catering facility was made possible.

Numerous studies suggest that regular cocoa consumption can help prevent cardiovascular disease. For example, a meta-analysis of ten epidemiological studies found a 25% reduction in cardiovascular risk in people who regularly consumed higher amounts of cocoa products. In meta-analyses of randomised, controlled intervention studies, a reduction in blood pressure, total and LDL cholesterol, an increase in vascular elasticity and a decrease in insulin resistance were demonstrated following cocoa consumption. Different groups were examined, including type 2 diabetics. As the cardioprotective effects are attributed to the flavanols in cocoa, flavanol-rich cocoa products that are processed in a flavanol-friendly manner are of great interest from a preventive point of view. Cocoa products that contain at least 200 mg flavanols per daily portion may be advertised with the health claim "cocoa flavanols help maintain the elasticity of blood vessels, which contributes to normal blood flow" approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Results published

Dicks et al. Nutrients 2018
Original work

In Germany, around 5 million people suffer from the metabolic disease diabetes mellitus, around 90% of whom have type 2 diabetes. This diet-related, chronic disease is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. A change in diet is an important basis in the treatment of diabetes and can improve metabolic control. Certain food ingredients are said to have a positive effect, for example secondary plant substances, in particular flavanols, which are found in cocoa and dark chocolate, among other things. Some studies suggest that the consumption of cocoa rich in flavanols could reduce the rise in blood sugar levels and blood lipids after a meal, which is desirable with regard to diabetic metabolism. Of particular interest is the cocoa powder ActicoaTM from cocoa and chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut, as one daily serving (2.5 g) provides more than 200 mg of flavanols - significantly more than most commercially available cocoas. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) considered it proven that this amount of cocoa flavanols helps to maintain the elasticity of blood vessels and thus contributes to normal blood flow.

Results published

Rynarzewski et al. 2019
Original work

Regular cocoa consumption can reduce the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease and therefore have a positive effect on health. The effects of cocoa are probably due to the high proportion of secondary plant substances and are attributed in particular to flavanols. These include epicatechin, which is better absorbed by the body than other flavanols. Whether epicatechin is responsible for the protective effects of cocoa products is still unknown. The EpiProtect research project aims to find out whether the income of epicatechin in nutritive amounts can lower blood pressure, favourably influence fat and carbohydrate metabolism and protect against LDL oxidation.

Results published

Kirch et al. Am J Clin Nutr 2018
Original work

Being able to handle money competently has become an important key qualification for a successful lifestyle. Preventative programmes have so far been aimed primarily at children, young people and young professionals. Parents and families are rarely addressed directly and, as previous experience has shown time and again, are difficult to reach as a new target group.

With their new structure, family centres create promising low-threshold access for families in the social area. In addition to childcare, they offer families a wide range of counselling and educational services. They also cooperate with external partners. The project uses this access route to explore the opportunities for advice and education on the topic of financial literacy in family centres.

Details of the research work

"SiLKe - Safe food chain through the application of blockchain technology" deals with the development of a blockchain solution that can enable complete transparency for supply chains across all product groups.

Project status: Completed
Processing period: 01/06/2019 - 30/08/2022