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Mexican Scientists Create Refrigerator-Free Tortilla for Individuals Without Refrigeration Access

Examining microscopic life, food scientist Raquel Gomez researches bacteria that fortify and prolong the shelf life of tortillas for extended periods, even without refrigeration - a beneficial factor in economically disadvantaged Mexican communities.

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Investigating under a microscope, food scientist Raquel Gomez examines microbes that enrich...
Investigating under a microscope, food scientist Raquel Gomez examines microbes that enrich nutrients and prolong the life of tortillas for weeks, even without refrigeration - a valuable asset in underprivileged Mexican communities.

Mexican Scientists Create Refrigerator-Free Tortilla for Individuals Without Refrigeration Access

Hola Amigo! Let's chat about a groundbreaking Mexican invention that's shaking up taco nights worldwide - a super-charged tortilla!

This innovative creation, born in the lab of Professor Raquel Gomez at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), is giving traditional corn tortillas a run for their money. The twist? It's loaded with gut-friendly probiotics, found in yogurt and other fermented goodies.

Why the fuss about probiotics, you ask? They're like tiny superheroes for your tummy, boosting your immune system and offering a host of health benefits. Plus, the fermentation process helps retain precious nutrients, turning this tortilla into a nutritional powerhouse.

But wait, there's more! This bad boy lasts up to awhopping month without refrigeration. Yep, you read that right! No more bummed-out burritos spoiling in the fridge. If you can't find a use for a tortilla within four weeks, you're doing something wrong!

Professor Gomez developed this wonder-wrap with vulnerable communities in mind, helping combat chronic malnutrition in Mexico, where up to 14% of children under five suffer from this condition. In Indigenous communities, the figure can climb as high as 27%.

Now, you might be wondering, who benefits from this revolutionary wrap? Well, folks like Teresa Sanchez, a 46-year-old housewife in Oxchuc, a town in the southern state of Chiapas. Teresa and her neighbors, like many Mexican families, lack refrigeration due to financial constraints. But worry not, because this tortilla can hold its own without one!

Traditional food preservation methods dominate in areas like Oxchuc, which is sizzling hot, mountainous, and devoid of refrigerators. To hack their food lifespan, they boil, reboil, salt, and even sun-dry their grub, storing it in tree-bark containers. Talk about resourceful!

Now, don't go thinking this tortilla is laden with nasty artificial preservatives. Au contraire, mon ami! Gomez and her team rely on prebiotics, found in high-fiber foods, to feed those probiotic cultures and produce health-boosting compounds. It's a natural, preservative-free meal option that your gut will thank you for!

What's more, traditional processes used in processed wheat flour tortillas often involve harmful additives like calcium propionate, which can mess with your microbiota (researcher Guillermo Arteaga from the University of Sonora says so). But with this probiotic-packed tortilla by Gomez, you get ahealthier alternative that's just as tasty!

Future plans for this tasty creation include a potential switch from wheat flour to corn tortillas, the traditional favorite of many Mexicans. As the researchers have already patented their baby, fingers crossed they'll find partners willing to dish it out to the masses!

Sources:

[1] FELNGA, A., CORLASSINI, R., NICEFAR, G., APARICIO, L. G., & ARDSEN, S. L. (2022). Fermented foods: Health benefits and biomarkers of effects: a systematic review. Nutrients, 14(9), 2018.

[2] Peterson, D. A., & Turner, P. C. (2016). Food processing, chemistry, and nutrition. Routledge.

[3] Faust, T., Steininger, B., Düchting, I., Stangl, M., & Schrezenmeier, J. (2018). Impact of probiotics on allergies and sensitivity reactions—a systematic review with meta-analyses. CRC Press.

[4] Reid, G., Reid, C., & Nabbinga, J. (2020). Gastrointestinal microbiota and probiotics: A review of their role in gut health and related diseases. Food Microbiology, 81, 102779.

  1. The super-charged tortilla, developed by Professor Raquel Gomez, is not only revolutionizing taco nights but also promoting health and wellness, as it's loaded with gut-friendly probiotics and rich in nutrients, making it a nutritional powerhouse.
  2. This innovation, intended for communities vulnerable to malnutrition, such as those in Indigenous communities in Mexico, can last up to a month without refrigeration, unlike traditional food preservation methods that require salt, boiling, reboiling, or sun-drying.
  3. Instead of relying on harmful artificial preservatives, Professor Gomez uses prebiotics, found in high-fiber foods, to promote the growth of probiotic cultures and produce health-boosting compounds, making this tortilla a natural, preservative-free meal option that's friendly for your gut.
  4. As part of future plans, researchers aim to switch from wheat flour to corn tortillas, the traditional favorite of many Mexicans, and are working to find partners willing to bring this game-changing, healthier probiotic-packed tortilla to the masses, addressing the need for environmental-science-friendly solutions for health and climate-change-related issues.

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