Recent Developments in Microencapsulation of Food Ingredients

ABSTRACT Microencapsulation involves the incorporation of food ingredients, enzymes, cells, or other materials in small capsules. Microcapsules offer food processors a means with which to protect sensitive food components, ensure against nutritional loss, utilize otherwise sensitive ingredients, incorporate unusual or time-release mechanisms into the formulation, mask or preserve flavors and aromas, and transform liquids into easily handled solid ingredients. Various techniques are employed to form microcapsules, including spray drying, spray chilling or spray cooling, extrusion coating, fluidized-bed coating, liposome entrapment, coacervation, inclusion complexation, centrifugal extrusion, and rotational…