Consumer demand, natural

Using raw material that meet religious requirements (halal, kosher, Buddhist-conform) and consumer demands (natural, genetically unmodified, organically grown). 

The broad variance in the amount of energy consumed as natural gas, and the diverse mixes of consumption patterns in different countries, illustrate important characteristics of energy supply and demand generally ... 

Early in the century the amount of energy output in the form of food was about equal to the commercial energy input to the crop and livestock. That was before electricity, natural gas, and petroleum products were available to the farm. Now at least 10 kcal of commercial energy is used for each kcal of food energy produced. This change has occurred as a result of mechanization, irrigation, and consumer demand for low fat foods and for precooked and prepared foods. 

Western Europe. Asia and Oceania import NG to satisfy their demands. The other regions are relatively minor producers and consumers of natural gas. 

Natural dyestuffs have not gone away, in fact there has been an upturn in then-fortunes as consumer demand has risen for natural materials to be used in the coloration of their food and drinks, in cosmetics and in the dyeing of fashion garments... 

R)- -Decalactone contributes much of the characteristic taste and aroma of peach and many other flavours. Chemically synthesised T -decalactone has been cheaply available for a long time, but the consumer demand for naturally flavoured food and beverages that arose in the mid 1980s created a strong demand for the (RJ-lf -decalactone isomer as a natural food flavour molecule. This definition of natural grade required its production by entirely enzyme-based steps. In turn this led to the development of a number of biotransformation processes to make natural f -decalactone. 

Figure 2.7. The importance of NPs in the manufacture and marketing of soft drinks has grown since western consumers have demanded natural ingredients. A recent advertisement for the drink Red Bull Cola nicely illustrates this fact.

Increasing consumers demand for organic , bio , healthy , natural High chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivities of biocatalytic systems... 

Petroleum is also versatile. It contains all the commercially important hydrocarbons, such as those that make up gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, motor oil, heating oil, tar, and even natural gas. Using fractional distillation (Section 12.1), oil refineries can convert one type of petroleum hydrocarbon to another, thereby tailoring their output to fit consumer demand. Furthermore, petroleum contains much less sulfur than does coal and so produces less sulfur dioxide when burned. So, despite its vast coal reserves, the United States has a royal thirst for petroleum, the king of fossil fuels, consuming about 20 million barrels each day. This is about 11 liters per U.S. citizen per day. 

The medical use of botanicals in their natural and unprocessed form undoubtedly began when the first intelligent animals noticed that certain food plants altered particular body functions. Much information exists about the historical use and effectiveness of botanical products. Unfortunately, the quality of this information is extremely variable. One of the most complete compendiums of clinical recommendations regarding the use of botanicals is the Report of the German Commission E (a committee that sets standards for herbal medications in that country Blumenthal, 2000). Interest in the endocrine effects and possible nutritional benefits of certain purified chemicals such as dehydroepiandrosterone. melatonin, high-dose vitamins, and minerals has led to a parallel development of consumer demand for such substances. These substances, together with the botanicals, constitute a substantial source of profits for those who exploit the concept of "alternative medicine."... 

The uncertified color additives (Institute of Food Technologists 1986) include a number of natural extracts as well as inorganic substances such as titanium dioxide. Some of these can be used only with certain restrictions (Table 6-7). The consumer demand for more natural colorants has provided an impetus for examining many natural coloring substances. These have been described in detail by Francis (1987). The possibility of using plant tissue culture for the production of natural pigments has also been considered (Ilker 1987). 

Use of plant parts (bark, leaves, seeds, etc.) and their extracts to preserve food from developing a rancid taste is a practice that has continued since prehistoric time. There is evidence that even for the industrial materials, plant-based components were used as antidrying agents to prevent oxidation and polymerization of polyunsaturated fatty acid-rich plant oils (2, 5, 48). During the past two decades, intensive research has been carried out on naturally occurring antioxidative compounds from different sources. The main drive behind this search was to reduce the use of synthetic compounds as food additives because of their potential negative health effects and as a result of consumer demand. 

A tabulation similar to Table 13.1, but listing tbe major polymers and copolymers manufactured in the United States, is shown in Table 13.2. Many of the polymers and copolymers in this table and their applications were developed during and after World War II, and most are manufactured from the higher ranked organic commodities listed in Table 13.1 by traditional thermochemical polymerization. Petroleum and natural gas are the primary raw materials. With few exceptions, the polymeric products from these feedstocks have annual values of more than 1 billion. It is evident that consumer demand for plastics and rubbers is very large and that the market for polymers and copolymers has exhibited good growth. 

Bowing to consumer demand for these products, the flavor industry is beginning to enlist the help of biotechnology to produce natural flavor and aroma compounds via fermentative routes. At this time, the production of these fermentation compounds is a largely untapped area of bioconversion research in which bioesterification has great potential as esters play a key role in flavors. 

In many countries around the world religious requirements also influence the choice of natural colour product. To match consumer demands, colonrs mnst often be accompanied by kosher or halal documentation, which can inclnde certification of both raw materials and processing. 

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