Q. Explain Spoilage of Cereals and Cereal Products?
Cereals are the main source of energy to human beings. There are several varieties of cereals, of which wheat and rice are the major crops and staple food for the majority of people in India. In the preparation of different snacks and other varieties of foods, the cereals are the major ingredients. The cereal products, especially wheat,are extensively used in the food preparations like chapati, bread and other bakeryproducts. Cereals, cereal' flour etc., are generally stable due to their low water activity (aw), hence, are considered as semi-perishable foods. You may recall reading they are stored in humid conditions or the product prepared contains high moisture. yeasts and bacteria as the moisture percentage increases. Occasionally, unseasonal rains occur at the time of harvest and standing of harvested grains' of wheat, maize and sorghum are infected by moulds like Aspergillus and Fusariurn