» Articles » PMID: 37428126

Brewers' Spent Grain: An Unprecedented Opportunity to Develop Sustainable Plant-Based Nutrition Ingredients Addressing Global Malnutrition Challenges

Overview
Date 2023 Jul 10
PMID 37428126
Authors
Affiliations
Soon will be listed here.
Abstract

There is an urgent requirement to minimize food waste and create more sustainable food systems that address global increases in malnutrition and hunger. The nutritional value of brewers' spent grain (BSG) makes it attractive for upcycling into value-added ingredients rich in protein and fiber having a lower environmental impact than comparable plant-based ingredients. BSG is predictably available in large quantities globally and can therefore play a role in addressing hunger in the developing world via the fortification of humanitarian food aid products. Moreover, addition of BSG-derived ingredients can improve the nutritional profile of foods commonly consumed in more developed regions, which may aid in reducing the prevalence of dietary-related disease and mortality. Challenges facing the widespread utilization of upcycled BSG ingredients include regulatory status, variability of raw material composition, and consumer perception as low-value waste products; however, the rapidly growing upcycled food market suggests increasing consumer acceptability and opportunities for significant market growth via effective new product innovation and communication strategies.

Citing Articles

Investigating variability of craft microbreweries spent grains for classification and incorporation into precision diet formulation through multivariate analyses.

Macias Franco A, Silva A, Brody T, Holton G, Rockwell M, De Paula N Heliyon. 2025; 11(2):e41606.

PMID: 40013264 PMC: 11862493. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e41606.


Intestinal Effects of Brewers' Spent Grain Extract In Ovo ()-A Pilot Study.

Huang M, Smieska L, Tako E Animals (Basel). 2025; 15(3).

PMID: 39943073 PMC: 11816252. DOI: 10.3390/ani15030303.


Brewers' Spent Grain-Derived Arabinoxylan as a Sustainable Filler for Enhanced PHBV Biocomposites.

Belardi I, Sarasini F, Tirillo J, Russo P, De Francesco G, Marconi O Polymers (Basel). 2025; 17(1.

PMID: 39795517 PMC: 11723018. DOI: 10.3390/polym17010114.


From Beer to Cheese: Characterization of Caseinolytic and Milk-Clotting Activities of Proteases Derived from Brewer's Spent Grain (BSG).

Villegas M, Silva J, Tito F, Tonon C, Munoz F, Pepe A Foods. 2024; 13(22).

PMID: 39594073 PMC: 11593970. DOI: 10.3390/foods13223658.


Consumer Willingness to Pay for Food Products Enriched with Brewers' Spent Grain: A Discrete Choice Experiment.

Varghese C, Arcia P, Curutchet A Foods. 2024; 13(22).

PMID: 39594006 PMC: 11592991. DOI: 10.3390/foods13223590.


References
1.
Wu I, Chang H, Hsu C, Chiu Y, Yu S, Tsai Y . Association between dietary fiber intake and physical performance in older adults: a nationwide study in Taiwan. PLoS One. 2013; 8(11):e80209. PMC: 3823869. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080209. View

2.
Cuomo F, Trivisonno M, Iacovino S, Messia M, Marconi E . Sustainable Re-Use of Brewer's Spent Grain for the Production of High Protein and Fibre Pasta. Foods. 2022; 11(5). PMC: 8909400. DOI: 10.3390/foods11050642. View

3.
Schabo D, Freire L, SantAna A, Schaffner D, Magnani M . Mycotoxins in artisanal beers: An overview of relevant aspects of the raw material, manufacturing steps and regulatory issues involved. Food Res Int. 2021; 141:110114. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110114. View

4.
Walsh K, Delamare de la Villenaise de Chenevarin G, McGurk J, Maitland K, Frost G . Development of a legume-enriched feed for treatment of severe acute malnutrition. Wellcome Open Res. 2023; 6():206. PMC: 9971697. DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16771.2. View

5.
Naibaho J, Butula N, Jonuzi E, Korzeniowska M, Chodaczek G, Yang B . The roles of brewers' spent grain derivatives in coconut-based yogurt-alternatives: Microstructural characteristic and the evaluation of physico-chemical properties during the storage. Curr Res Food Sci. 2022; 5:1195-1204. PMC: 9382424. DOI: 10.1016/j.crfs.2022.07.011. View