1. Introduction
Food processing may affect the digestibility of protein and cause
changes in the nutritional value of the protein. The uptake of
sufficient protein by the body is essential to ensure good physical
and mental health. In order to be absorbed by the digestive system,
the protein needs to meet certain physicochemical parameters. First,
our current understanding suggests that it is necessary for protein to
be mostly digested or hydrolysed into single amino acids, di- and
tripeptides in order to be absorbed by the body; however, up to 10%
of undigested protein may be absorbed by the small intestine
(Reitsma et al., 2014; Gilbert et al., 2008). Secondly, peptides and
amino acids generally need to be unmodified for unhindered
absorption in the intestine and for the subsequent utilisation as
protein and peptide building blocks. During food processing the
physicochemical changes to the protein environment may result in
an altered nutritional value of the protein. In an ever-expanding food
landscape there is a need for a replicable and fast method to
accurately evaluate protein quality in food materials after proces-
sing. Additionally, a greater understanding is required of how and
when protein modifications occur during commercial and domestic
processes (Friedman, 2003; Rutherfurd and Moughan, 2012).