Fermentation Microorganisms and Flavor Changes in Fermented Foods

Food fermentation processes often result in profound changes in flavor relative to the starting ingredients. However, fermenting foods are typically very complex ecosystems with active enzyme systems from the ingredient materials interacting with the metabolic activities of the fermentation organisms. Factors such as added salt, particle sizes, temperature, and oxygen levels will also have important effects on the chemistry that occurs during fermentation. This is a brief review of recent research on flavor changes in food fermentations. The emphasis will be on the role of lactic acid bacteria in changing the compounds that help determine the character of fermented foods from plant‐based substrates.