Brewer's spent grain: Unveiling innovative applications in the food and packaging industry

Abstract

Brewer's spent grain, a byproduct of beer brewing, is often discarded as waste, leading to environmental concerns. However, the growing interest in sustainability and the circular bioeconomy has prompted research into its use in food and packaging industries. The objective of this review paper is to explore recent advancements in food applications, focusing on various aspects such as processing innovations, food properties, sensory acceptability, and safety considerations. The paper highlights the role of functional bioactive compounds of BSG in food and evaluates their pharmacological activities. Additionally, it investigates the development of sustainable food-packaging materials derived from BSG, discussing their applications, challenges, and potential for eco-friendly packaging solutions. The inclusion of BSG significantly impacts the food matrix during processing, which can negatively affect the physical, rheological, and textural properties and sensory acceptability. To enhance BSGs desirability as a food ingredient, various approaches have been employed, including drying, fermentation, extrusion, and modifications using enzyme treatments, dough enhancers, and texture modifiers. BSG-derived biodegradable films and coatings demonstrate a promising potential for food-packaging applications, offering desirable properties such as sustainability and effective performance. Key challenges for adopting BSG-based solutions in food and packaging industries include limited consumer awareness, commercialization strategies, and the need for life cycle assessment and life cycle costing for successful integration and widespread adoption.