Initial state of gap

The kinetics of vitamin losses through processing and storage of the space food items and the amount of remaining nutrition at the end of five years is unknown.  The effect of ingredient interactions and food matrices on nutrient stability in the food system is also unknown. 

Target for gap closure

• Nutrient content of 109 foods in our current food system through three years of storage (thermal/processing damage, storage degradation, freezer damage) and quantified deficiencies over time based on NASA STD 3001 Vol  2 Sec 7.1.1.5 and 7.1.1.6.
• Kinetics and mechanism of degradation of nutrients that are found to be deficient in the food system. 
• Bioavailability of nutrients.
• Results shall enable predictions to be made for newly developed foods and feed into AFT4 to inform potential for extension of food shelf life.

 
Interim Steps

1. Quantify nutritional losses of 109 current NASA food items due to processing and storage (food specific – ingredient interactions and food matrices must be considered) to determine current state and shelf life extension required.
2. List nutrients deficient in the food system for which kinetics of degradation must be determined.
3. Review existing literature of known nutrient kinetics under different processing and storage conditions (food specific – ingredient interactions and food matrices must be considered) to determine additional data needed and identify all possible technologies and methodologies to increase shelf life and provide a safe, nutritious, and palatable food system for all mission DRMS.
4. Quantify kinetics of degradation for critical nutrients in NASA food items (food specific – ingredient interactions and food matrices must be considered.
5. Review existing literature of bioavailability of vitamins and minerals, given ingredient interactions.
6. Methodology to accurately predict nutrition of new food items under current NASA processing and storage conditions.

 
Research Approach

• Measurement of nutrients in current food system.
• Data mining of current literature on nutrient kinetics, factors influencing shelf life, and fortification methods.
• NRA solicitation for nutrient kinetics.