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Research & Reviews : Journal of Food Science & Technology Review Article

A Review on Microbial Enzymes in the Food Industry: Current Innovations and Future Prospects

  1. Rajesh Kumar Rapture Biotech International (P) Ltd., Noida
  2. Chanchal Rapture Biotech International (P) Ltd., Noida
  3. Baanipreet Kaur Rapture Biotech International (P) Ltd., Noida
  4. Ruby Deshwal Rapture Biotech International (P) Ltd., Noida
  5. Ghazal Firoz Rapture Biotech International (P) Ltd., Noida
  6. Anjali Bharti Rapture Biotech International (P) Ltd., Noida
  7. Vinod Kumar Gupta Rapture Biotech International (P) Ltd., Noida

Abstract

Over the past few decades, microbial enzymes have become indispensable biocatalysts in food production, fundamentally revolutionizing how we approach manufacturing processes while simultaneously enhancing the quality of what we produce. Today, approximately 200 of the 4,000 known enzymes are deployed commercially with proteases, amylases, lipases, and lactases leading the charge in industrial food applications. This review brings together the latest innovations in how we use microbial enzymes for food processing, while also exploring exciting possibilities for their future. These enzymes do more than just improve texture and flavor, they extend shelf life, minimize waste, and enable the creation of genuinely sustainable food products. What makes this particularly exciting is how enzyme engineering, genetic modification, and precision fermentation have opened entirely new possibilities for customizing enzyme properties to meet specific industrial needs. The global food enzymes market continues to experience remarkable growth, fueled by what consumers increasingly demand: natural processing aids, products with clean labels, and manufacturing approaches that respect environmental constraints. But the field still faces real hurdles like regulatory compliance, maintaining enzyme stability under challenging industrial conditions and the persistent challenge of production costs all remain significant obstacles. Throughout this review, we examine where microbial enzymes make the biggest impact across dairy, bakery, beverages, meat processing, and specialty food sectors, while also addressing regulatory frameworks and charting out where enzyme technology development might head next.

Keywords

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