Chemical Modification of Soy Proteins

This selective review, which deals primarily with the chemical modification of soy proteins, is further limited to nondestructive chemical reactions which alter physical and biochemical properties of importance in food systems. Soy protein products have been modified by various chemical reactions including: (a) treatment with alkalies and acids, (b) acylation, (c) alkylation and esterification, and (d) oxidation and reduction. In most instances these reactions have been applied to heterogeneous protein mixtures containing nonprotein impurities, and often to proteins of unknown prior history. Nonetheless, these reactions indicate that protein functional properties of value in food fabrication can be altered significantly through reaction with chemical reagents. It is recognized that chemically modified proteins must be critically evaluated for food safety.