Mucoadhesion and Mucins in Oral Processing: Their Role in Food Interaction, Texture, and Sensory Perception

This is a review of mucus, and its principal component, mucins, in oral processing; it examines oral processing from the viewpoint of mucins being integral functional constituents of the food after the latter's insertion into the mouth. Under this light, mucins are treated as an omni-present functional ingredient. The chemical physics of the bolus formation is examined, focused on the role of mucins in the process. The colloidal and rheological aspects of hydrocolloids–mucin systems are subsequently examined, highlighting the role of the oral glycoproteins in complex food models and complex foods. Following the physicochemical and mechanical description of the topic, mucus is examined as a determinant of a food's sensory attributes. Its role in oral sensations such as astringency is reviewed, with a special focus on phenol–mucin interactions. The effect of mucus on the perception of saltiness is then reviewed, and the ensuing strategies for structurally-based reduction of salt are considered. The review critically discusses the challenges and opportunities that emerge from the above, highlighting the role of mucins and their effect on food function.