Rising health concerns and increasing obesity levels in human society have led some consumers to cut back on animal protein consumption and switch to plant-based proteins as an alternative. Soy protein is a versatile protein supplement and contains well-balanced amino acids, making it comparable to animal protein. With sufficient processing and modification, the quality of soy protein can be improved above that of animal-derived proteins, if desired. The modern food industry is undergoing a dynamic change, with advanced processing technologies that can produce a multitude of foods and ingredients with functional properties from soy proteins, providing consumers with a wide variety of foods. This review highlights recent progress in soy protein processing technologies. Using the current literature, the processing-induced structural changes in soy protein are also explored. Furthermore, the molecular structure of soy protein, particularly the crystal structures of β-conglycinin and glycinin, is comprehensively revisited.
Keywords: molecular structure; recent processing technologies; soy protein; soybean.