Benders'dictionary of nutrition and food technology

450indefinitely, since they are protected from recontamination in thecan, and also from chemical and enzymic deterioration.sterilisation, cold Applied to preservation with sulphur dioxideor by irradiation, high pressure, ultrasonication orelectroporation.sterilisation, radiation See irradiation.sterility, commercial In heat sterilisation, used to indicate thatsubstantially all micro-organisms and spores which, if present,would be capable of growing in the food under defined storageconditions, have been inactivated.steroids Chemically, compounds that contain the cyclopentenophenanthrenering system.All the biologically important steroidsare derived metabolically from cholesterol; they includevitamin d (chemically a secosteroid rather than a steroid), andhormones including the sex hormones (androgens, oestrogensand progesterone) and the hormones of the adrenalcortex.See also phytosterols; sitosterol; stanols.stevia leaves Leaves of the Paraguayan shrub, Stevia rebaudiana,the source of stevioside and rebaudioside,also known as yerbadulce.stevioside Naturally occurring glucoside of steviol, a steroidderivative, which is 300 times as sweet as sucrose. Isolated fromleaves of the Paraguayan shrub, yerba dulce (Stevia rebaudiana),the same source as rebaudioside.Stevix TM Mixture of the sweet glycosides extracted from stevialeaves.stickwater The aqueous fraction from pressing cooked fish in themanufacture of fish meal. Contains amino acids, vitamins andminerals, and is either added to animal feed or mixed back withthe fish meal and dried. Also known as fish solubles.stilboestrol (stilbestrol) Dihydroxystilbene, a synthetic compoundwith potent oestrogenic activity; the first non-steroidaloestrogen synthesised (1938). Formerly widely used both clinicallyand for chemical caponisation of cockerels (see capon) andto stimulate the growth of cattle.Stilton Semi-hard, creamy white or blue-veined English cheesemade only in a very restricted area of the Vale of Belvoir inLeicestershire, UK, but named after the village of Stilton, Huntingdonshire.Matured 3–4 months; for production of blue Stiltonthe cheese is pricked with stainless steel wires during ripening toencourage growth of the mould Penicillium roquefortii.stiparogenic Foods that tend to cause constipation.stiparolytic Foods that tend to prevent or relieve constipation.stirabout Irish name for porridge.