Book excerpt: Fermented foods play a major role in human nutrition and health, given the addition of flavor, improvement of texture, preservation against spoilage, and ease of digestion due to the fermentation process. This book provides information about the chemistry and bioactive compounds of African fermented food products, including their nutritional value and minor constituents. Chapters cover a wide range of topics, from the microorganisms involved in spontaneous fermentation to food safety considerations and quality assessment. The text can be used as a practical manual to better understand the nutritional and medicinal uses of various African fermented foods, as well as prepare recipes and product labels.