Changes on phenolic and carotenoid composition of high intensity pulsed electric field and thermally treated fruit juice-soymilk beverages during refrigerated storage.

The effects of high intensity pulsed electric fields (HIPEF) (35kV/cm with 4µs bipolar pulses at 200Hz for 800 or 1400µs) or thermal (90°C, 60s) treatments over phenolic and carotenoid compounds of a fruit juice-soymilk (FJ-SM) beverage stored at 4°C were evaluated and compared, having the untreated beverage as a reference. Coumaric acid, narirutin and hesperidin were the most abundant phenolic compounds in the FJ-SM beverage, while the main carotenoids were lutein, zeaxanthin and ß-carotene. Immediately after HIPEF or heat processing, hesperidin content of the beverage showed a huge rise, resulting in a significant increase on the total phenolic concentration. Regarding carotenoid concentration, HIPEF or thermal treatment lead to a significant decrease; lutein, zeaxanthin and ß-cryptoxanthin being the most affected compounds. In contrast, the content of some individual phenolics and carotenoids increased with time, while others tended to decrease or remained with no significant changes with regards to their initial values. Total phenolic concentration seemed to be highly stable during storage; while, total carotenoid content gradually diminished, irrespectively of the treatment applied. Overall, the changes observed in HIPEF treated FJ-SM beverage were less than those in the heat processed one. Hence, HIPEF is a feasible technology to obtain FJ-SM beverages with extended shelf-life and a similar profile of antioxidant compounds to freshly made beverages.

Effect of natural antibrowning agents on color and related enzymes in fresh-cut Fuji apples as an alternative to the use of ascorbic acid.

Polyphenoloxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) were evaluated in fresh-cut Fuji apple slices and the effeet of the individual or combined use of ascorbic acid, 4-hexylresorcinol, N-acetylcysteine, and glutathione on their respective activities was determined. Additionally, color changes during storage at 4 degrees C were measured throughout 14 d of storage. PPO activity increased with storage time and was inhibited by the individual use of N-acetylcysteine and glutathione. POD activity in the apple slices was effectively inhibited by the combined use of ascorbic acid with any of the other antibrowning agents. On the other hand, an individual treatment with 1% N-acetylcysteine helped in maintaining the color of fresh-cut apples during 14 d of storage, whereas the use of ascorbic acid was not enough to prevent color deterioration of the apple slices from the 1st day of storage. The results obtained corroborated the effectiveness of other natural antibrowning agents over the traditional use of ascorbic acid in the control of the enzymatic browning in the fresh-cut fruit industry.

Alginate- and gellan-based edible films for probiotic coatings on fresh-cut fruits.

Alginate- (2% w/v) or gellan-based (0.5%) edible films, containing glycerol (0.6% to 2.0%), N-acetylcysteine (1%), and/or ascorbic acid (1%) and citric acid (1%), were formulated and used to coat fresh-cut apple and papaya cylinders. Water vapor permeability (WVP) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in alginate films (0.30 to 0.31 x 10(-9) g m/Pa s m2) than in the gellan ones (0.26 to 0.27 x 10(-9) g m/Pa s m2). Addition of 0.025% (w/v) sunflower oil decreased WVP of gellan films (0.20 to 0.22 x 10(-9) g m/Pa s m2). Water solubility of gellan and alginate films at 25 degrees C (0.47 to 0.59 and 0.74 to 0.79, respectively) and their swelling ratios (2.3 to 2.6 and 1.6 to 2.0, respectively) indicate their potential for coating high moisture fresh-cut fruits. Fresh-cut apple and papaya cylinders were successfully coated with 2% (w/v) alginate or gellan film-forming solutions containing viable bifidobacteria. WVP in alginate (6.31 and 5.52 x 10(-9) g m/Pa s m2) or gellan (3.65 and 4.89 x 10(-9) g m/Pa s m2) probiotic coatings of papaya and apple, respectively, were higher than in the corresponding cast films. The gellan coatings and films exhibited better water vapor properties in comparison with the alginate coatings. Values > 10(6) CFU/g B. lactis Bb-12 were maintained for 10 d during refrigerated storage of fresh-cut fruits, demonstrating the feasibility of alginate- and gellan-based edible coatings to carry and support viable probiotics on fresh-cut fruit.

Quality changes in fresh-cut Fuji apple as affected by ripeness stage, antibrowning agents, and storage atmosphere.

The effect of ripening state, modified atmosphere, and the use of antibrowning agents was investigated in an attempt to determine optimum ripeness and processing conditions for extending the shelf-life of fresh-cut Fuji apple. Apples were classified in 3 groups: mature-green, partially ripe, and ripe; after peeling and slicing, fruits were treated with 1% (w/v) N-acetylcysteine, or 1% (w/v) ascorbic acid (control), and then packed into polypropylene trays with air or a gas mixture (2.5% O2 + 7% CO2 + 90.5% N2) and sealed. Trays containing the apple slices were stored in darkness at 4 degrees C +/- 1 degree C and analyzed periodically during 43 d. Changes in atmosphere composition, color, and firmness were examined. Partially ripe apples, based on their lower ethanol production and maintenance of their original color and firmness, were the most suitable to prepare the fresh-cut commodities. A postcutting dip in 1% (w/v) N-acetylcysteine was the most effective treatment to prevent cut surface browning and preserve the initial appearance of Fuji apple slices during more than 1 mo at 4 degrees C. Low O2 and elevated CO2 (2.5% O2 + 7% CO2) atmosphere extended the shelf life of apple slices because of a significant inhibition of ethylene production.