Evaluation of the Efficacy of Antioxidant Extract from Lemon By-Products on Preservation of Quality Attributes of Minimally Processed Radish (Raphanus sativus L.).

The aim of this work was to enhance the use of a food-grade antioxidant extract obtained from lemon processing byproducts (peel, pulp and seeds) to extend the shelf life of minimally processed radishes. The extract (LPE) was previously characterized in terms of total phenolic (6.75 ± 0.34 mg GAE g-1 d.w.) and flavonoid content (2.04 ± 0.09 mg CE g-1 d.w.) and antioxidant activity, and eriocitrin and hesperidin were identified as the most prevalent phenolic compounds by a UHPLC system. The effects of different dipping aqueous solutions (UCR, DRa, DRb) and alginate-based edible coating formulations (CRc, CRd) with and without the antioxidant extract were studied on the quality parameters of minimally processed radishes, characterized regarding their microbiological and physicochemical characteristics for up to 14 days at 3 °C. The coating formulated with LPE delayed the radish respiration process, as well as resulting in less color variation (ΔE < 3) and reduced mesophilic aerobic count values (4.49 ± 1.43 log CFU g-1), proving the effectiveness of LPE as a value-added ingredient in developing post-harvest strategies to prolong the shelf life of minimally processed vegetables. Indeed, coated samples without the extract showed a clear development of rotting, which led to the end of their shelf life on their 7th day of storage.

Effect of Oil Type Used in Neapolitan Pizza TSG Topping on Its Physical, Chemical, and Sensory Properties.

BACKGROUND: According to the regulations of the Neapolitan Pizza TSG, extra virgin olive oil must be exclusively used as topping ingredient, together with tomato for pizza marinara-type production. As, often deliberately, other oils are replaced by pizza makers for economical and organoleptic purposes, the present study was conducted to analyze the quality of pizza depending on the oil typology used. METHODS: Chemical and sensory analyses were performed on olive oils and on pizza topping mix samples after cooking to detect changes due to the applied cooking processing. RESULTS: The results revealed the best quality of a monovarietal olive oil (Ottobratica cv.) for their peculiar phenolic content related to the best oxidation stability after pizza's cooking, expressed as bioactive amounts and lower presence of undesired volatile compounds. CONCLUSIONS: The use of an extra virgin monovarietal olive oil, such as Ottobratica cv., in the topping of pizza is preferable to other oils, also EVOO, because of its higher quality, which is reflected in greater health and pleasant characteristics from a sensorial point of view.

Shelf life extension of mozzarella cheese packed in preserving liquid with calcium lactate and bergamot juice concentrate.

Traditional Mozzarella is a fresh cheese produced in Italian local market without additives that shows a short shelf life of about 5 d. This work tested the use of natural additives (bergamot juice concentrate-BJ and calcium lactate-CL) in preserving liquid for a Mozzarella cheese with the aim to extend its shelf life, regarding the microbial growth and overall cheese quality. Results of qualitative analyses showed that the preserving liquid with the mix of BJ and CL promoted an extension of mozzarella shelf life up to 20 d. A slightly reduced growth of Pseudomonas species was evidenced after 5 d of storage, whereas no inhibition of lactic acid bacteria was observed for the storage period. Moreover, mozzarella cheese packed in mixed preserving liquid possessed better textural properties, evidenced by the lowest proteolysis index measured after 13 d of storage, and a good antioxidant activity.

Evaluation of different salted governing liquids on shelf life extension of lacto-fermented mozzarella cheese.

The effect of different governing liquids on qualitative parameters of lacto-fermented mozzarella cheeses were studied. 0.6% calcium lactate solution maintained the quality of mozzarella cheese for microbial, color and textural properties and prolonged its shelf life up to 18 days, also improving its antioxidant activity by Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity and Oxygen radical absorbance capacity assays.

Metabolites response to onion yellow dwarf virus (OYDV) infection in 'Rossa di Tropea' onion during storage: a 1 H HR-MAS NMR study.

BACKGROUND: Plant viral infections induce changes in metabolic components in the host plant, with potential effects on compositional, organoleptic and storability features of agricultural products. Identification of modulated metabolites may provide clues concerning pathways implementing responses in plant-pathogen interactions. A time course study of metabolic fingerprinting of onion yellow dwarf virus (OYDV)-infected versus healthy 'Rossa di Tropea' onion bulbs was performed using proton high-resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (1 H HR-MAS NMR) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC), providing an overview of the metabolic state of the bulb in response to OYDV infection during storage. RESULTS: Metabolites accumulated/depleted upon infection were identified, belonging to flavonoid, saccharide, amino acid and organic acid classes. A decrease in quercetin glucosides content and antioxidant activity was observed in infected bulbs; some amino acids (Arg, Asn, Phe, Val) accumulated, while others were depleted (Leu); for some metabolites, a bimodal time-course was observed during storage (Glc, Lys). Virus interference on metabolic pathways, and the effects of the metabolic shift on edible product storability, organoleptic and nutritional quality were discussed. CONCLUSIONS: OYDV infection induces a metabolic shift in 'Rossa di Tropea' onion during bulb storage, involving several pathways and affecting storability and organoleptic and nutritional quality of bulbs at marketable stage. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Physico-chemical and microbiological quality of ready-to-eat rocket (Eruca vesicaria (L.) Cav.) treated with organic acids during storage in dark and light conditions.

The effect of alternative dipping solutions to chlorinated water was studied on qualitative parameters of ready-to-eat rocket: sanitised tap water, 1% of citric acid solution and a mixture of citric and ascorbic acids solution. After packaging in normal atmosphere, a monitoring of total bacterial count and physico-chemical parameters was carried out to 14 storage days in dark and light storage conditions. The dark exposure of the rocket leaves contributed to preserve a lower microbiological growth and the green color: light presence highly influenced total bacterial count and Hue angle (p < 0.01). Treatments with acids can be recommended to preserve antioxidant compounds and color leaves: this factor also influenced other studied parameters as acidity, total bacterial count, and antioxidant activity (p < 0.01). The studied alternative dipping solutions and the storage in darkness involved a better quality of rocket up to 14 days of shelf life respect the commercial shelf life of 7 days.

Quality of shredded carrots minimally processed by different dipping solutions.

The whiteness of shredded carrots is generally caused by enzymatic reactions after removal of natural protection during the minimal processing. Moreover, the use of chlorinated solution in sanitizing step of processing, promotes the formation of halogenated by-products, with correlated environmental and health risks in processing areas. This study investigated the effect of different acidic solutions on the quality of shredded carrots during the storage at two refrigerated temperatures (4 °C and 7 °C), as alternative agents to chlorine in food industry. Carrots dipped in 1.5% citric acid solution did not present colour variation at both storage temperatures. Moreover they showed the lowest microbial charge after processing and during storage at 4 °C. Carrots dipped in 0.5% citric acid + 0.05% ascorbic acid + 0.05% calcium chloride evidenced lower PAL and POD activities during the storage respect to the other tested samples. Therefore, the dipping of shredded carrots in acidic solutions, as alternative sanitizers to chlorine, contributed to preserve their quality, also controlling the whiteness index of carrots' surface. In particular, the dipping in 1.5% citric acid extended the shelf life of shredded carrots up to 14 days of storage at 4 °C.

Data on some qualitative parameters of Carolea olive oils obtained in different areas of Calabria (Southern Italy).

This data article contains complementary results related to the paper "Characterization of monovarietal olive oils obtained from mills of Calabria region (Southern Italy)" (Piscopo et al., 2016) [1]. Data was obtained by capillary-column gas chromatography, analyzing sterols and triterpene dialcohols and ethyl esters in the composition of Carolea olive oils. They were produced in different areas of Calabria region (Southern Italy), named: the Sibari׳s plateau (SP), the Valley of Sant׳ Eufemia (VSE), the Tyrrhenian southern area (TSA), the Ionian southern coast (ISC) and the Ionian area of Catanzaro (IAC). Specifically the characterized samples were 24 in the SP; 43 in the VSE; 15 in the TSA; 30 in the ISC, and 34 in the IAC, for a total amount of 146 olive oils. The differences in some compositional characteristics denoted the effect of the environmental and could be considered to improve the local productions. The compilation of this data provides a resource for the wider research community and the interpretation of this data could be found in the research article noted above.

Characterization of monovarietal olive oils obtained from mills of Calabria region (Southern Italy).

The qualitative characteristics of four monovarietal olive oils produced in Calabria region (Southern Italy) were evaluated. The aim of this work was to evidence the differences on chemical parameters due to variety and to growing environment. Results demonstrated a large variability in qualitative indexes according to the variety. Most of the Grossa di Gerace oils sampled in Ionian Southern coast revealed a high total acidity (percentage upper 0.8% of oleic acid). Fatty acid composition showed some varietal characters: in Grossa di Gerace oils possessed a low content of oleic acid and many Carolea oils showed a heptadecenoic acid level higher than 0.3% as European Rules requires for the extra virgin olive oil category. Carolea cultivar is widely grown in different sites of Calabria and so it is influenced by the different climatic conditions: the obtained oils strongly differed according to the production area.

Qualitative variations on Calabrian Provola cheeses stored under different packaging conditions.

Calabrian Provola cheese, an Italian typical dairy product, is commonly sold unwrapped with an expiry date of 45 d. The influence of different packagings and subsequent storage at 4 and 7 °C on maintaining cheese quality and prolonging its shelf life was evaluated. The following packaging systems were used: Polyamide/Polyethylene pouch under vacuum; Polyethylene/Polyethylene terephthalate lid over a Polyethylene/Ethylene vinyl alcohol/Polyvinyl Chloride + Polyvinyl alcohol thermoformed tray; Polyethylene/Ethylene vinyl alcohol/Polyamide/Polyethylene pouch. Concerning the two last systems, cheeses were packaged in a modified atmosphere (70:30 N2:CO2). All studied packaging prolonged Calabrian Provola cheese shelf life to 65 d. In particular, the packaging in modified atmosphere with Polyethylene/Ethylene vinyl alcohol/Polyamide/Polyethylene pouch preserved Provola cheeses best, not only showing a decrease of the original total microbial count but also showing the lowest peroxide value and hardness at both temperatures of storage. The results of this study will help local Italian firms to expand their business in more distant markets.