Contents
01.12.2016.
Professional paper
Influences of physicochemical stresses on injury and inactivation behaviour of Listeria innocua
Many minimally processed foods depend on a combination of inhibitory factors to reduce the hazard of foodborne illness. Therefore, inactivation of Listeria innocua was studied according to a 24 factorial experiment designed to draw conclusions about temperature (52.5 °C and 65.0 °C), pH (4.5 and 7.5), water activity (aw=0.95 and 0.99) and solute type (NaCl and glycerol) effects. Three different recovery media were used to assess injured cells. Survival data were fitted with a Gompertz-based model and kinetic parameters (shoulder, maximum inactivation rate – kmax, and tail) were estimated. Results showed that shoulder was affected by temperature, pH and combined effects; kmax was influenced by all factors and their combinations; and tail was affected by aw, temperature and aw/pH combination. Results demonstrated the potential occurrence of microbial cross-protection survival techniques between the various stresses, e.g. heat and osmolarity. Indeed, this work clearly established that, to avoid hazards, Listeria inactivation must be evaluated with a maximum of environmental factors that undergo alterations. Only thus, appropriate food preservation treatments can be developed and consequently, the safety of food products can be assured.
Fátima A. Miller, Bárbara Ramos, Maria M. Gil, Teresa R.S. Brandão, Paula Teixeira, Cristina L.M. Silva
01.12.2013.
Professional paper
Stability of cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum) nectar during storage
A shelf-life study on cupuaçu nectar (Theobroma grandiflorum) was carried out in two parts. Part I studied the microbial stability of the regular nectar (batch R) and the same nectar fortified with synthetic ascorbic acid (AA) (batch F), pasteurized at 90 °C for 3 min and hot filled in glass bottles. Total Plate Count (TPC), yeast and molds as well as pH, total soluble solids (TTS), titratable acidity and hidroxymethylfurfural (HMF) were followed along 43 storage days at 4, 25 and 35 °C. At the end of the storage period neither TPC nor molds or yeast had recovered the initial loads observed before pasteurization, for both R and F batches. Right after pasteurization, acidity increased slightly, pH decreased from 3.52 to 3.3, and TSS increased from 18.7 to 19.0 °Brix, with all stabilizing afterwards.Part II evaluated ascorbic (AA) and dehydroascorbic (DHAA) acids’ stabilization in the two batches, R and F, and dissolved oxygen (DO) was monitored. Both batches were stored at the same temperatures as in Part I for two months. For batch R, the AA degradation results followed a reversible first order reaction (EaAA(R)=-34±6 kJ/mol, kAA(R)25°C=0.006±0.003 days-1, C0AA(R)=0.92±0.01 and C∞AA(R)= 0.43±0.19). For the (F) nectar, the experimental data fitted a first order model well (EaAA(F)=30±17 kJ/mol, kAA(F)25°C =0.0016±0.0004 days-1). DO was modeled as a fractional conversion model (EaDO= 67±17 kJ/mol, kDO25°C= 1.94±0.94 days-1, C0DO=0.97±0.03 and C∞DO= 0.55±0.01). For both nectars, storage at environmental temperatures was preferred (AA retention above 80%) to refrigeration, due to the slower rate of diffusion of DO at lower temperatures.
Margarida Cortez Vieira, Cristina L.M. Silva
01.12.2013.
Professional paper
Effect of pre-treatments on solar drying kinetics of red seedless grapes (cv. Monukka)
Two different pre-treatments were applied to grapes prior to drying in a mixed mode solar dryer. Grapes were blanched in water and in a 0.1% sunflower oil water emulsion, both at 99oC and for approximately 15 seconds. Several models were tested to fit the experimental data of drying curves but the normalized Newton model gave the best fit results. Samples blanched in hot water or in the 0.1% edible oil emulsion had faster drying rates than untreated samples. Contrary to what was expected, pre-treating with the 0.1% edible oil emulsion did not increase the drying rate to a higher extent than blanching. Pre-treatments did not give a noteworthy difference in the total drying time. However, they had an important role in accelerating initial drying rates, thus preventing moulds and bacterial growth and consequently increasing farmers’ income.
Inês Nunes Ramos, Teresa R.S. Brandão, Cristina L.M. Silva
