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Establishing the shelf life of minimally processed vegetables by modified atmosphere and refrigeration.

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Author(s):
Lucimeire Pilon
Total Authors: 1
Document type: Master's Dissertation
Press: Piracicaba.
Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
Defense date:
Examining board members:
Marilia Oetterer; Jose Fernando Durigan; Marta Helena Fillet Spoto
Advisor: Marilia Oetterer
Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology
Indexed in: Banco de Dados Bibliográficos da USP-DEDALUS; Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações - USP
Location: Universidade de São Paulo. Biblioteca Central da Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; ESALQ-BC/t664.8; P643e
Abstract

The postharvest losses of horticultural products justify the adoption of preservation techniques. Once these products are processed, they add value to the primary products and they become convenient to the consumer. This research had the purpose of defining the methodologies for minimal processing of carrot, green pepper and mixed salad of potato and string bean in relation to the type and intensity of adoption of the barrier techniques. In addition, it was our objective to monitor the processing, through by microbiological, sensory, physical-chemical and nutritional evaluation. The vegetables were washed in running water, peeled and cut with sharp stainless steel knives. For the sanitization they were submerged, for 15 min, in cold water (± 7ºC) with 100 mg L -1 of free chlorine at pH 7,0; next, they were centrifuged at 550-900 G, for 5 min. The product was hand packed in plastic bags BOPP/LDPE (biorientated polypropylene/low-density polyethylene). The packages were sealed under air, vacuum and modified atmosphere (2% O2, 10% CO2 and 88% N2) and stored under refrigeration at 1ºC±1ºC. The vitamin C content was not affected in any of the treatments. The values for b-carotene remained stable for carrot and mixed salad. For the green pepper, the values decreased after the first week of storage. In relation to the sensory analysis, carrot and mixed salad were considered satisfactory until 21 days of storage for all treatments; but for green pepper. In all treatments, counts for the three products ranged psychrotrophic ranging from 10 2 to 10 5 UFC g -1 , 10 1 to 10 3 UFC g -1 , 10 3 to 10 6 UFC g -1 , respectively. Anaerobic mesophiles and total coliforms were observed in minimally processed green peppers. However, the low count obtained in all treatments indicated a shelf life of 14 days. For the minimally processed carrot and mixed salad, no total or fecal coliforms, anaerobic mesophiles and Salmonella were observed in any of the treatments. (AU)