Radiation preservation of foods of plant origin. Part IV. Subtropical fruits: citrus, grapes, and avocados

Current information on the use of ionizing radiation for improving the storage of subtropical fruits like citrus, grapes, and avocados is reviewed. The feasibility of applying radiation either alone or in combination with other physical or chemical treatments for the control of postharvest fungal diseases is considered. Irradiation effects on the physiology of the fruits as related to respiration, ethylene evolution, changes in major chemical constituents, and quality are discussed. The recent trends in the possible use of irradiation as an alternative treatment to chemical fumigants for disinfestation of citrus and avocados and the prospects for the future application of irradiation for preservation of some of these fruits are outlined.     

Radiation preservation of foods of plant origin. Part VI. Mushrooms, tomatoes, minor fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, and nuts

In this concluding article in the series on the technological feasibility of ionizing radiation treatment for shelf life improvement of fruits and vegetables, the present status of research on several commodities that have not been dealt with earlier is discussed. The commodities include mushrooms, tomatoes, pineapples, lychees, longans, rambutans, mangostenes, guavas, sapotas, loquats, ber, soursops, passion fruits, persimmons, figs, melons, cucumbers, aubergines, globe artichokes, endives, lettuce, ginger, carrots, beet roots, turnips, olives, dates, chestnuts, almonds, pistachios, and other dried fruits and nuts. Changes induced by irradiation on metabolism, chemical constituents, and organoleptic qualities are considered while evaluating the shelf life. The commodities have been grouped into those showing potential benefits and those not showing any clear advantages from radiation treatment. Shelf life improvement of mushrooms and insect disinfestation in dried fruits, nuts, and certain fresh fruits appears to have immediate potential for commercial application.     

Radiation preservation of foods of plant origin. III. Tropical fruits: bananas, mangoes, and papayas

The current status of research on the use of ionizing radiation for shelf life improvement and disinfestation of fresh tropical fruits like bananas, mangoes, and papayas are reviewed. The aspects covered are influence of maturity and physiological state of the fruits on delayed ripening and tolerance to radiation; varietal responses; changes in chemical constituents, volatiles, respiration, and ethylene evolution; biochemical mechanisms of delayed ripening and browning of irradiated fruits; and organoleptic quality. The efficacy of the combination of hot water dip and radiation treatments for control of postharvest fungal diseases are considered. The immediate potential of radiation as a quarantine treatment, in place of the currently used chemical fumigants, for disinfestation of fruit flies and mango seed weevil are discussed. Future prospects for irradiation of tropical fruits are discussed in the light of experience gained from studies conducted in different countries.     

Radiation preservation of foods of plant origin. Part 2. Onions and other bulb crops

The various factors contributing to post harvest losses in onions and other bulb crops are briefly outlined in terms of the current storage methods. The present status of research on sprout inhibition by irradiation is reviewed in detail with respect to dose requirements, effect of time interval between harvest and irradiation, and the influence of environment on sprouting during storage. Biochemical mechanisms of sprout inhibition, metabolic and compositional changes (particularly sugars, anthocyanins, flavor and lachrymatory principles), and the culinary and processing qualities of irradiated onions are discussed. The future prospects for the commercial irradiation for sprout inhibition of bulb crops are considered.     

Radiation preservation of foods of plant origin. Part 1. Potatoes and other tuber crops

In Part 1 of a planned series of articles on preservation of foods of plant origin by gamma irradiation, the current state of research on the technological, nutritional, and biochemical aspects of sprout inhibition of potatoes and other tuber crops are reviewed. These include varietal responses, dose effects, time of irradiation, pre‐ and postirradiation storage, and handling requirements; postirradiation changes in carbohydrates, ascorbic acid, amino acids, and other nutrients; respiration; biochemical mechanisms involved in sprout inhibition; wound healing and microbial infection during storage; formation of wound and light‐induced glycoalkaloids and identification of irradiated potatoes. The culinary and processing qualities with particular reference to darkening of boiled and processed potatoes are discussed. The prospects of irradiation on an industrial scale as an alternative to chemical sprout inhibitors or mechanical refrigeration are considered.     

Residue retention of ethephon on stone fruits and berries. 2. Ethephon residues in currants and gooseberries]

Studies on the residual behaviour of Ethephon on black and red currants showed that the fruits contained on an average 0.39, 0.81, 2.2 and 0.64, 1.14, 1.04 p.p.m. of Ethephon, respectively, after application of 0.04, 0.06 and 0.08%. Flordimex mixture. When a concentration of 0.08% was applied to gooseberries, the fruits contained on an average 0.31 p.p.m. of Ethephon. The juice of black currants contained relatively larger residues.     

Phytate content of some foods from plant origin from Vietnam and Hungary

For the estimation of phytate-ion the iron content of FeIII-phytate complex was determined by spectrophotometry with o-phenanthroline. In most cases phytate-phosphorus was also evaluated. In different food samples iron to phosphorus ratio in phytate generally deviated significantly from the theoretical 1.20 value. Wheat flour products, maize, rice, beans, peas, lentil and soy from Vietnam and Hungary, furthermore several bakery products from Hungary and some imported soy products were analysed for phytate content. The effect of heat and fermentation on phytate content was also checked in breads and other foods. It was concluded that the processes often used in food industry, namely fermentation and thermal load, have relatively slight effect on the phytate content of plant foods. Cooking losses for phytates ranged 1-60% in cereals and legumes according to the usual kitchen technique in Vietnam.     

Nutritional value and safety of homogenized quick-frozen mixtures, prepared from dagestan grown fruits and berries

The mineral structure, the maintenance of vitamin C and phenolic substances in three-componental, homogeneous mixes from the fast freezing (-30 degrees C) fruits and berries are investigated. Experimental dates show, that the low-temperature freezing and the subsequent three- and nine-monthly storage (-18 degrees C) allow to keep in mixes quantity of the main things nutrients up to 70-80%. The developed technology of reception of fruit-berry mixes, on the basis of a principle of complementarity on the basic components of biochemical structure describing food value, can promote the decision of a problem of all-the-year-round supply of the population the rational, balanced feed.     

Citrus fruits. Part II. Chemistry, technology, and quality evaluation. B. Technology

In Part II of this review on citrus fruits, the literature on chemistry, technology, and quality evaluation are critically considered. Sweet oranges, mandarin, grapefruit, lemon, and lime are generally used for processing. The literature on chemical components of citrus fruit which include sugars, polysaccharides, organic acids, nitrogenous constituents and lipids; carotenoids which contribute to color; vitamins and minerals and flavonoids; limonoids, some of which impart bitterness to the juice; and the volatile components which contribute to aroma were reviewed in section A. Chilled and pasteurized juices, juice concentrates, and beverages are the important products manufactured commercially, and to a limited extent powdered citrus juices, canned segments, and marmalades. The literature on the manufacture of these products also as new types of juice and oil extractors; TASTE and other types of evaporators; tank farms to store juice and concentrate in bulk; aseptic filling in bulk containers and retail packs; alternate flexible and rigid containers other than glass and tin; and recovery of volatile flavoring constituents during juice processing are some of the important technological developments in the recent past and have been discussed in this section. Bitterness in citrus juices and its control, composition of cloud, and its stability and changes during storage have been reviewed. Essential oils, pectin, frozen and dried juice sacs, dried pulp and molasses, flavonoids, seed oil, and meal are the important byproducts, the manufacture of which is given in essential details. Generally, consumers judge the product on the basis of its sensory attributes. The quality of finished product is dependent upon the raw materials used and control of processes. In section C, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards for different products, physicochemical and microbiological parameters prescribed as indices of quality of fruit, juice, concentrate, and other products; composition of essential oils; and aroma concentrates are discussed in relation to sensory quality. Analytical methods for compounds affecting quality, and methods for detection of adulteration in different citrus products are briefly reviewed. The importance of sensorily evaluating quality of citrus products to select and develop quality control indices is emphasized. Areas where further research are required are indicated. A comprehensive bibliography is provided to aid further study and research.     

Determination of total mercury in foods of plant origin in Poland by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry.

Total mercury concentrations were determined in 573 samples of agricultural crops and foods of plant origin which included cereals, fruit and vegetables and their products commercially available on the Polish market. The method of cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS) after a wet-acid digestion in a closed-vessels and microwave oven was used and the reliability of the procedure demonstrated. Mercury concentrations in the agricultural crops and plant foods were generally below the maximum permissible limits in Poland and rarely exceeded 5 microg x kg(-1). Values ranged from <0.1 to 14 microg x kg(-1), mean 2.4 +/- 2.3 microg x kg(-1) in wheat and rye grains; from <0.1 to 2.4 microg x kg(-1), mean 0.5 +/- 0.4 microg x kg(-1) in nine varieties of vegetables; from <0.1 to 5.1 microg x kg(-1), mean 1.1 +/- 0.9 microg x kg(-1) in seven varieties of fruit; from <0.1 to 5.6 microg x kg(-1) in cereal products and jams; and from <0.1 to 3.0 microg x l(-1) in fruit and vegetable juices, nectars and beverages. The contribution of the mercury in the analysed agricultural crops and foods of plant origin to the weekly dietary intake of total mercury was 8 microg/person, which represents only 3% of the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) for this metal.     

Citrus fruits. Part II. Chemistry,technology, and quality evaluation. C. quality evaluation

In Part II of this review on citrus fruits, the literature on chemistry, technology, and quality evaluation are critically considered. Sweet oranges, mandarin, grapefruit, lemon and lime are generally used for processing. The literature on chemical components of citrus fruits reviewed and discussed in Section A includes the following: sugars, polysaccharides, organic acids, nitrogenous constituents, and lipids; carotenoids which contribute to color; vitamins and minerals, and flavonoids; limonoids, some of which impart bitterness to the juice, and the volatile components which contribute to aroma. Chilled and pasteurized juices, juice concentrates, and beverages are the important products manufactured commercially, and to a limited extent powdered citrus juices, canned segments, and marmalades. The literature on the manufacture of these products as well as new types of juice and oil extractors, TASTE, and other types of evaporators, tank farms to store juice and concentrate in bulk, aseptic filling in bulk containers and retail packs, alternate flexible and rigid containers other than glass and tin and recovery of volatile flavoring constituents during juice processing are some of the important technological developments in the recent past which were discussed in Section B. Bitterness in citrus juices and its control, composition of cloud and its stability, and changes during storage have been reviewed. Essential oils, pectin, frozen and dried juice sacs, dried pulp and molasses, flavonoids, seed oil, and meal are the important by‐products, the manufacture of which is given in essential details. Generally, consumers judge the product on the basis of its sensory attributes. The quality of the finished products is dependent upon the raw materials used and control of processes. In this section, the USDA standards for different products, physico‐chemical and microbiological parameters prescribed as indices of quality of fruit, juice, concentrate, and other products, composition of essential oils, and aroma concentrates are discussed in relation to sensory quality. Analytical methods for compounds affecting quality and methods for detection of adulteration in different citrus products are briefly reviewed. The importance of sensorily evaluating quality of citrus products to select and develop quality control indices is emphasized. Areas where further research is required are indicated. A comprehensive bibliography is provided to aid further study and research.     

Radiation preservation of meat and meat products: A review

The World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1980 clarified the position regarding the medical acceptability of irradiated foods when it said‘…no health hazard results from consuming any food irradiated up to a dose of one megarad (1 Mrad)’. This resulted in renewed interest in irradiation as a cost-effective alternative to traditional preservation methods such as canning and freezing. Thus, radurisation (the application of ionising radiation at a dose level which substantially reduces the microbial population) increases the shelf life of poultry, comminuted meat and meat dishes significantly. Low dose irradiation, or radicidation, eliminates parasites such as Trichinae and cysticerci in pork and, very importantly, salmonella organisms in poultry and red meat. Therefore, irradiation has an important rôle to play in public health protection. High dose irradiation, or radappertisation (‘cold sterilisation’), uses doses in excess of 1 Mrad and is analogous to retorting as understood in the canning industry. However, it can adversely affect quality in producing ‘free radicals’ in high protein foods such as meat. To prevent this, special precautions are necessary, e.g. irradiation is conducted at very low temperatures and the product is usually vacuum packed.A further potential use of irradiation is its ability to reduce the quantity of nitrite necessary in cured meats. This may become of practical significance if legislation further reduces the amount of nitrite permitted in these products.     

Citrus fruits — varieties,chemistry, technology,and quality evaluation. Part I: Varieties,production, handling,and storage

In part I of this comprehensive critical review on citrus fruits, the origin, botany, and classification are briefly discussed. The present status of citrus breeding with the objectives of overcoming the serious problems of die‐back and other disastrous diseases, and of producing varieties having a long harvesting period and giving a higher yield of high quality fruits, have been critically reviewed. Factors affecting the fruit quality such as rootstock, climate, and nutrition are reviewed generally with reference to established types of citrus fruits. World citrus production data has been carefully collected and presented both country‐wise and fruit‐wise to show the enormous growth and potential. Changes in composition during growth and maturation are presented with the view to fixing maturity and quality parameters and standards. Harvesting, handling, transportation, and storage aspects have been reviewed from the standpoint of optimal maintenance of quality of fruits intended for processing as well as for sale as fresh table fruit. The current problems that demand early solution have been highlighted. The succeeding parts will review chemistry, processing, and evaluation of quality.     

Citrus phenylpropanoids and defence against pathogens. Part I: Metabolic profiling in elicited fruits

Penicillium spp. are among the major postharvest pathogens of citrus fruit. Induction of natural resistance in fruits constitutes one of the alternatives to chemical fungicides. Here, we investigated the involvement of the phenylpropanoid pathway in the induction of resistance in Navelate oranges by examining changes in the metabolic profile of upon eliciting citrus fruits. By using both HPLC-PDA-FD and HPLC-PDA-QTOF–MS allowed the identification of several compounds that seem to be relevant for induced resistance. In elicited fruits, a greater diversity of phenolic compounds was observed in the flavedo (outer coloured part of the peel) when compared to the albedo (inner white part). Moreover, only small changes were detected in the most abundant citrus flavonoids. The coumarin scoparone was among the compounds with the highest induction upon elicitation. Two other highly induced compounds were identified as citrusnin A and drupanin aldehyde. All three compounds are known to exert antimicrobial activity. Our results suggest that phenylpropanoids and their derivatives play an important role in the induction of resistance in citrus fruit.     

Biological active substanse of plant origin. Phenolic acids: occurrence, dietary sourses biovailability

Data for phenolic acids of two classes (hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids) occurrance and content in foodstuffs (fruits, berries, vegetables, species, cereals, tee, coffee and other beveradges) are reviewed. Data on their main dietary sourses are shown. Bioavailability and metabolism of phenolic asids and their derivatives are discussed.     

Characterisation and determination of the geographical origin of wines. Part I: overview

One of the most challenging analytical issues in terms of wine authenticity is the control of geographical origin. This question becomes more and more important in the current context of a global wine market. Single parameters are often not sufficient on their own to determine the product identity with respect to the wine labelling. Recent developments have shown that control is improved by application of multivariate statistical methods to a combination of composition and isotopic data. In the past years, the official European wine control bodies have been confronted with wines that have had to be judged as suspicious in terms of their sophisticated authenticity, falsifications which are not readily identifiable, especially as it regards the grape variety, and particularly highlighted here the geographical origin. To improve the measures of authenticity control, a project with the title “Establishing of a WINE Data Bank for analytical parameters for wines from Third countries (WINE-DB project, G6RD-CT-2001-00646-WINE-DB)” was initiated in 2002, funded by the European Commission within the fifth framework “Competitive and Sustainable Growth”. The project consortium of this multinational project was composed of official and private laboratories from the European Union, from new European member states and a group of university partners for the statistical evaluation. Within the framework of the WINE-DB project, commercial and authentic wines originating from new European member states (Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania) and from overseas countries (South Africa and Australia) are collected and analysed. More than 1,800 wines from three vintages were analysed. First, a sampling plan for each wine-producing country was developed for the authentic samples taking into account, the surface and the grape variety of wine in the respective country. This sampling plan was used for the commercial samples accordingly. A series of three publications was prepared covering the statistical approaches and the results obtained for authentication of wine. The actual one—Part I—provides an overview on the structure of the project, the developing of the sampling plan, the strategy of sample collection and the analytical scheme.     

Salmonellae, salmonellosis, and dairy foods: a review.

Salmonellae continue to be a major concern for the dairy industry because these bacteria have caused recent outbreaks of illness and have been isolated from various dairy products in the market place. Salmonellae are generally not heat resistant and normally grow at 35 to 37 degrees C, but they can grow at much lower temperatures, provided that the incubation time is suitably extended. To minimize problems, foods should be held at or below 2 to 5 degrees C at all times. Both conventional and rapid methods are available to isolate salmonellae from dairy foods and to identify the bacteria. Salmonellae behave differently in different kinds of cheese: they survived in ripening Cheddar cheese for up to 7 mo at 13 degrees C and for 10 mo at 7 degrees C; in coldpack cheese food for several weeks, depending on the pH and preservative used; and in Domiati cheese 13 to 36 d, depending on the manufacturing process used. When Mozzarella cheese was made, temperatures of stretching and molding (60 degrees C) killed all salmonellae present, but, in cottage cheese, survival of the pathogen depended on the cooking temperature of curd. Spray drying of skim milk killed substantial numbers of salmonellae, but some survivors remained. Butter readily supported growth of salmonellae at room temperature, and neither freezing nor refrigeration for brief periods eliminated salmonellae from butter. Use of appropriate hygienic procedures, e.g., Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point system, during processing should reduce the likelihood of salmonellosis outbreaks associated with dairy foods.     

Pleurotus mushrooms. Part II. Chemical composition, nutritional value, post-harvest physiology, preservation, and role as human food

The fruit bodies of Pleurotus species as a class of "Edible Fungal Foods" have been discovered to have definite nutritive and medicinal values. They are a good source of nonstarchy carbohydrates, dietary fiber (that can help in reducing the plasma cholesterol), most of the essential amino acids, minerals and vitamins of B group, and folic acid (necessary to counteract pernicious anaemia) in particular. Considering the essential amino acid index, biological value, in vitro digestibility, nutritional index, and protein score, Pleurotus species fall between high grade vegetables and low grade meats. Fractions of water-soluble polysaccharides are reported to possess antitumor activity. The physiological processes such as changes in water content, respiratory rate, texture, color, and activities of enzymes like proteases and polyphenol oxidases during the after-harvest life are delineated. The problems and prospects of processing the fruit bodies by various methods are discussed. Potentialities for production and consumption of the fruit bodies in different parts of the world are brought out.     

Studies of edible Amazonian plants. Part 5: Chemical characterisation of Amazonian Endopleura uchi fruits

The chemical composition of the fruit pulp of Endopleura uchi growing in the Brazilian Amazon was investigated for characterisation and evaluation of its nutritional value. According to the analyses performed, it possesses a considerably high content of fat, characterised by a high oleic acid content. The fruit also contains remarkably high amounts of dietary fibres and phytosterols, as well as notable contents of vitamin C, vitamin E and minerals. In total, 42 volatile compounds could be identified by GC-MS in the fruit pulp aroma, which consisted mainly of the alcoholic compounds 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanol (18.8%) and eugenol (14.0%), as well as methyl and ethyl esters of fatty acids (18.5%).     

Solubility and absorption rate of carbon dioxide into non-respiring foods. Part 3: Cooked meat products

The solubility and diffusion of carbon dioxide into cooked meat products (cooked ham and meat sausage with different pH-levels) was determined at different starting pressures and gas to product volume ratios by monitoring pressure changes over time in a closed chamber at constant temperatures (0, 4, and 8 °C). Good correlation of the CO₂ solubility between the packaging parameters (gas to product volume ratio and initial partial pressure) and the meat products water content was found. The solubility of CO₂ followed Henry’s law and the initial partial pressure of CO₂ influenced the solubility mostly. Only small variations in the diffusion constants and absorption rates were found within the experimental design. A pH difference of 0.5 in the two meat sausage types did not influence either solubility or diffusion significantly.