Changes in nitrogen content and amino acid composition of navel oranges during ripening

Nitrogen content and composition of amino acids in juice and rind of navel oranges were studied. The compared varieties were ‘Navelina’ ‘Washington Navel’ and ‘Navelate’, early, mid-season and late types, respectively. Total N content in juice increased during the season with values from about 60 to near 100 mg 100 ml^?1 in Navelina and ‘Washington Navel’ and from 60 to about 80 mg 100 ml^?l in ‘Navelate’; amino N increased from 30 to 60 mg 100 ml^?lapproximately in the three varieties. The total N content in rind was quite similar in all cases, with values that decreased with time from 1 to around 0·6 g 100 g^?l dry weight (DW), 50–60% corresponding to the protein N. The main free amino acids in juice and rind at different maturity stages are tabulated. Proline represents at maturity around 50% of the total free amino acids in rind, with values near to 1·5 mmol 100 ml^?l in juice and over 5·0 mmol 100 g^?1 DW in rind. Total protein amino acids in rind decreased during maturation, reaching final values of about 20 mmol 100 g^?1 DW. Differences in composition among the three studied varieties are discussed.     

Sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate preservatives in food stuffs in Iran

A high-performance liquid chromatography method was applied for the determination of the levels of benzoate and sorbate in 400 food samples, including pickled cucumbers, canned tomato pastes, sour cherry jams, soft drinks, fruit juices and dairy products (UF-Feta cheeses, Lighvan cheeses, lactic cheeses, yogurts and doogh). The results showed that 270 (67.5%) of all samples contained benzoate ranging from 11.9 to 288.5 mg kg^?1 in lactic cheese and fruit juice, respectively. The levels of sorbate in 98 (24.5%) of the samples were 20.1 to 284.3 mg kg^?1 in doogh and fruit juice, respectively. Moreover, benzoate was detected in all dairy products ranging from 11.9 mg kg^?1 in lactic cheese to 91.2 mg kg^?1 in UF-Feta cheese. A low concentration of benzoate could originate naturally, due to specific biochemical mechanisms during cheese, yogurt and doogh maturation. In conclusion, a minimum level for benzoate in dairy products should be defined in the legislation.     

我国市售饮料中游离糖含量研究

目的 了解我国市售饮料中游离糖及其单体的含量,为游离糖摄入及其风险评估提供基础数据,为制定完善相关政策提供科学依据.方法 根据我国饮料行业产销量并结合地理分布,2015年采集9类饮料样品共计708份;根据美国分析化学家协会(AOAC)2000.17方法,以高效离子色谱-脉冲安培检测法测定其中的单糖和二糖(葡萄糖、果糖、...     

Effect of benzyl isothiocyanate on tomato fruit infection development by Alternaria alternata

Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) is known to be a strong antifungal compound in vitro against different fungi. The effectiveness of benzyl isothiocyanate to control Alternaria alternata growth in vitro and in vivo was tested. BITC in vitro activity was evaluated in A alternata growing on potato dextrose agar and exposed to 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 or 0.4 mg ml^?1. In vivo activity was evaluated by exposing A alternata‐inoculated tomato fruits for either 18 or 36 h to 0.28 or 0.56 mg ml^?1 BITC packed on low‐density polyethylene film (LDPF) bags. Additionally, the effect of BITC on post‐harvest physiology and tomato quality throughout storage at 20 °C was evaluated daily by monitoring respiration rate and ethylene production, whereas total soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity and fresh weight loss were measured every 3 days. Results showed that the minimal inhibitory concentration of BITC in vitro was 0.1 mg ml^?1. A combined use of 0.56 mg ml^?1 BITC with LDPF for 18 h was the optimum treatment to control Alternaria rot in packed tomato fruit. No effect of BITC on respiration rate, ethylene production, total soluble solids, pH, weight loss and titratable acidity was observed. Results suggest that BITC can be used as a post‐harvest treatment to control Alternaria rot in tomato fruit without detrimental effects on the tomato post‐harvest quality. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Caffeine levels in beverages from Argentina's market: application to caffeine dietary intake assessment

The caffeine content of different beverages from Argentina's market was measured. Several brands of coffees, teas, mates, chocolate milks, soft and energy drinks were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet detection. The highest concentration level was found in short coffee (1.38 mg ml^?1) and the highest amount per serving was found in instant coffee (95 mg per serving). A consumption study was also carried out among 471 people from 2 to 93 years of age to evaluate caffeine total dietary intake by age and to identify the sources of caffeine intake. The mean caffeine intake among adults was 288 mg day^?1 and mate was the main contributor to that intake. The mean caffeine intake among children of 10 years of age and under was 35 mg day^?1 and soft drinks were the major contributors to that intake. Children between 11 and 15 years old and teenagers (between 16 and 20 years) had caffeine mean intakes of 120 and 240 mg day^?1, respectively, and mate was the major contributor to those intakes. Drinking mate is a deep-rooted habit among Argentine people and it might be the reason for their elevated caffeine mean daily intake.     

Inactivation of yeast and filamentous fungi by the lactoperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-thiocyanate-system

The antifungal activity of the lactoperoxidase (LPO) system with glucose oxidase (GOD) as source of hydrogen peroxide was determined in salt solution and in apple juice. The test organisms Rhodutorula rubra and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were cultivated aerobically in apple juice, Mucor rouxii was grown on wort agar adjusted to pH 4.5. Aspergillus niger and Byssochlamys fulva were kept on malt extract agar. Spores of the filamentous fungi were harvested by suspension in salt solution supplemented with Tween 80® and checked microscopically. The antifungal activity of the combined enzyme system was tested with initial counts of approx. 10⁵ cfu · ml^?1 (yeast cells or spores) suspended in salt solution supplemented with 25 mg · l^?1 thiocyanate and 20 g · l^?1 glucose or in apple juice supplemented with the same amount of thiocyanate. The tests were performed with 25 ml of the medium in 100 ml Erlenmeyer flasks shaken at 28 °C under aerobic conditions. Inactivation was achieved for all test organisms in both media. The yeast strains were found to be least stable while B. fulva was most resistant. A combination of 5 U · ml^?1 LPO with 0.5 to 1 U · ml^?1 GOD was sufficient for complete inactivation of this mold in salt solution within 2 h. The enzyme system also showed antifungal activity in apple juice at acid pH (3.2), although its effectiveness was reduced. In this medium, B. fulva was inactivated by 20 U · ml^?1 LPD and 1 U · ml^?1 GOD within 4 h. R. rubra and S. cerevisiae were unable to survive in apple juice at 5 U · ml^?1 LPO combined with 1 U · ml^?1 GOD. For inhibition by GOD alone, higher amounts of this enzyme were needed and even then only M. rouxii and R. rubra have been affected within the concentration range tested (maximum 3 U · ml^?1).     

Variability in the content of soluble sugars and cell wall polysaccharides in red‐ripe cherry and high‐pigment tomato cultivars

BACKGROUND: Soluble sugars and cell wall polysaccharides are well known for contributing to a range of ‘quality’ characteristics of fresh vegetables such as flavour, texture and healthy properties. Red‐ripe berries of 14 cultivars of cherry tomatoes and four cultivars of high‐pigment tomato hybrids, cultivated in the south of Italy, were analysed for their content of these important qualitative parameters. RESULTS: Sakura appeared to be the cultivar with the highest amount of soluble sugars (53 g kg^?1 fresh weight (f.w.)), mainly glucose and fructose, and, hence the ‘sweetest’ among cherry tomatoes. High‐pigment tomatoes, especially HLY02 and HLY13, showed a soluble sugar content much lower than cherry tomatoes, as expected for industrial, normal‐size tomatoes. Variations in the fructose/glucose ratio, of between 0.68 and 1.48, were evidenced among the different tomato cultivars. Cell wall polysaccharides isolated from whole fresh red‐ripe berries of each cultivar were analysed chemically. The amount of matrix polysaccharides (0.9–3.4 g kg^?1 f.w.) and cellulose (0.16–1.86 g kg^?1 f.w.), as well as their glycosidic composition, showed significant differences among the different cultivars. Cellulose to matrix polysaccharide ratio was highly variable and ranged between 0.06–1.44 and 0.17–0.77 in cherry and high‐pigment tomato cultivars, respectively. CONCLUSION: The differences evidenced in the total soluble sugar and cell wall polysaccharide composition, not only among different types of tomatoes but also different cultivars within the same typology, may play a fundamental role in the quality of tomatoes and deserve further investigations. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Occurrence of benzene as a heat-induced contaminant of carrot juice for babies in a general survey of beverages

A survey of benzene contamination of 451 beverage samples, using headspace sampling combined with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (HS-GC/MS) with a quantification limit of 0.13 µg l^?1, was conducted. Artefactual benzene formation during headspace sampling was excluded by gentle heating at 50°C only and adjustment of sample pH to 10. The incidence of benzene contamination in soft drinks, beverages for babies, alcopops and beer-mixed drinks was relatively low, with average concentrations below the EU drinking-water limit of 1 µg l^?1. Significantly higher concentrations were only found in carrot juice, with the highest levels in carrot juice specifically intended for infants. About 94% of 33 carrot juice for infants had detectable benzene levels, with an average concentration of 1.86?±?1.05 µg l^?1. Benzene contamination of beverages was significantly correlated to iron and copper concentrations, which act as catalyst in benzene formation. The formation of benzene in carrot juice was predominantly caused by a heat-induced mechanism, which explains the higher levels in infant carrot juices that are subject to higher heat-treatment to exclude microbiological contamination.     

Fluoride content of soft drinks,nectars, juices,juice drinks,concentrates, teas and infusions marketed in Portugal

A potentiometric method using a fluoride combination ion-selective electrode was validated and used to analyse 183 samples, including soft drinks, juices, nectars, juice drinks, concentrates, teas and infusions marketed in Portugal. The fluoride levels were higher in extract-based soft drinks, juice drinks and juice, with fluoride values of 0.86 ± 0.35, 0.40 ± 0.24 and 0.37 ± 0.11 mg l^?1, respectively. The lowest fluoride concentration was found in infusion samples (0.12 ± 0.01 mg l^?1), followed by teas and carbonated soft drinks with fluoride concentrations of 0.16 ± 0.12 and 0.18 ± 0.07 mg l^?1, respectively. Nectars, concentrates and juice-based drinks had similar fluoride concentrations of 0.33 ± 0.16, 0.29 ± 0.12 and 0.25 ± 0.14 mg l^?1, respectively. The fluoride concentrations in all these samples would only contribute intakes below the acceptable daily intake (ADI = 0.05 mg kg^?1 body weight day^?1), indicating that, individually, these beverages cannot induce fluoride toxicity in the population group of children.     

Iron and tin content of canned fruit juices and nectars

A survey of the iron and tin content of twelve different types of canned fruit juices and nectars revealed that, of the 122 cans examined, 23 (or 18·9%) contianed iron in excess of 15 mg kg^?1 and 16 (or 13·1%) contained tin in excess of 250 mg kg^?1. Apple juice and tomato juice were found to contain particularly high levels of iron, the maximum level recorded being 42·6 mg kg^?1. Mango juice and orange juice exhibited significant non-compliance with recommended Codex tolerance limits for tin. Statistical analysis showed that, at the 5% probability level, the mean iron contents of products packed in completely unlacquered and end-lacquered cans were not significantly different from each other, but were significantly lower than the mean iron content of products packed in fully lacquered cans. The mean tin content fell in the order unlacquered > end-lacquered > fully lacquered cans.     

Antioxidant capacity of tomato juice functionalised with enzymatically synthesised hydroxytyrosol

The antioxidant hydroxytyrosol has been enzymatically synthesised in order to functionalise tomato juice. The antioxidant capacity significantly increased in the functionalised juice according to a set of in vitro antioxidant assays (ie ferric thiocyanate method, inhibition of oxygen consumption, and scavenging of both DPPH^· and ABTS^·+ free radicals). In addition, hydroxytyrosol was stable within the tomato juice matrix under extreme storage conditions (room temperature and light exposure) for 48 days. Sensory properties (flavour and colour) of the tomato juice were not affected by functionalisation with hydroxytyrosol concentrations of up to 1 mg ml^?1. Therefore this functional tomato juice could be a promising source of health‐beneficial properties, beyond basic nutrition, taking into account both the high activity and bioavailability of hydroxytyrosol. © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

响应面法优化圣女果百香果复合发酵饮料工艺及品质分析

在单因素试验的基础上,应用响应面分析法对圣女果百香果复合发酵饮料工艺进行优化,并对发酵后的品质指标进行了测定。结果表明,各因素对圣女果百香果复合发酵饮料中感官评分影响大小依次为果汁配比＞发酵时间＞菌种添加量＞发酵温度;最优发酵工艺条件为：圣女果:百香果汁配比6∶1、发酵时间31 h、菌种添加量3%、发酵温度37 ℃。在此优化条件下,圣女果百香果复合发酵饮料感官评分达82分,酸甜宜口、风味独特,发酵后复合发酵饮料的pH、可溶性固形物、总酸、还原糖、总酚、总黄酮、番茄红素、维生素C、乳酸菌总数分别为3.30、11.50%、5.95 g/100 ml、6.68 g/100 g、40.03 mg/100 g、6.83 mg/g、32.83 mg/100 g、23.31 mg/100 g、5.2×106 CFU/mL。     

A research note: the potential for transfer of Salmonella from irrigation water to tomatoes

The transmission of Salmonella Enteritidis from soil to fruit by contaminated irrigated water was studied using 20 patio tomato plants. In order to track the presence of Salmonella in the soil and plants a luminescent strain transformed with the full luxCDABE gene cassette from Photorhabdus luminescens was used. The tomato plants were irrigated every other day by direct application of water containing Salmonella Enteritidis (10⁵ CFU ml^?1) to the soil. Samples of soil, stem, leaf and fruit were taken weekly and assayed for Salmonella by plating onto Luria Bertani agar containing 50 µg ml^?1 ampicillin. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in Salmonella counts from soils sampled during the course of the study. No Salmonella were recovered from the leaf, stem, and fruit samples taken from the tomato plants. This indicates that, under these test conditions, watering with contaminated water directly into the soil does not result in the transmission of Salmonella, and possibly other pathogens, to tomatoes. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Keeping quality of tomato fruit by high electrostatic field pretreatment during storage

BACKGROUND: High electrostatic field, as a feasible and non‐chemical technique, applied to food preservation is a new area of study. The present article intensively investigated this new preservation method, together with its effects on post‐harvest physiology and quality of tomato. RESULTS: Green mature tomatoes were exposed to negative (or positive) high electrostatic field for 2 h at 20 °C and then stored for 30 days at 13 ± 1 °C, 85–90% RH. Our results indicated that negative high electrostatic field (?2 kV cm^?1) could delay the decline of firmness and the change in color, total soluble sugar and titratable acidity of tomato fruit during storage. The peak of respiration and ethylene production of tomato fruit during storage were delayed by negative high electrostatic field treatment for 6 days and 3 days, respectively. Increases of malondialdehyde content and electrical conductivity in tomato fruit were inhibited significantly by negative high electrostatic field treatment during storage (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A high electrostatic field of ? 2 kV cm^?1 can be used to keep the qualities and extend the shelf‐life of tomato fruit. Further research should be highly recommended to understand the mechanisms improving the storability of tomato fruit by negative high electrostatic field. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Nutrients in non-alcholic beverages in Nigeria

Forty-one samples of carbonated soft drinks in Nigeria have been shown, on analysis, to contain high sugar contents (mean value, 14·0%) despite the high cost of this ingredient; the Food and Drug regulations allow 9%–14%. There is a considerable divergence in the mean values of sugar for the four brands examined; 14·9%, 15·3%, 12·4% and 13·7% for the Cola, Fanta, clear drinks and fruit juice, respectively. Similar large deviations in mean values were recorded for other chemical constituents of the drinks. Ascorbic acid, for example, has an overall mean value of 12·2 mg/100 ml whereas individual samples have mean values ranging from 36·3 to 7·25 mg/100 ml. The ascorbic acid values for the fruit juice drinks fall short of expectation in all cases.     

Profile and levels of bioactive amines in orange juice and orange soft drink

The levels of bioactive amines, pH, soluble solids, acidity, specific gravity, and total sugars were determined in different brands of orange products. Nine amines were detected in orange juice at mean total levels of 53.5 mg l⁻¹. There were significant differences, among orange juice brands, in the levels of spermidine, synephrine, spermine, octopamine, pH and total acidity. Five amines were detected in soft drinks with mean total levels of 3.85 mg l⁻¹. There were significant differences, among orange soft drink brands, in the levels of most amines and the physicochemical characteristics. The predominant amine was putrescine, followed by synephrine and spermidine, in both orange juices and soft drinks. The levels of these amines in the soft drink varied from 5.0% to 7.6% of the mean levels in orange juice, suggesting that less than 10% of orange juice could have been used in the soft drink.     

Chitosan from Syncephalastrum racemosum Using Sugar Cane Substrates as Inexpensive Carbon Sources

A strain of Syncephalastrum racemosum isolated from herbivores feces was studied for chitosan production using sugar cane substrates, such as juice or molasses, from Northeast Brazil. S. racemosus was batch grown in shake flasks over 5 days using sugar cane juice or molasses as carbon source. The effect of supplementary nitrogen source was studied by supplying medium with yeast extract or ammonium sulphate. The highest yield of the biopolymer (30 mg chitosan. g^?1 sucrose) was obtained using sugar cane juice (21 g sucrose. L^?1) plus 0.3% yeast extract. Batch fermentation in a 5-L bioreactor using the same medium, increased the yield to 50 mg chitosan. g^?1 sucrose. Chitosan extracted from S. racemosus cultured in sugar cane juice medium showed a low degree of acetylation with a high D-glucosamine content.     

Pectin methyl esterase treatment on high‐methoxy pectin for making fruit jam with reduced sugar content

BACKGROUND: Pectin methyl esterase (PME) has been postulated to catalyse the transacylation reaction between pectin molecules. The present study aimed to prove the occurrence of this reaction. The feasibility of applying PME‐catalysed transacylation between high‐methoxy pectin molecules in making fruit jam with reduced sugar content was also investigated. RESULTS: PME treatment increased the turbidity and particle size in pectin solution and the molecular weight of pectin, while it decreased the number of methoxy ester linkages and the intensity of the CH₃ absorption peak in the Fourier transform infrared spectrum without changes in the number of total ester linkages in pectin molecules. These findings support the occurrence of PME‐catalysed transacylation between pectin molecules. Higher values of hardness, gumminess and chewiness were found in a jam containing PME‐treated citrus pectin (10 g L^?1) and sugar (350 g L^?1) as compared with either a jam containing untreated citrus pectin (10 g L^?1) and sugar (350 g L^?1) or strawberry jam containing pectin (10 g L^?1) from the fruit and sugar (650 g L^?1). CONCLUSION: The demand for sugar in jam making can be greatly reduced by the use of PME‐treated high‐methoxy pectin. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

The potential of NIR spectroscopy for the detection of the adulteration of orange juice

Near-infrared spectroscopy was used to investigate the adulteration of 65 authentic concentrated orange juice samples obtained from Brazil and Israel. These samples were adulterated with 100 g kg^?1 additions (ie 100 g added to 900 g) of (1) orange pulpwash, (2) grapefruit juice, and (3) a synthetic sugar/acid mixture and with 50 g kg^?1 additions (ie 50 g added to 950 g) of (4) orange pulpwash, and (5) grapefruit juice. All samples were scanned on the NIR systems 6500 spectrophotometer over the 1100-2498 nm wavelength range. Principal component analysis was used to reduce each spectrum to 20 principal components. Factorial discriminant analysis was used to distinguish between the different sample groups. Using orange juice and orange juice adulterated at the 100 g kg^?1 level, accurate classification rates of 94–95% were obtained. To classify samples adulterated at the 50 g kg^?1 level, the calibration development sample set had to be augmented by the inclusion of samples adulterated at this lower level—after this augmentation, an accurate classification rate of 94% was obtained. The results demonstrated that the application of principal component and factorial discriminate analysis to NIR reflectance spectra can detect the adulteration of orange juice with an average accuracy of 90%. Furthermore, not one adulterated sample was predicted as being an authentic orange juice throughout the entire test regime.     

Estimated intake of the sweeteners,acesulfame-K and aspartame,from soft drinks,soft drinks based on mineral waters and nectars for a group of Portuguese teenage students

In a survey of levels of acesulfame-K and aspartame in soft drinks and in light nectars, the intake of these intense sweeteners was estimated for a group of teenage students. Acesulfame-K was detected in 72% of the soft drinks, with a mean concentration of 72 mg l^?1 and aspartame was found in 92% of the samples with a mean concentration of 89 mg l^?1. When data on the content of these sweeteners in soft drinks were analysed according to flavour, cola drinks had the highest mean levels for both sweeteners with 98 and 103 mg l^?1 for acesulfame-K and aspartame, respectively. For soft drinks based on mineral water, aspartame was found in 62% of the samples, with a mean concentration of 82 mg l^?1 and acesulfame-K was found in 77%, with a mean level of 48 mg l^?1. All samples of nectars contained acesulfame-K, with a mean concentration of 128 mg l^?1 and aspartame was detected in 80% of the samples with a mean concentration of 73 mg l^?1. A frequency questionnaire, designed to identify adolescents having high consumption of these drinks, was completed by a randomly selected sample of teenagers (n = 65) living in the city of Coimbra, in 2007. The estimated daily intakes (EDI) of acesulfame-K and aspartame for the average consumer were below the acceptable daily intakes (ADIs). For acesulfame-K, the EDI was 0.7 mg kg^?1 bw day^?1 for soft drinks, 0.2 mg kg^?1 bw day^?1 for soft drinks based on mineral waters, and 0.5 mg kg^?1 bw day^?1 for nectars, representing 8.0%, 2.2%, and 5.8% of the ADI, respectively. A similar situation was observed for aspartame. In this way, the EDI for soft drinks was 1.1 mg kg^?1 day^?1, representing only 2.9% of the ADI. In respect of nectars, the EDI was 0.2 mg kg^?1 bw day^?1, representing 0.5% of the ADI. Soft drinks based on mineral waters showed the lowest EDI values of 0.3 mg kg^?1 bw day^?1, accounting for 0.7% of the ADI.