Limitations of the Log-Logistic Model for the Analysis of Sigmoidal Microbial Inactivation Data for High-Pressure Processing (HPP)

This study identified limitations of the log-logistic model to evaluate microbial inactivation kinetics by high-pressure processing (HPP) including the need to assign a numerical value to “approximate” the undefined expression log₁₀ t?=?0 and the misinterpretation of its parameters due to a derivation flaw. Peer-reviewed HPP microbial inactivation data were adjusted to a sigmoidal equation (SIG), the original “vitalistic” log-logistic models (VIT-1, VIT-6), and two functions that did not follow the original derivation procedure (LOG-1, LOG-6). Their goodness of fit was determined utilizing the coefficient of determination (R ² ) and Akaike information criteria (AIC). The shape of the survival curve greatly influenced the performance of log-logistic models. VIT and LOG models performed equally when the kinetic curve showed a sigmoidal shape, and the numerical values of their parameter estimates were identical regardless of the log₁₀ (t?=?0) approximation. Conversely, most concave curves yielded inaccurate parameter estimates for all models. LOG-1 and VIT-1 performed best when log₁₀ t?=?0 was ?1 or ?2, whereas LOG-6 and VIT-6 yielded best results for values of ?3 to ?9. SIG ranked last for most datasets but occasionally performed best (Akaike weight factor w_AICi ?=?0.40–1.00) when microbial survival counts showed clear sigmoidal shapes. VIT models consistently displayed R ² ?≥?0.98, and their parameters can be interpreted within a “biological” context using the corrected derivation shown for LOG models. However, concave curves are more frequently observed for HPP microbial inactivation, and fitting the experimental data to log-logistic models deems unnecessary.     

Synergistic Processing of Skim Milk with High Pressure Nitrous Oxide,Heat, Nisin,and Lysozyme to Inactivate Vegetative and Spore-Forming Bacteria

Individual and combined effects of high pressure nitrous oxide (HPN₂O), heat, and antimicrobials on the inactivation of Escherichia coli, Listeria innocua, and Bacillus atrophaeus endospores in milk were all evaluated after 20-min treatments. Stand-alone milk treatments with HPN₂O (15.2 MPa), heat (45 and 65 °C), or nisin (50 and 150 IU mL^?1) resulted in log₁₀ reductions ranging only from 0.1 to 2.1 for E. coli and L. innocua. Combining HPN₂O (15.2 MPa) with heat (65 °C) inactivated 6.0 and 5.1 log₁₀ in the vegetative bacteria, respectively. Similarly, reductions of 5.9 and ≥ 6.0 log₁₀ of respective E. coli and L. innocua cells in milk were achieved through a combination of HPN₂O (15.2 MPa), heat (65 °C), and nisin (150 IU mL^?1). A 2.5 log₁₀ cycle inactivation of spores was obtained by HPN₂O, nisin (at both 50 and 150 IU mL^?1), and lysozyme (50 μg mL^?1) at 85 °C. Combining these processing techniques resulted in significantly greater microbial inactivation (p < 0.05) than the sum of individual reductions from each treatment alone, indicating synergistic effects. HPN₂O irrespective of processing temperatures did not cause any occurrence of sub-lethally injured cells or disruption in colloidal stability of milk at 65 and 85 °C (p ≥ 0.05). Color and pH changes in milk following the most demanding treatment conditions were minimal.     

Inactivation Kinetics of the Most Baro-Resistant Enzyme in High Pressure Processed Litchi-Based Mixed Fruit Beverage

This work focused on a litchi-based mixed fruit beverage, comprising of coconut water and lemon juice, mixed in an optimized proportion. Based on preliminary studies, three resistant spoilage enzymes were identified in the beverage, viz. polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), and pectin methyl esterase (PME). The response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite face-centered design (FCCD) screened out PPO as the most resistant enzyme within the high pressure processing (HPP) domain of 200–600 MPa/30–70 °C/0–20 min. A detailed kinetic study was conducted on PPO inactivation within the same HPP domain along with a set of thermal treatments (0.1 MPa/30–70 °C). A synergistic effect of pressure and temperature on PPO inactivation was observed, throughout the HPP domain. However, PPO was almost completely inactivated at 500 MPa/70 °C/20 min. The inactivation order (n) values for PPO were 1.10 and 1.25 for thermal and HPP treatments, respectively. For every 10 °C rise in temperature, the inactivation rate constant (k, U^n-1 min^?1) increased approximately by 1.5 times, within 50–70 °C (at 0.1 MPa), while a 10-fold increase was obtained in the case of HPP treatments. The activation energy (E _a ) and the activation volume (V _a), depicting the temperature and pressure dependence of k, was found to decrease slightly, with an increase in pressure and temperature, respectively. The PPO inactivation rate constant was modeled as a function of both temperature and pressure conditions by combining both Arrhenius and Eyring equations.     

A Gompertz Model Approach to Microbial Inactivation Kinetics by High‐Pressure Processing (HPP): Model Selection and Experimental Validation

A recently proposed Gompertz model (GMPZ) approach describing microbial inactivation kinetics by high‐pressure processing (HPP) incorporated the initial microbial load (N₀) and lower microbial quantification limit (N_lim), and simplified the dynamic effects of come‐up time (CUT). The inactivation of Listeria innocua in milk by HPP treatments at 300, 400, 500, and 600 MPa and pressure holding times (t_hold) ≤10 min was determined experimentally to validate this model approach. Models based on exponential, logistic‐exponential, and inverse functions were evaluated to describe the effect of pressure on the lag time (λ) and maximum inactivation rate (μ_max), whereas the asymptote difference (A) was fixed as A = log₁₀(N₀/N_lim). Model performance was statistically evaluated and further validated with additional data obtained at 450 and 550 MPa. All GMPZ models adequately fitted L. innocua data according to the coefficient of determination (R² ≥ 0.95) but those including a logistic‐exponential function for μ_max(P) were superior (R² ≥ 0.97). These GMPZ versions predicted that approximately 597 MPa is the theoretical pressure level (P_λ) at which microbial inactivation begins during CUT, mathematically defined as λ (P = P_λ) = t_CUT, and matching the value observed on the microbial survival curve at 600 MPa. As pressure increased, predictions tended to slightly underestimate the HPP lethality in the tail section of the survival curve. This may be overseen in practice since the observed microbial counts were below the predicted log₁₀ N values. Overall, the modeling approach is promising, justifying further validation work for other microorganisms and food systems.     

Quality of Banana Puree During Storage: a Comparison of High Pressure Processing and Thermal Pasteurization Methods

The quality features of banana puree after high pressure processing (HPP) at 500 MPa for 10 min and thermal pasteurization (TP) at 90 °C for 2 min during 30 days of refrigerated storage were compared in this study. Initial counts in banana puree of greater than 3.80 log colony-forming units (CFU)/g of total aerobic bacteria (TAB) and 3.10 log CFU/g of molds and yeasts (M&Y) were reduced by HPP and TP. TAB were approximately 1.0 CFU/g, and M&Y were less than 0.3 log CFU/g in HPP- and TP-processed puree during storage. HPP and TP did not change pH, titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), lightness (L), and yellowness (b), total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant capacity (AC), but HPP raised redness (a) and TP reduced a and ascorbic acid (AA). During storage, L, a, and b in HPP- and TP-processed purees did not change but HPP-processed puree increased pH and decreased TA. After storage, the percentage of TPC and AA was 75.85 and 55.09 % in the HPP group and 96.30 and 68.09 % in the TP group, indicating a significant loss of TPC and a greater loss of AA in HPP-processed puree. The loss of AC agreed with the loss of AA and TPC. HPP preserved particle size distribution and viscosity of purees, whereas TP increased the number of smaller particles and viscosity after processing and in storage. Twenty-six volatiles (18 esters) and 22 volatiles (15 esters) were detected in HPP- and TP-processed purees, and the ester fraction was 69.79 and 52.36 %, respectively. HPP was found to be an effective alternative pasteurization method for preserving the quality of fresh banana puree.     

Comparing the Impact of High-Pressure Processing and Thermal Processing on Quality of “Hayward” and “Jintao” Kiwifruit Purée: Untargeted Headspace Fingerprinting and Targeted Approaches

This study evaluated process-induced quality changes in kiwifruit purée of two commercial cultivars (green kiwifruit, “Hayward”, and gold kiwifruit, “Jintao”) treated by equivalent microbial safety-based processing: high-pressure processing (HPP; 600 MPa/3 min) and thermal processing (TP; P ^{85 °C} _{8.3 °C} = 5min). This comparative study was performed using both targeted, analyzing a priori selected quality attributes (color, sugars, organic acids, and vitamin C) and untargeted headspace-solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry approaches, combining multivariate data analysis techniques (partial least squares discriminant analysis and variable identification). HPP provided a better retention of color and vitamin C compared to TP. Sugar and organic acid were less affected by HPP and TP. Methyl and butyl esters were detected at higher amounts in both processed purée, compared to untreated purée. For processed samples, furanones, terpenes, and alcohols were detected at higher amounts after TP and aldehydes were detected at higher amount after HPP. Overall, the quality of HP-treated samples is clearly closer to that of fresh samples compared to thermally treated samples and HP treatment avoids the formation of typical temperature-induced compounds.     

Smart NMR Method of Measurement of Moisture Content of Vegetables During Microwave Vacuum Drying

Microwave drying is usually combined with vacuum environment in conjunction with hot air flow to draw the moisture rapidly. The moisture content of the vegetables undergoing drying is hard to measure online. This research designed a microwave vacuum drying (MVD)-low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) smart device and investigated the feasibility of NMR method for online measurement of state of moisture during MVD. The relation between the signal amplitude (A ₂) and the true moisture content (M ₁) of six kinds of vegetables (mushroom, carrot, potato, lotus, edamame, vegetable corn) was fitted to estimate if NMR can measure the M ₁ of vegetables directly. Results showed that A ₂ and M ₁ of different fresh vegetables had no single empirical mathematical model to fit. However, for each kind of these vegetables, the A ₂ and corresponding M ₁ in different MVD stages showed a significant linear relationship. The predicted moisture content (M ₂) of mushroom: M ₂ = 5.25351 × 10^?4 A ₂ ? 0.34042, R = 0.996; carrot: M ₂ = 5.78756 × 10^?4 A ₂ ? 0.14108, R = 0.998; potato: M ₂ = 3.10019 × 10^?4 A ₂ ? 0.10612, R = 0.991; lotus: M ₂ = 2.32415 × 10^?4 A ₂ ? 0.01573, R = 0.998; edamame: M ₂ = 3.13310 × 10^?4 A ₂ ? 0.4198, R = 0.996; vegetable corn: M ₂ = 1.69461 × 10^?4 A ₂ ? 0.09063, R = 0.995. The linear models between M ₂ and A ₂ were able to estimate the end point (M ₁ < 8%) of MVD with a high accuracy (P > 0.950).     

Modeling the Inactivation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Listeria innocua</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> in Fresh-Cut Tomato Treated with Pulsed Light

The effectiveness of pulsed light (PL) treatments to inhibit microorganisms on fresh-cut tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., cv. Daniela) was investigated. Tomato slices inoculated with Escherichia coli or Listeria innocua were exposed to PL treatments (4, 6, or 8 J cm^?2 fluence) and kept cold at 4 °C for 20 days. L. innocua and E. coli counts, gases in the headspace of the containers (O₂ and CO₂), pH, titratable acidity, and soluble solid content were monitored throughout the cold storage. The PL treatments reduced significantly (p < 0.05) initial loads of both microbes. The effect of the PL fluence on the survival number of microoganisms was described by a log-linear model (R ² = 0.849–0.999). At any fixed time within the cold storing, the microbial counts for untreated samples were always higher than those cut tomatoes that had been previously PL-treated. The behavior of L. innocua and E. coli during the storage were well adjusted (R ² > 0.930) by Gompertzian models; the studied microorganisms exhibited different patterns during the storage period. On the other hand, O₂ and CO₂ partial pressures in containers with fresh-cut tomatoes were also significantly affected by PL treatments (p < 0.05). The highest PL fluence caused the greatest changes of O₂ and CO₂ contents. In addition, the application of PL triggered an acceleration of the O₂ consumption during the cold stage. PL treatments might be used to effectively extend the safety of fresh-cut tomatoes over 12 days of storage against E. coli and L. innocua growth.     

A Comparative Biochemical Characterization of Microbial Transglutaminases: Commercial vs. a Newly Isolated Enzyme from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces</Emphasis> Sp.

A new microbial transglutaminase (MTGase or MTG, EC 2.3.2.13) from a Streptomyces sp. strain isolated from Brazilian soil samples was characterized in crude and purified forms. The aim of this work is to provide relevant information about a new transglutaminase and to compare its characteristics with the well-known commercial transglutaminase from Ajinomoto Co. Inc. (Activa® TG-BP). The enzyme from Streptomyces sp., in both crude and pure forms, exhibited optimal activity in the 6.0–6.5 pH range and at 35–40°C. The results for the commercial enzyme were the same. A second maximum of activity was observed at pH 10.0 with both the crude Streptomyces sp. enzyme and the commercial enzyme. This interesting fact has not been reported in the literature previously. The fact that this second maximum of activity does not appear on the purified form of the enzyme may suggest the presence of an isoenzyme on the crude extract. All of the enzymes tested were stable over the pH range from 4.5 to 8.0 and up to 45°C. The decline in activity of the commercial transglutaminase above 45°C and pH 8.0 was more gradual. The activities of all the MTG samples were independent of Ca⁺² concentration, but they were elevated in the presence of K⁺, Ba²⁺, and Co²⁺ and inhibited by Cu²⁺ and Hg²⁺, which suggests the presence of a thiol group in the MTG’s active site. The purified enzyme presented a K _m of 6.37 mM and a V _max of 1.7 U/mL, while the crude enzyme demonstrated a K _m of 6.52 mM and a V _max of 1.35 U/mL.     

Development and characterization of reconstituted hydrogel from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aloe vera</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aloe barbadensis</Emphasis> Miller) powder

Structural and rheological characterization of reconstituted hydrogels developed from A. vera non-fibrous alcohol insoluble residue (NFAIR) powder using different methods [viz., shaking (S), heating-shaking (HS), and heating (H)] and concentrations (viz., 0.2–1.6 %, w/v) was carried out. Functional group distribution by FTIR spectroscopy and Congo red (CR) method revealed the presence of acetylated acemannan in A. vera powder. Dynamic oscillation studies of A. vera (NFAIR) fluids at all concentrations of 0.2–1.6 %, w/v, showed gel strength in the order of H > HS > S method. However, in H method, increase in concentration from 0.2 to 1.6 %, w/v showed the conformational transition from semi-diluted solution to weak gel nature. Rheological models described the effect of heating temperatures (HT); 30–90 °C, and times (Ht); 15–60 min on viscoelastic behavior in reconstituted A. vera fluids. The reconstituted A. vera hydrogel prepared with a concentration of 1.6 %, w/v using 50 °C (HT) and 30 min (Ht) condition showed a good agreement with the Power law (storage modulus, G′) and Weak gel model (complex modulus, G*) fitted data (R² > 0.94) resulting higher viscoelastic moduli intercepts; G′₀ (71.5 Pa s ^n′), G″₀ (33.5 Pa s ^n″), lower slopes; n′ (0.22), n″ (0.06), higher network strength (A _F , 121.3 Pa s^1/z ) and number of network (z, 5.3) values. The obtained results suggested that heating at 50 °C/30 min can develop aqueous weak gel networks of A. vera with enhanced gel strength which may be utilized as a novel gelling agent for wide variety of targeted applications in food and pharmaceutical sectors.     

Comparative Study on the Inactivation and Photoreactivation Response of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Listeria monocytogenes</Emphasis> Seafood Isolates and a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Listeria innocua</Emphasis> Surrogate after Pulsed Light Treatment

The inactivation and photoreactivation response of six seafood-isolated Listeria monocytogenes and one Listeria innocua strain after pulsed light (PL) treatment was evaluated. The lower inactivation levels found after exposure of treated samples to daylight during the first 90 min of storage confirmed that both L. innocua and L. monocytogenes have the capability to photorepair PL-induced DNA damage upon appropriate conditions. Photoreactivation levels from 0.2 to 2.1 log CFU cm^?2 were observed depending on treatment intensity (fluence) and Listeria strain. Complete photorepair of PL-caused damage was not found even after treatments inducing low inactivation levels. Photoreactivation increased up to 2.1 log with the applied fluence up to a threshold able to cause between 2.4 and 5.4 log reductions under dark storage. Photorepair was not avoided but lower photoreactivation was observed after higher fluence inducing more than 6 log reductions under dark storage. Both L. innocua and L. monocytogenes serotype 1/2b exhibited the highest photoreactivation levels whereas serotypes 1/2a showed the lowest ones. The overall inactivation and photoreactivation responses of tested Listeria strains were comparable indicating that L. innocua may be a good surrogate for the safe evaluation, optimization and validation of PL technology to control L. monocytogenes in food products and food processing facilities.     

Combined Application of Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Chemometrics Analysis in Oxidative Deterioration of Edible Oils

Combined methods of fluorescence spectrometry with chemometrics were used to monitor oxidation deterioration of edible oil. Synchronous and three dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy techniques were proposed for monitoring palm oil, camellia oil, sunflower oil and perilla oil during oven accelerated oxidation. Principal component analysis plot of fluorescence intensity (λex = 320–700 nm) clearly showed oxidative evolution of oils over heating time. High saturated or monounsaturated oils exhibited high regression coefficients between peroxide values and fluorescence intensity (R ²  = 0.973 for 400 nm in palm oil; R ²  = 0.956 for 370 nm in camellia oil). High diunsaturated oil exhibited high regression coefficient between nonpolar carbonyl compounds and fluorescence intensity (R ²  = 0.970 for 370 nm in sunflower oil). High triunsaturated oil exhibited high regression coefficient between p-anisidine value and fluorescence intensity (R ²  = 0.938 for 665 nm in perilla oil). In conclusion, Fluorescence spectroscopy is a rapid and green nondestructive method for oxidation monitoring. Differences of fatty acid compositions played key rules in formation of oxidation products and evolution of fluorescence spectra.     

A mathematical model for moisture movement during continous and intermittent drying of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus saligna</Emphasis>

A modified diffusion-based mathematical model is proposed to describe the moisture movement during continuous and intermittent drying of Eucalyptus saligna. This model includes the temperature change, the surface drying coefficient (β _n ) and 2 diffusion coefficients [from green to FSP (D _f ) and from FSP to dry condition (D _o )] as important parameters. The final model expression obtained was M?=?exp (??25 β _n ² D _t /l²) with the β _n used was 1.5807 kg m^?2 s^?1, the D _f was 2.26?×?10^?11 m² s^?1, and the D _o was 5.85?×?10^?12 m² s^?1. The range of temperature change between heating and non-heating phases in the intermittent drying regimes was from 24.9 to 31.8 °C. The R² values obtained when the model was fitted into the drying data of different intermittent regimes ranged from 71.5 to 85.9%. The R² value was 87.4% when the model was fitted into continuous trial data. The high values of R² indicate that the model can be used to understand the moisture reduction both in intermittent and continuous regimes.     

Combination of Thermosonication and Pulsed Electric Fields Treatments for Controlling <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces cerevisiae</Emphasis> in Chinese Rice Wine

The objective of this study was to investigate the combined effect of thermosonication (TS) and pulsed electric fields (PEF) against Saccharomyces cerevisiae in Chinese rice wine. The effectiveness of standalone TS treatment (35 °C, 750  W, 120 min) on the inactivation of S. cerevisiae was insignificant (0.76 log CFU/mL). However, 2.88 log CFU/mL of S. cerevisiae were inactivated when the standalone PEF treatment with moderate conditions (35 °C, 12 kV/cm, 120 μs) was applied. The combination of TS and PEF had an additive effect on the inactivation of S. cerevisiae, and the sequence applied (TS-PEF or PEF-TS) markedly influenced the inactivation results (P < 0.05). In particular, the microbial inactivation by TS-PEF (3.72 log CFU/mL) was higher than that by PEF-TS (3.48 log CFU/mL); this result indicates that PEF were able to restrain the effect of TS. On the other hand, TEM micrographs of S. cerevisiae after the different treatments showed that the combined techniques resulted in more severe disruptions on cells. Higher cytoplasmic shrinkage and more intracellular material leakage were observed from the TEM observations of the cells treated by TS-PEF. These results may serve as a reference of the potential application of the combined treatment TS-PEF for microbial inactivation in Chinese rice wine.     

Comparative inactivation studies of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aegle marmelos</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">bael</Emphasis>) peroxidase in crude extract of fruit by heat processing and ultrasonication treatment

Bael (Aegle marmelos) is considered as a holy fruit comprised of vast number of phytonutrients. Whole bael tree including all its parts has medicinal significance. Lack of awareness and seasonal nature makes its processing rather challenging. Conventional heat processing may lead to inactivation of quality hampering enzymes such as peroxidase, but at the cost of loss in essential phytonutrients. In the present work it was observed that thermal inactivation of bael peroxidase obeyed first order kinetics with enzyme activation energy of 7.7 kJ mol^?1. Complete inactivation of bael peroxidase was achieved within 11 min at 85?°C while ultrasound treatment attained in lesser time of 4 min at 64.07 W cm^?2 ultrasonic intensity. Loss of marmelosin a well-known phytonutrient in bael fruit was found to be 83.29?% by heat (11 min, 85?°C) and only 50.20?% by ultrasonication (4 min, 64.07 W cm^?2 ultrasonic intensity). Ultrasonication has potential to overcome harmful effects of heat processing with retention of phyto-constituents and hence has promising future in various food processing applications.     

Non-Thermal Pasteurization of Orange (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Citrus sinensis</Emphasis> (L.) Osbeck) Juices Using Continuous Pressure Change Technology (PCT): a Proof-of-Concept

Non-thermal pasteurization of orange juices using a continuous pressure change technology (PCT) device was investigated on pilot plant scale for the first time. PCT treatment was conducted by pressurizing orange juice and nitrogen at moderately high pressures (P?=?25 or 50 MPa) in a tubular continuous reactor. Abrupt decompression was achieved by a relief valve at the end of the tubular system. As compared to freshly squeezed juice, PCT treatment slightly reduced levels of carotenoids, vitamin C and hesperidin by 19, 5, and 14 %, respectively. Peroxidase was completely inactivated, whereas residual pectin methylesterase activities amounted to 26–27 %. Simultaneously, total aerobic plate counts were substantially reduced by at least 3.4 log₁₀ cfu/mL. The mean volume-weighed particle diameter d ₄₃ was drastically reduced from 652 μm in freshly squeezed juice to 6 and 31 μm at 25 and 50 MPa, respectively. Concomitantly, CIE-L*a*b* color values indicated a brighter and more intense yellow color of PCT-treated juices. While cloud separation in freshly squeezed juice was completed within 3 days, cloud stability in PCT-treated juices was retained for 5 days.     

A Case Study on Optimization of Biomass Flow During Single-Screw Extrusion Cooking Using Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Response Surface Method (RSM)

In the present study, response surface method (RSM) and genetic algorithm (GA) were used to study the effects of process variables like screw speed, rpm (x ₁), L/D ratio (x ₂), barrel temperature (°C; x ₃), and feed mix moisture content (%; x ₄), on flow rate of biomass during single-screw extrusion cooking. A second-order regression equation was developed for flow rate in terms of the process variables. The significance of the process variables based on Pareto chart indicated that screw speed and feed mix moisture content had the most influence followed by L/D ratio and barrel temperature on the flow rate. RSM analysis indicated that a screw speed?>?80 rpm, L/D ratio?>?12, barrel temperature?>?80 °C, and feed mix moisture content?>?20% resulted in maximum flow rate. Increase in screw speed and L/D ratio increased the drag flow and also the path of traverse of the feed mix inside the extruder resulting in more shear. The presence of lipids of about 35% in the biomass feed mix might have induced a lubrication effect and has significantly influenced the flow rate. The second-order regression equations were further used as the objective function for optimization using genetic algorithm. A population of 100 and iterations of 100 have successfully led to convergence the optimum. The maximum and minimum flow rates obtained using GA were 13.19?×?10^?7 m³/s (x ₁?=?139.08 rpm, x ₂?=?15.90, x ₃?=?99.56 °C, and x ₄?=?59.72%) and 0.53?×?10^?7 m³/s (x ₁?=?59.65 rpm, x ₂?=?11.93, x ₃?=?68.98 °C, and x ₄?=?20.04%).     

Effects of High-Pressure Processing with or without Blanching on the Antioxidant and Physicochemical Properties of Mango Pulp

The effects of high-pressure processing (HPP 300 MPa/15 min, 400 MPa/5 min, 500 MPa/2.5 min, and 600 MPa/1 min) and high-temperature/short-time processing (HTST 110 °C/8.6 s), with or without blanching, on mango pulp were comparatively evaluated in terms of the antioxidant compounds, antioxidant capacity, sugars, and color. Blanching treatment significantly increased the total phenol content and the antioxidant capacity of mango pulp, but did not change the levels of L-ascorbic acid, carotenoids, sugars, and visual color (total color difference, △E?<?2.00). Both HPP and HTST treatments significantly increased the total phenol content and antioxidant capacity of un-blanched mango pulp, but no significant changes occurred in the blanched mango pulp. HPP did not affect the levels of L-ascorbic acid, carotenoids, and sugars in mango pulp regardless of blanching. However, HTST significantly decreased the fructose and glucose levels, as well as induced the isomerization of β-carotene, with the increase in 13-cis-β-carotene accompanied by the decrease in all-trans-β-carotene. Moreover, HPP-treated mango pulp consistently showed lower △E values than those HTST-treated samples, regardless of blanching.     

Microbial Inactivation and Quality Changes in Orange Juice Treated by High Voltage Atmospheric Cold Plasma

Although atmospheric cold plasma is well known for nonthermal inactivation of microorganisms on surfaces, few studies examine its application to liquid food within a package. This study explores the decontamination efficiency of high voltage atmospheric cold plasma (HVACP) on Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. enterica) in orange juice (OJ). Both direct and indirect HVACP treatments of 25-mL OJ induce greater than a 5-log reduction in S. enterica following 30 s of treatment with air and MA65 gas with no storage. For 50-mL OJ, 120 s of direct HVACP treatment followed by 24-h storage induced a 2.9-log reduction of S. enterica in air and a 4.7-log reduction in MA65 gas; 120 s of indirect HVACP treatment followed by 24-h storage resulted in a 2.2-log reduction in air and a 3.8-log reduction in MA65. No significant (P < 0.05) Brix or pH change occurred following 120-s HVACP treatment. Applying 120-s HVACP direct treatment reduced vitamin C by 22% in air (compared to 50% for heat pasteurization) and pectin methylesterase activity by 74% in air and 82% in MA65. These results demonstrate that HVACP can effectively inactivate Salmonella in OJ with minimal quality degradation.