Nonthermal Processes for Shelf‐Life Extension of Seafoods: A Revisit

For the past two decades, consumer demand for minimally processed seafoods with good sensory acceptability and nutritive properties has been increasing. Nonthermal food processing and preservation technologies have drawn the attention of food scientists and manufacturers because nutritional and sensory properties of such treated foods are minimally affected. More importantly, shelf‐life is extended as nonthermal treatments are capable of inhibiting or killing both spoilage and pathogenic organisms. They are also considered to be more energy‐efficient and to yield better quality when compared with conventional thermal processes. This review provides insight into the nonthermal processing technologies currently used for shelf‐life extension of seafoods. Both pretreatments such as acidic electrolyte water and ozonification and processing technologies, including high hydrostatic pressurization, ionizing radiation, cold plasma, ultraviolet light, and pulsed electric fields, as well as packaging technology, particularly modified atmosphere packaging, have been implemented to lower the microbial load in seafood. Thus, those technologies may be the ideal approach for the seafood industry, in which prime quality is maintained and safety is assured for consumers.     

Antimicrobial Effect of Malpighia Punicifolia and Extension of Water Buffalo Steak Shelf‐Life

In the present study, a multiple approach was used to characterize Malpighia punicifolia extract and to evaluate its inhibitory activity against several meat spoilage bacteria. First, volatile fraction, vitamins and phenolic compounds of the extract obtained by supercritical fluid extraction were determined by GC‐MS and HPLC. Then, the antimicrobial action of the extract was in vitro evaluated against Pseudomonas putida DSMZ 291^T, Pseudomonas fluorescens DSMZ 50009^T, Pseudomonas fragi DSMZ 3456^T, and Brochothrix thermosphacta DSMZ 20171^T by the agar well diffusion assay and by the agar dilution test. Based on the results of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against the assayed bacteria, 4 different concentrations of the extract were used in a challenge test on water buffalo steaks stored for 21 d at 4 °C. Results of chemical analyses showed that M. punicifolia extract is characterized by the presence of several compounds, already described for their antimicrobial (phenolic acids, flavonones, and furanes) and antioxidant (ascorbic acid) properties. The in vitro detection of antimicrobial activities highlighted that the extract, used at 8% concentration, was able to inhibit all the target bacteria. Moreover, very low MIC values (up to 0.025%) were detected. In situ tests, performed on water buffalo steaks treated with the extract in the concentration range 0.025% to 0.05%, showed a strong inhibition of both intentionally inoculated bacteria and naturally occurring microorganisms. Positive results, in terms of color and odor, were also observed during the entire storage of steaks preserved with the extract.     

Efficacy of Antimicrobial Pullulan‐Based Coating to Improve Internal Quality and Shelf‐Life of Chicken Eggs During Storage

There has been a growing interest in the use of natural materials as a delivery mechanism for antimicrobials and coatings in foods. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of pullulan coatings to improve internal quality and shelf‐life of fresh eggs during 10 wk of storage at 25 and 4 °C. Three treatments of eggs were evaluated as follows; non‐coated (control; C), coated with pullulan (P), and coated with pullulan containing nisin (N). The effects of the pullulan coatings on microbiological qualities, physical properties, and freshness parameters were investigated and compared with non‐coated eggs. For non‐coated eggs, as storage time increased, yolk index, albumen index, and Haugh unit value decreased and weight loss increased. However, pullulan coatings (P or N) minimized weight loss (<1.5%) and preserved the albumen and yolk quality of eggs (with a final B grade) 3 wk longer than non‐coated eggs at 25 °C. At 4 °C, both P‐ and N‐coated eggs went from AA to A grade after 9 wk and maintained the grade for 10 wk (4 wk longer than that of non‐coated eggs). This study is the first to demonstrate that pullulan coatings can preserve the internal quality, prolong the shelf‐life, and minimize weight loss of fresh eggs.     

Compositional Analyses and Shelf‐Life Modeling of Njangsa (Ricinodendron heudelotii) Seed Oil Using the Weibull Hazard Analysis

This study investigated the compositional characteristics and shelf‐life of Njangsa seed oil (NSO). Oil from Njangsa had a high polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content of which alpha eleostearic acid (α‐ESA), an unusual conjugated linoleic acid was the most prevalent (about 52%). Linoleic acid was also present in appreciable amounts (approximately 34%). Our investigations also indicated that the acid‐catalyzed transesterification of NSO resulted in lower yields of α‐ESA methyl esters, due to isomerization, a phenomenon which was not observed under basic conditions. The triacylglycerol (TAG) profile analysis showed the presence of at least 1 α‐ESA fatty acid chain in more than 95% of the oil's TAGs. Shelf‐life was determined by the Weibull Hazard Sensory Method, where the end of shelf‐life was defined as the time at which 50% of panelists found the flavor of NSO to be unacceptable. This was determined as 21 wk. Our findings therefore support the potential commercial viability of NSO as an important source of physiologically beneficial PUFAs.     

Shelf‐Life Extension of Chill‐Stored Beef Longissimus Steaks Packaged under Modified Atmospheres with 50% O2 and 40% CO2

This study was conducted to compare the shelf‐life of beef steaks stored in different packaging conditions: overwrapped (OW) packaging and 2 modified atmosphere packaging systems (MAP): 80% O₂ MAP (80% O₂/20% CO₂) and 50% O₂ MAP (50% O₂/40% CO₂/10% N₂). Steaks were stored at 2 °C for 20 d. Headspace gas composition, microbial counts, color stability, pH, purge loss, and lipid oxidation were monitored. Among the packaging types, 50% O₂ MAP was superior to OW packaging and 80% O₂ MAP in delaying bacterial growth and extending shelf‐life to 20 d. 50% O₂ MAP also gave steaks an acceptable color during storage. No significant differences were observed in color stability of steaks packaged in both 50% O₂ MAP and 80% O₂ MAP. This study reveals 50% O₂ MAP is a realistic alternative to preserve beef steaks efficiently.     

Oral Toxicity of Cold Plasma‐Treated Edible Films for Food Coating

No prior research has investigated whether the cold plasma treatment (CPT) resulted in the formation of toxic compounds. Therefore, this study carried out the experiment to check the safety of edible films treated with cold plasma by examining their acute and subacute oral toxicity in a rat model. Single‐dose acute (5000 mg/kg body weight) and 14‐d subacute (1000 mg/kg body weight/day) oral toxicity of cold plasma‐treated edible films was assessed for male and female Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats. Rats administered 5000 mg/kg of edible film did not show the signs of acute toxicity or death after 14 d of observation. Similarly, no signs of acute toxicity or death were recorded during 14 d in rats administered 1000 mg/kg/day of edible film treated with cold plasma. Although changes in the levels of several blood components (hematocrit, hemoglobin, bilirubin, creatinine, and aspartate aminotransferase) of samples were observed, the changes compared to the control were considered to be toxicologically irrelevant as their levels were within normal physiological ranges. Macroscopic analysis showed there were no changes in color or texture of representative liver sections of SD rats following the oral administration of edible films with CPT (F‐CP) or without CPT (F‐NT). The results demonstrate that the cold plasma‐treated edible film possessed very low toxicity, suggesting that CPT does not generate harmful by‐products in the edible film.     

Plant Polyphenols as Antioxidant and Antibacterial Agents for Shelf‐Life Extension of Meat and Meat Products: Classification,Structures, Sources,and Action Mechanisms

Oxidative processes and meat spoilage bacteria are major contributors to decreasing the shelf‐life of meat and meat products. Oxidative processes occur during processing, storage, and light exposure, lowering the nutritional and sensory value and acceptability of meat and generating toxic compounds for humans. Polyphenols inhibit oxidative processes in 3 ways: as reactive species scavengers, lipoxygenase inhibitors, and reducing agents for metmyoglobin. Thus, polyphenols are candidate antioxidants for meat and meat products. The cross‐contamination of meat with spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms can occur in production lines and result in economic losses. The ability of polyphenols to interact with bacterial cell wall components and the bacterial cell membrane can prevent and control biofilm formation, as well as inhibit microbial enzymes, interfere in protein regulation, and deprive bacterial cell enzymes of substrates and metal ions. Thus, polyphenols are candidate antimicrobial agents for use with meat and meat products. Commercially available polyphenols can decrease primary and secondary lipid peroxidation levels, inhibit lipoxygenase activity, improve meat color stability, minimize the degradation of salt‐soluble myofibrillar protein and sulfhydryl groups, and retard bacterial growth. Further studies are now needed to clarify the synergistic/antagonistic action of various polyphenols, and to identify the best polyphenol classes, concentrations, and conditions of use.     

Application of Solid‐Phase Micro‐Extraction (SPME) for Determining Residues of Chlorpyrifos and Chlorpyrifos‐Methyl in Wine with Gas Chromatography (GC)

The incorrect use of insecticides in many countries' vineyards may result in some toxicological risks for the consumers by their presence on the grapes. In this research, a rapid gas chromatographic method was used for the determination of the residue levels of two organophosphorus pesticides (chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos‐methyl) in wine. Pesticides are described and compared with each other. Ten red wines from two different regions of Turkey were analyzed for their chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos‐methyl content. The samples were diluted with water and extracted by solid‐phase micro extraction. Nitrogen‐Phosphorus Detection (NDP) and Electron‐Capture Detection (ECD) were used to identify and quantify the pesticides, the findings being confirmed using Mass Spectrometric Detection. Individual detection limits were in the range of (chlorpyrifos) 0.02‐(chlor‐pyrifos‐methyl) 0.1 ng. Limits of quantification varied from (chlorpyrifos) 0.01‐(chlorpyrifos‐methyl) 0.05 mg kg^?1. The maximum residues limits of the two pesticides in the Turkish wines examined were much lower than the Turkish and European Union limits.