The irradiation of spices, packaging materials and luncheon meat to improve the storage life of the end products

Spices and packaging materials were exposed to γ‐irradiation at a dose of 10 kGy. Luncheon meat was prepared with irradiated or non‐irradiated spices and packaged in irradiated or non‐irradiated packaging materials. Packaged luncheon meat was treated with 2 kGy. Irradiated and non‐irradiated packaged luncheon meat were kept in a refrigerator (1–4 °C) for 12 months. Microbiological, nutritive and chemical characteristics of luncheon were evaluated after processing and during storage; whereas, sensory quality was evaluated only after irradiation. γ‐Irradiation decreased the microbiological counts of spices, packaging materials and packed products and increased its shelf‐life. No significant differences in moisture, protein, fat, pH value, total acidity, lipid peroxide and volatile basic nitrogen were observed as a result of irradiation. Sensory evaluation showed that all the combinations of treated luncheon meats were acceptable. However, the taste, odour, appearance and texture scores of irradiated packaged products were significantly lower than those of non‐irradiated samples.     

Fatty acid profile of olive oil extracted from irradiated and non-irradiated olive fruits

Syrian Kaissy cv olive fruit (SKOF) was irradiated (0, 1, 2, and 3 kGy). Oils were extracted from irradiated and un-irradiated olive fruits. Fatty acid profiles of Syrian Kaissy cv olive oil (SKOO) were measured by gas chromatography immediately after irradiation and after 6, 12, 24, and 36 months of storage. Results of the study showed that composition of fatty acids of SKOO were determined as palmitic (C16:0) (14.69%), palmitoleic acid (C16:1) (1.18%), stearic (C18:0) (2.19), oleic (C18:1) (68.94%), linoleic (C18:2) (12.22%), and linolenic acid (C18:3) (0.79%). The fatty acid composition of SKOO contains a healthy mixture of all the types of saturated mono-unsaturated and poly-unsaturated fatty acids. The data showed an increase (p < 0.05) in the percentage of the total saturated fatty acids and decrease (p < 0.05) in the percentage of the total unsaturated fatty acids of SKOO during storage. In general, there were no significant (p > 0.05) differences in fatty acids compositions of both oils extracted from irradiated and un-irradiated SKOF.     

Effect of gamma irradiation on microbial load and quality characteristics of minced camel meat

The effect of gamma irradiation on microbial load, chemical and sensory characteristics of camel meat has been evaluated. Camel meat was irradiated at doses of 0, 2, 4 and 6 kGy of gamma irradiation. Irradiated and non-irradiated meat was kept in a refrigerator (1–4 °C). General composition and sensory evaluation of camel meat was done two days after irradiation, whereas, microbiological and chemical analysis was done immediately after irradiation and throughout the storage periods. The results indicated that all doses of gamma irradiation reduced the total mesophilic aerobic plate counts (TPCs) and total coliforms of camel meat. Thus, the microbiological shelf-life of camel meat was significantly extended from less than 2 weeks (control) to more than 6 weeks (samples irradiated with 2, 4 or 6 kGy). No significant differences in moisture, protein, fat, thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values, total acidity and fatty acids of camel meat were observed due to irradiation. There were slight effects of gamma irradiation in both total volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) and lipid oxidation values in camel meat. Sensory evaluation showed no significant differences between irradiated and non-irradiated camel meats.     

Use of gamma-irradiation and sulphur dioxide to improve storability of two Syrian grape cultivars (Vitis vinifera)

The feasibility of using gamma-irradiation and sulphur dioxide to control post-harvest diseases and to extend the shelf-life of table grapes in cold storage (1–2 °C) was studied using two cultivars of grapes local to Syria (Baladi and Helwani). The experiment took 2 years. In the first year the clusters of both cultivars were subjected to one of the following treatments, irradiation with 1.0 kGy of gamma-rays, sulphur dioxide (3 g of Na₂S₂O₅ per 5-kg cluster) or a combination of both 1.0 kGy of gamma-irradiation and sulphur dioxide. In the second year clusters of Baladi cv. were treated with 1.5 kGy of gamma-radiation, sulphur dioxide, and a combination of 1.5 kGy of gamma-radiation and sulphur dioxide, whereas clusters of Helwani cv. were treated with 0.5 kGy of gamma-radiation, sulphur dioxide, and a combination of 0.5 kGy of gamma-irradiation and sulphur dioxide. Treated and untreated clusters were kept in cold storage. With the exception of Helwani cv. produced in the first year and treated with sulphur dioxide, the results indicated that separate application of sulphur dioxide and gamma-radiation reduced the rotting induced by Botrytis cinerea . Gamma-irradiation in combination with sulphur dioxide was the best method of preserving the two varieties of table grapes.     

Comparison of fruit characteristics,oil properties and fatty acid composition of local Syrian Kaissy cv olive (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Olea europaea</Emphasis>)

Characterization of Syrian (Kaissy cultivar) olive fruits and evaluation of physic-chemical properties of oils were carried out during 3 years of production. The mean values of data for both measured and calculated variables of fruits were: grain length (21.89 mm), grain width (17.92 mm), length/width (1.22), weight of grain (3.79 g), weight of pulp (flesh) (3.19 g), weight of pit (0.60 g), pulp/pit ratio (5.35), crude oil (17.13%), water content (moisture) (51.34%). The 3 year average values of chemical properties of Syrian Kaissy cultivar olive oils (SKOO) including acid value, peroxide vale, Thiobarbituric acid value, iodine value(IV), saponification value, and phenolic content were 0.58%, 4.33 mEq O₂ kg^??1, 0.028 mg MDA kg^??1 oil, 90.77 g I₂, 100 g^??1, 194.91 mg KOH g^??1, and 218.08 g gallic acid kg^??1, respectively. Pefractive index (RI), and viscosity were 1.4666 nD at 25?°C and 139.56 mPa.s, respectively. However, the 2 years average values of Hunter’s color parameters of SKOO were; the lightness (L*= 66.91), redness (a* = 18.80), yellowness (b* = 29.08) and the color differences (?E?=?65.49). FA analysis of the SKOO used showed a high content of monounsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid 70.82% and palmitic acid 1.01%) and low polyunsaturated fatty acids (Linoleic acid 10.72% and Linolenic 0.82%) and saturated fatty acids (Palmitic 14.10% and stearic 2.57%). Results for 3 years production of Syrian Kaissy cultivar olive fruit and oil are discussed in detail.