Minimally Processed (Fresh-Cut) Fruits and Vegetables: Production, Quality, and Safety

2015 ◽  
pp. 993-1044
Keyword(s):  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Production Quality ◽  
Quality And Safety ◽  
Minimally Processed ◽  
Fresh Cut

scholarly journals Polyphenoloxidase (PPO): Effect, Current Determination and Inhibition Treatments in Fresh-Cut Produce

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (17) ◽  
pp. 7813
Author(s):  
Sergio Nogales-Delgado
Keyword(s):  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Modified Atmosphere Packaging ◽  
Minimally Processed ◽  
Minimal Processing ◽  
Global Quality ◽  
Treatment Conditions ◽  
Speed Up ◽  
Fresh Cut ◽  
Processing Steps

Fresh-cut produce are quite popular among consumers due to their eating ease, high quality and functional content. However, some of the processing steps taking place during minimal processing (such as cutting, peeling, draining, etc.) might speed up decay, e.g., microbial growth, dehydration or browning. When it comes to the latter, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) plays an important role, being the center of many works focused on the understanding of its reaction mechanism and the application of conservative techniques. The aim of this review study was to compare recent research about the effect of PPO on minimally processed fruits and vegetables, trying to understand the way it acts, the measurement of its activity and current treatments, such as modified atmosphere packaging, washing treatments or edible coatings, among others. In conclusion, the combination of conservation techniques (that is, hurdle technology) is vital to guarantee global quality in minimally processed fruits and vegetables, including synergistic effects which will allow the use of mild treatment conditions to decrease PPO activity. However, further research is required to clearly understand PPO inhibition in trendy techniques such as irradiation.

scholarly journals Lactic Acid Bacteria as Antibacterial Agents to Extend the Shelf Life of Fresh and Minimally Processed Fruits and Vegetables: Quality and Safety Aspects

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 952 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Agriopoulou ◽  
Eygenia Stamatelopoulou ◽  
Monika Sachadyn-Król ◽  
Theodoros Varzakas
Keyword(s):  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Lactic Acid Bacteria ◽  
Shelf Life ◽  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
Quality And Safety ◽  
Minimally Processed ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Safe Technique

Eating fresh fruits and vegetables is, undoubtedly, a healthy habit that should be adopted by everyone (particularly due to the nutrients and functional properties of fruits and vegetables). However, at the same time, due to their production in the external environment, there is an increased risk of their being infected with various pathogenic microorganisms, some of which cause serious foodborne illnesses. In order to preserve and distribute safe, raw, and minimally processed fruits and vegetables, many strategies have been proposed, including bioprotection. The use of lactic acid bacteria in raw and minimally processed fruits and vegetables helps to better maintain their quality by extending their shelf life, causing a significant reduction and inhibition of the action of important foodborne pathogens. The antibacterial effect of lactic acid bacteria is attributed to its ability to produce antimicrobial compounds, including bacteriocins, with strong competitive action against many microorganisms. The use of bacteriocins, both separately and in combination with edible coatings, is considered a very promising approach for microbiological quality, and safety for postharvest storage of raw and minimally processed fruits and vegetables. Therefore, the purpose of the review is to discuss the biopreservation of fresh fruits and vegetables through the use of lactic acid bacteria as a green and safe technique.

scholarly journals Emulsions Incorporated in Polysaccharide-Based Active Coatings for Fresh and Minimally Processed Vegetables

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 665
Author(s):  
Marina Ramos ◽  
Cristina Mellinas ◽  
Ignacio Solaberrieta ◽  
María Carmen Garrigós ◽  
Alfonso Jiménez
Keyword(s):  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Quality And Safety ◽  
Minimally Processed ◽  
Food Industries ◽  
Fresh Vegetables ◽  
Multifunctional Additives ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Review Reports ◽  
Minimally Processed Vegetables

The consumption of minimally processed fresh vegetables has increased by the consumer’s demand of natural products without synthetic preservatives and colorants. These new consumption behaviors have prompted research on the combination of emulsion techniques and coatings that have traditionally been used by the food industries. This combination brings great potential for improving the quality of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables by allowing the incorporation of natural and multifunctional additives directly into food formulations. These antioxidant, antibacterial, and/or antifungal additives are usually encapsulated at the nano- or micro-scale for their stabilization and protection to make them available by food through the coating. These nano- or micro-emulsions are responsible for the release of the active agents to bring them into direct contact with food to protect it from possible organoleptic degradation. Keeping in mind the widespread applications of micro and nanoemulsions for preserving the quality and safety of fresh vegetables, this review reports the latest works based on emulsion techniques and polysaccharide-based coatings as carriers of active compounds. The technical challenges of micro and nanoemulsion techniques, the potential benefits and drawbacks of their use, the development of polysaccharide-based coatings with natural active additives are considered, since these systems can be used as alternatives to conventional coatings in food formulations.

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