Survival of Listeria monocytogenes during storage on dried apples, strawberries, and raisins at 4° C and 23° C.
The survival of Listeria monocytogenes was assessed during long-term storage on three dried fruits: dried apples, raisins and dried strawberries. Using sand as a carrier, the dried fruits were dry-inoculated with a four-strain cocktail of L. monocytogenes to achieve numbers of 4.0 to 4.6 log CFU/g. The inoculated foods were stored at 4 °C, 25-81% […]
Comparison of Microwave Short Time and Oven Heating Pretreatment on Crystallization of Raisins.
Crystalline material can develop on the surface of raisins during storage and transport, affecting the final acceptability of the product. In this work, a mild thermal pretreatment was applied to raisins to melt the pre-existing crystals and the effect of such thermal treatments on the development of crystals over a storage period was investigated. The […]
Computational modelling of survival of Aspergillus flavus in peanut kernels during hot air-assisted radio frequency pasteurization.
In recent years, radio frequency (RF) heating is getting popular as an alternative pasteurization method for agricultural commodities and low moisture foods. Computer simulation is an effective way to help understand RF interactions with food components and predict temperature distributions among food samples after RF treatments. In this study, a computer model based on Joule […]
The Occurrence of Aflatoxins in Nuts and Dry Nuts Packed in Four Different Plastic Packaging from the Romanian Market.
Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by various fungi. A very important category of mycotoxins are aflatoxins, considered to be the most dangerous in humans. Aflatoxin B1, well known as a favorable factor in the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in humans, is the most controversial of all mycotoxins. Aflatoxins, found in naturally contaminated food, are resistant […]
Fat replacement by pecan nut and oregano oil and their impact on the physicochemical properties and consumer acceptability of frankfurters.
Objective: A study was conducted to determine the physicochemical quality and consumer acceptability of beef frankfurter-type sausages formulated with pecan nut paste and Mexican oregano oil (MO) of two varieties, Poliomintha longiflora Gray or Lippia berlandieri. Methods: Frankfurters were processed under six treatment conditions: control (10.67% pork fat), MOP (control + 0.01% MOP), MOL (control + 0.01% […]
Properties of Dried Apricots Pretreated by Ultrasound-Assisted Osmotic Dehydration and Application of Active Coatings.
Research background: The worldwide demand for healthy and sulphur-free dried vegetables and fruits has grown. Combined ultrasound-assisted osmotic dehydration (UOD) and application of active coatings incorporating natural preservatives represents an attractive alternative to sulphuring to preserve the sensorial and nutritional quality of dried fruits. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of osmotic […]
Dietary fiber components, microstructure, and texture of date fruits (Phoenix dactylifera, L.).
Date fruits vary widely in the hardness of their edible parts and they are classified accordingly into soft, semi-dry, and dry varieties. Fruit texture, a significant parameter in determining consumer acceptance, is related to the tissue structure and chemical composition of the fruit, mainly the ratio of sucrose to reducing sugars. This study aimed to […]
Determination of the Geographical Origin of Walnuts (Juglans regia L.) Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Chemometrics.
The prices of walnuts vary according to their geographical origin and, therefore, offer a financial incentive for adulteration. A reliable analysis method is required to quickly detect possible misdeclarations and thus prevent food fraud. In this study, a method to distinguish between seven geographical origins of walnuts using Fourier transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy combined with […]
Food Profiling: Determination of the Geographical Origin of Walnuts by 1H NMR Spectroscopy Using the Polar Extract.
Walnuts, with their health-promoting ingredients, are among the most popular nuts, and practicable methods for determining their geographical origin are needed to tackle food fraud. Authentic walnut samples (235, Juglans Regia L.) from different harvest years (2016-2019) and countries were analyzed by 1H NMR spectroscopy in combination with chemometric methods to determine their geographical origin. Two sample groups […]
Development of PCR, LAMP and qPCR Assays for the Detection of Aflatoxigenic Strains of Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus in Hazelnut.
Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus are two species able to produce aflatoxins in foodstuffs, and in particular in hazelnuts, at harvest and during postharvest phase. As not all the strains of these species are aflatoxin producers, it is necessary to develop techniques that can detect aflatoxigenic from not aflatoxigenic strains. Two assays, a LAMP (loop-mediated isothermal amplification) and […]