Minimally Processed Refrigerated Fruits And Vegetables

Introduction to minimally processed refrigerated fruits and vegetables; Initial preparation, handling, and distribution of minimally processed refrigerated fruits; Preservation methods for minimally processed refrigerated fruits and vegetables; Packing of minimally processed fruits and vegetables; Some biological and physical principles underlying modified atmosphere packaging; Microbiological spoilage and pathogens in minimally processed refrigerated fruits and vegetables; Nutritional quality of fruits and vegetables subjetc to minimally processes; Regulatory issues associated with minimally processed refrigerated foods.

The objective of this book is to introduce, organize, and document the scientific, technical and practical aspects involved with the man ufacture, storage, distribution and marketing of minimally pro cessed refrigerated (MPR) fruits and vegetables. The overall func tion of these foods is to provide a convenient, like-fresh product for food service and retail consumers. A high level of quality accom panied by superior safety are essential requisites of MPR fruits and vegetables. Since refrigeration or chilling is essential to the quality and safety of these food products, "refrigeration" is included in the title of this book, i.e. MPRefrigerated fruits and vegetables. This swiftly emerging area of processing requires organization and unification of thinking concerning fruit and vegetable food products which are not considered commercially sterile from a classical stand point. Fruits and vegetables require very special attention because of the multitude of enzymic and respiratory factors as well as mi crobiological concerns which impact on the safety of low acid and acidified vegetables and on the economic viability of high acid fruit products of all kinds.

The objective of this book is to introduce, organize, and document the scientific, technical and practical aspects involved with the man ufacture, storage, distribution and marketing of minimally pro cessed refrigerated (MPR) fruits and vegetables. The overall func tion of these foods is to provide a convenient, like-fresh product for food service and retail consumers. A high level of quality accom panied by superior safety are essential requisites of MPR fruits and vegetables. Since refrigeration or chilling is essential to the quality and safety of these food products, "refrigeration" is included in the title of this book, i.e. MPRefrigerated fruits and vegetables. This swiftly emerging area of processing requires organization and unification of thinking concerning fruit and vegetable food products which are not considered commercially sterile from a classical stand point. Fruits and vegetables require very special attention because of the multitude of enzymic and respiratory factors as well as mi crobiological concerns which impact on the safety of low acid and acidified vegetables and on the economic viability of high acid fruit products of all kinds.

The first edition of Minimally Processed and Refrigerated Fruits and Vegetables, edited by Robert C. Wiley and Fatih Yildiz, was published in 1994. At the time of publication, this was a new concept and was well-received by the scientific community. Minimally processed foods are whole plant tissues (the identity of the plant tissue is recognized by consumers), which may contain active enzymes, live tissues, and plant cells. These are some of the basics for the healthy food design. The overall function of these foods is to provide convenient (ready-to-serve, ready-to cook, free of any pesticides and contaminants),like-fresh products for food service and retail consumers. Minimally Processed and Refrigerated Foods (MPR) have been popular in many countries. The following are some of the advantages offered by MPR produce foods: 1. Ease of portion control in the food service industry 2. Lower transportation cost (all inedible portions of the produce are removed prior to transportation) 3. No waste is generated at the point of consumption 4. Utilization and recycling of the waste is much easier 5. Value-added new fruit and vegetable products and meal development is possible and easy 6. No requirement is needed for phytosanitary control during trade 7-No glycation end products formation during processing, 8.Degree of food processing is minimized for optimal health of human, the processing plant for MPR produce, which is not addressed in any other books on this topic, will be described in this second edition. Also, comparison of minimal processing technologies with other technologies was explained in the first publication and will be updated in this second edition. During the last 200 years the purpose of food processing was a-safety(sterilization, Pasteurization,1804 Nicholas Apert,Pasteur 1867), and b-prevention of deficiency diseases(Enrichments),but MPR foods provides a two new dimensions to food processing ; a-Prevention of chronic diseases(bioactive compounds) and b-Optimum health (functional foods,Superfoods,Neutraceuticals, and Medical foods) for human.

The safety and efficacy of minimal food processing depends on the use of novel preservation technologies. This book first examines what is meant by minimally processed foods, including fresh-cut, cooked-chilled, and part-baked products. Next explored are the technologies or methods to produce quality products in terms of safety and nutrition, including: edible coating, natural preservatives (i.e., antimicrobial, flavour enhancer, anti-browning), advanced packaging (active, antimicrobial, and modified or controlled atmosphere), and selected non-thermal techniques (high pressure, pulsed electric field, ultrasound, light). Preservation of food is crucial to achieving a secure and safe global food supply with the desired sensory quality. In addition, the increasing consumer demand for safe, ready-to-serve, ready-to-eat-and-cook products with minimal chemical preservatives has raised expectations. However, foods deemed minimally processed, such as fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, cooked-chilled, and half-baked foods, are delicate products that need special care in preparation, processing, storage, and handling. As a result, new technologies to develop minimally processed foods have aggressively advanced. Minimally Processed Foods: Technologies for Safety, Quality, and Convenience explores both the definition of minimally processed foods and the methods and technologies used to achieve the safety and nutritional value consumers demand. About the Editors Mohammed Wasim Siddiqui, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, India Mohammad Shafiur Rahman, Sultan Qaboos University, Al-khod, Oman

A comprehensive reference for the emerging fresh-cut fruits and vegetable industry, Fresh-cut Fruits and Vegetables: Science, Technology and Market focuses on the unique biochemical, physiological, microbiological, and quality changes in fresh-cut processing and storage. It highlights the distinct equipment design, packaging requirements, production economics, and marketing considerations for fresh-cut products. Based on the extensive research in this area during the last 10 years, this reference is the first to cover the complete spectrum of science, technology, and marketing issues related to this field.

Note for the electronic edition: This draft has been assembled from information prepared by authors from around the world. It has been submitted for editing and production by the USDA Agricultural Research Service Information Staff and should be cited as an electronic draft of a forthcoming publication. Because the 1986 edition is out of print, because we have added much new and updated information, and because the time to publication for so massive a project is still many months away, we are making this draft widely available for comment from industry stakeholders, as well as university research, teaching and extension staff.

An Aspen Food Engineering Series Book. This new reference work in the Food Engineering Series covers basic and new information and issues, and new and refined existing technologies in the preservation of fruits and vegetables with a minimum of processing. It begins with a section on detecting and controlling good and harmful microorganisms in fruits and vegetable tissues, then surveys a range of preservation technologies, talks about new technologies being developed in landmark multinational projects, and ends by covering the legal aspects of minimally processed produce in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia.

Attempts to provide safer and higher quality fresh and minimally processed produce have given rise to a wide variety of decontamination methods, each of which have been extensively researched in recent years. Decontamination of Fresh and Minimally Processed Produce is the first book to provide a systematic view of the different types of decontaminants for fresh and minimally processed produce. By describing the different effects – microbiological, sensory, nutritional and toxicological – of decontamination treatments, a team of internationally respected authors reveals not only the impact of decontaminants on food safety, but also on microbial spoilage, vegetable physiology, sensory quality, nutritional and phytochemical content and shelf-life. Regulatory and toxicological issues are also addressed. The book first examines how produce becomes contaminated, the surface characteristics of produce related to bacterial attachment, biofilm formation and resistance, and sublethal damage and its implications for decontamination. After reviewing how produce is washed and minimally processed, the various decontamination methods are then explored in depth, in terms of definition, generation devices, microbial inactivation mechanisms, and effects on food safety. Decontaminants covered include: chlorine, electrolyzed oxidizing water, chlorine dioxide, ozone, hydrogen peroxide, peroxyacetic acid, essential oils and edible films and coatings. Other decontamination methods addressed are biological strategies (bacteriophages, protective cultures, bacteriocins and quorum sensing) and physical methods (mild heat, continuous UV light, ionizing radiation) and various combinations of these methods through hurdle technology. The book concludes with descriptions of post-decontamination methods related to storage, such as modified atmosphere packaging, the cold chain, and modeling tools for predicting microbial growth and inactivation. The many methods and effects of decontamination are detailed, enabling industry professionals to understand the available state-of-the-art methods and select the most suitable approach for their purposes. The book serves as a compendium of information for food researchers and students of pre- and postharvest technology, food microbiology and food technology in general. The structure of the book allows easy comparisons among methods, and searching information by microorganism, produce, and quality traits.