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Goji berries are widely known for their outstanding nutritional and medicinal properties; they are usually found in the market as dried fruit or as juice because the fruit has a short shelf-life, and little information is available about its postharvest behavior at low temperatures. This study aimed to determine the storage performance of goji berry fruit by evaluating physicochemical, and sensorial attributes during storage at three different temperatures (0, 5, and 7 °C) for 12 days in a range that has not been extensively studied before. In addition, fruit respiration and ethylene production rates were also measured at the three temperatures. Fruit stored at 0 °C showed the lowest respiration rate and ethylene production (5.8 mg CO2 kg−1h−1 and 0.7 µg C2H4 kg−1h−1, respectively); however, at this temperature, the incidence and severity of pitting and electrolytic leakage were the highest. In contrast, 5 °C was found to be the best storage temperature for goji berry fruit; the fruit appeared fresh and healthy, had the highest scores during sensory analysis with an acceptable general impression, and had the lowest amount of damage attributable to chilling injury, with 17.1% fruit presenting with shriveling, 12.5% pitting, 6.7% mold, and 35% electrolytic leakage on day 9 of storage. Storage of goji berries at 7 °C resulted in the lowest marketability and the highest incidence of decay. Significant differences were also found in the phytochemical attributes, vitamin C content, soluble solid content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), SSC/TA ratio, total polyphenol content, 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazy (DPPH), and anthocyanin content. This study revealed that a storage temperature of 5 °C for 9 days is recommended to maintain the quality of fresh goji berry. Thus, broadening the existing knowledge of the postharvest behavior of fresh goji berries; our results can help improve the commercial life of goji berries and ensure high-quality attributes throughout distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goji berries are widely known for their outstanding nutritional and medicinal properties; they are usually found in the market as dried fruit or as juice because the fruit has a short shelf-life, and little information is available about its postharvest behavior at low temperatures. This study aimed to determine the storage performance of goji berry fruit by evaluating physicochemical, and sensorial attributes during storage at three different temperatures (0, 5, and 7 °C) for 12 days in a range that has not been extensively studied before. In addition, fruit respiration and ethylene production rates were also measured at the three temperatures. Fruit stored at 0 °C showed the lowest respiration rate and ethylene production (5.8 mg CO2 kg−1h−1 and 0.7 µg C2H4 kg−1h−1, respectively); however, at this temperature, the incidence and severity of pitting and electrolytic leakage were the highest. In contrast, 5 °C was found to be the best storage temperature for goji berry fruit; the fruit appeared fresh and healthy, had the highest scores during sensory analysis with an acceptable general impression, and had the lowest amount of damage attributable to chilling injury, with 17.1% fruit presenting with shriveling, 12.5% pitting, 6.7% mold, and 35% electrolytic leakage on day 9 of storage. Storage of goji berries at 7 °C resulted in the lowest marketability and the highest incidence of decay. Significant differences were also found in the phytochemical attributes, vitamin C content, soluble solid content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), SSC/TA ratio, total polyphenol content, 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazy (DPPH), and anthocyanin content. This study revealed that a storage temperature of 5 °C for 9 days is recommended to maintain the quality of fresh goji berry. Thus, broadening the existing knowledge of the postharvest behavior of fresh goji berries; our results can help improve the commercial life of goji berries and ensure high-quality attributes throughout distribution.

Quick meals available in markets are popular among consumers. Generally, these products are not recognized as functional foods owing to nutrient-poor composition. In this study, energy snack bars were developed with different formulations, using puffed quinoa, amaranth, cacao liquor, and coconut oil, and the effects of the addition of commercial vegetal mixtures (VM) on nutritional and functional properties were assessed. VM addition showed significant effects on the protein, lipid, and fiber contents, phenolic compounds (PHC) content, and antioxidant activity of the snacks. The control snack showed higher levels of free and bound PHC. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) analyses recorded highest values of free PHC (9392.7 μmol TE/100 g dry weight) in PC65 (concentrate based on a combination of vegetal proteins), whereas the highest bound PHC levels of 47,087 and 46,531 μmol TE/100 g dry weight were observed in PC65 and the control snacks, respectively. Sensorial attributes assessment provided a high score on the hedonic scale, wherein panelists detected no differences among the samples. Altogether, the selection of non-conventional ingredients with high antioxidant activities emerged as a successful strategy to produce sensory acceptable meals.

High-pressure processing (HPP) is utilized for food preservation as it can ensure product safety at low temperatures, meeting consumers' demand for fresh-like and minimally processed products. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of HPP (600 MPa, 3 min, 5 °C) and pasteurization by heat treatment (HT, 63 °C, 3 min) on the production of a novel whole Concord grape puree product (with skin and seeds, no waste), and the shelf-life of the puree under refrigerated storage (4 °C). Microbial load, physicochemical properties, phenolic content and antioxidant activity, composition and sensorial attributes of puree samples were evaluated. HPP- and HT-treated purees were microbiologically stable for at least 4 months under refrigeration, with less microbial growth and longer shelf life for HPP samples. HPP and HT samples had similar levels of phenolic contents and antioxidant activities throughout the 4-month refrigerated storage period, even though HPP retained >75% PPO and POD enzyme activities while those of HT were less than 25%. Inclusion of seeds in the puree product significantly increased the fiber, protein, total fatty acid, and linoleic acid contents. Sensory results showed that HPP-treated puree retained more fresh-like grape attributes, had better consistency, and showed significantly higher ratings in consumer overall liking, product ranking, and purchase intent than the HT puree (p < 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quick meals available in markets are popular among consumers. Generally, these products are not recognized as functional foods owing to nutrient-poor composition. In this study, energy snack bars were developed with different formulations, using puffed quinoa, amaranth, cacao liquor, and coconut oil, and the effects of the addition of commercial vegetal mixtures (VM) on nutritional and functional properties were assessed. VM addition showed significant effects on the protein, lipid, and fiber contents, phenolic compounds (PHC) content, and antioxidant activity of the snacks. The control snack showed higher levels of free and bound PHC. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) analyses recorded highest values of free PHC (9392.7 μmol TE/100 g dry weight) in PC65 (concentrate based on a combination of vegetal proteins), whereas the highest bound PHC levels of 47,087 and 46,531 μmol TE/100 g dry weight were observed in PC65 and the control snacks, respectively. Sensorial attributes assessment provided a high score on the hedonic scale, wherein panelists detected no differences among the samples. Altogether, the selection of non-conventional ingredients with high antioxidant activities emerged as a successful strategy to produce sensory acceptable meals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]