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Relevance.This article presents the results of a study of the process of sucrose inversion in vegetable and fruit monocomponent purees with and without sucrose under the influence of ultrasonic action on them.Methods.For the study, experimental samples of carrot, pumpkin and Apple puree of two types were made – a monocomponent natural puree (without sugar) and puree with the addition of 5% sucrose (by weight). The main part of the study was to study the depth of sucrose inversion in experimental samples, depending on the specified parameters of ultrasound exposure at a frequency of 21.6 kHz for 30 minutes on a laboratory cavitation unit in a flow-through cyclic mode.Results.It was found that in all experimental samples, the amount of total reducing sugars increased significantly compared to the values obtained in control samples that were not subjected to ultrasonic treatment. So, in natural apple puree (without adding sucrose) after ultrasound exposure, an increase in total reducing sugars was detected by 9.3%, and in experimental samples of apple puree with added sucrose – by 10.9%, in relation to control samples, which is 1.2 times higher than in natural puree. In samples of carrot puree (without adding sucrose), the increase in total reducing sugars was 6.7%, and in puree with added sucrose, the increase was 12.2%, which is 1.8 times higher than the inversion in puree without sugar. In samples of pumpkin puree without sugar, the increase in reducing sugars was 4.2%, and in samples with added sucrose – 9.9%, i.e. 2.4 times higher than in samples without sugar.These data allow us to conclude that ultrasound exposure can intensify the inversion of sucrose with an increase in the number of reducing sugars, and this process takes place more deeply in products containing added sucrose.

Background Red raspberries (Rubus idaeus L.) contain varied nutrients and phytochemicals important for healthy aging. Processing berries extends their shelf-life and culinary applications, although information on nutritional content among processed forms are limited. Objective The main objective of the project was to conduct a market basket study to characterize nutrient content and variation in processed red raspberry (RRB) products (i.e., individually quick frozen (IQF), puree, concentrates). Secondary objectives were to provide new data to the USDA nutrient composition database on processed RRB, which is now complete, and to evaluate RRB forms relative to regulatory (US FDA) criteria for food labeling based on Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) recommendations expressed as % Daily Values (DV). Methods Processed raspberry product samples were obtained in 2017 from retail outlets, processing plants and distributors, in and outside the USA. Samples were analyzed by pre-qualified laboratories using pre-approved AOAC methods and validated HPLC methods. Results Nutrient variance in domestic compared to imported product was observed, but on average IQF and puree with seeds are excellent sources of dietary fiber based on FDA criteria of providing ≥20% DV, IQF and puree are good (10-19% DV) sources of copper, thiamin, riboflavin and folate, and all forms were excellent or good sources of vitamin C and manganese. IQF and pureed red raspberries may also be considered a valuable fruit source of lutein/zeaxanthin. Conclusions Processed RRB are nutrient rich options for including in a diet for healthy aging.

With the increasing number of older adults, the elderly-friendly food market has been rapidly growing. The physicochemical and antioxidant properties of soymilk-based banana-blueberry-puree with and without flaxseed-based (XanFlax) and xanthan-gum-based (brand G) thickeners were compared as a potential senior food. Samples included a control, three treatments with XanFlax (1%, 3%, and 5%), and three treatments with brand G (1.35%, 2.7%, and 5.4%). The physicochemical (color, sugar, salinity, pH, viscosity, and hardness) and antioxidant properties [DPPH, ABTS, reducing power (RP), and total polyphenol content (TPC)] were compared. The chromaticity values (L*, a*, and b*) and pHs were similar among all treatments and the control, but the salinity of brand G showed statistical differences (p &lt, 0.05). All samples met the Korean Industrial Standards for senior foods in terms of viscosity and hardness, while samples with brand G were harder and more viscous than those with XanFlax and the control (p &lt, 0.001). XanFlax samples had greater ABTS radical scavenging activities than the control and brand G samples (p &lt, 0.001). Although, the developed puree can be a possible senior food product without the addition of thickeners, XanFlax might be applied as a non-xanthan gum-based viscosity thickener with antioxidant functions for senior-friendly foods.

We propose the application of pulsed electric fields (PEF) to carrots to obtain derived products with increased phenolic and carotenoid bioaccessibility. For this purpose, juices, purees, and oil-added purees were obtained from whole PEF-treated carrots (five pulses of 3.5 kV cm−1, 0.61 kJ kg−1). In order to obtain shelf-stable products, the effect of a thermal treatment (70 °C for 10 min) was also studied. Carrot juices exhibited the highest carotenoid (43.4 mg/100 g fresh weight) and phenolic (322 mg kg−1 dry weight) contents. However, caffeic and coumaric acid derivatives were highly sensitive to PEF. The phenolic bioaccessibility reached 100% in purees obtained from the PEF-treated carrots, whereas the further thermally treated oil-added purees exhibited the greatest carotenoid bioaccessibility (7.8%). The increase in carotenoid bioaccessibility could be related to their better release and solubilization into micelles. The results suggest that food matrix aspects apart from particle size (e.g., pectin characteristics) are involved in phenolic bioaccessibility.

International audience; The texture of pureed fruits and vegetables depends primarily on the original tissue structure and cell wall (CW) properties. However, how variations in the raw fruits’ cellular and molecular structure determine the rheological behaviour of the purees is little understood, though pectin degradation appears to play a key role. Cultivars, fruit load and post-harvest storage were used to obtain raw apples with different tissue structures, which were processed into purees under simulation of an industrial process. The rheological behaviour of the purees was then compared to particle size, pulp wet mass and serum viscosity. The polysaccharide composition of soluble and insoluble CW material were determined after preparation of alcohol insoluble residue. Macromolecular size and molar mass distributions of soluble pectins were analysed using high performance size-exclusion chromatography coupled to multi-angle laser light scattering and online viscometry. Variations in the raw material, especially induced by post-harvest storage, generated a wide range of different puree’s textures. Rheological behaviour of apple purees was driven by particle size, which decreased during prolonged post-harvest storage due to reduced cell adhesion. This was correlated with pectic side chain hydrolysis and modifications in pectin molar mass and structure. Similar trends during storage were observed with different apple cultivars and agricultural practices.

The aim of this work was to compare different cooking–drying methods to obtain dehydrated baby purees. Flours of quinoa and amaranth (native and germinated) were used to formulate them. Dry powders (DPs) were obtained by lyophilization (LD), convection (CD), and extrusion (ED). Proximal composition, particle size and morphology, water absorption capacity, and solubility were evaluated in DPs. Color, texture profile (TP), and sensory characteristics were determined in fresh pure and rehydrated powders (RPs). The LD particles were smaller and homogeneous; CD showed collapsed particles, and ED presented agglomerated particles. Different drying methods influenced the rehydration properties of DPs, as well as the color, TP, and sensory evaluation of RPs. The best method to obtain dehydrated baby purees was extrusion.

We have investigated a change in the active acidity of blended products made from vegetable and fruit raw materials. A possibility has been proven to control active acidity through the introduction to formulations of canned foods fruits with a high content of titrated acidity. Apricot, gooseberry, cherry plum, black currant are characterized by a high content of titratable acidity, thus they could replace in the formulations of canned products the organic acids obtained artificially. It is possible to use zucchini, pumpkin, carrot and beet to produce natural organic purees, juices, compotes, sauces, natural canned vegetable food with a regulated active acidity not higher than 3.9 pH units. To achieve this level of active acidity in canned products, the mass share of titratable acidity should be brought to 0.55‒0.60 %. The canned food products manufactured using a given technique are microbiologically stable and safe when employing the sterilization temperature of 100 °C for 20‒25 minutes; they have a high organic estimate; they efficiently preserve ascorbic acid. The pumpkin puree demonstrated active acidity of 5.6 pH units. In the blended pumpkin and apricot puree, gooseberry and cherry plum puree, the active acidity decreased to 3.80‒3.84 pH units following the introduction of the calculated formulation amount of a fruit part into compositions, from 11.3 to 28.1 %, the content of ascorbic acid increased by 1.6‒2.6 times. The content of ascorbic acid in a pumpkin and black currant puree, at the regulated active acidity of 3.86 pH units, increased to 30.6 mg/100 g, by 7.6 times. A similar trend was observed for the blended purees made from carrot and table beet. The vegetable-fruit purees and sauces, manufactured in line with a given technique, are characterized by excellent organoleptic quality estimation, 26.3‒29.3 points. Canned foods from vegetable raw materials with a controlled level of active acidity, due to their fruit part, are natural products with an elevated content of ascorbic acid. The combination could be used for the manufacture of organic products from the appropriate raw materials, thereby retaining their high quality.

This study investigated the influence of pH and processing conditions (autoclave at 93 °C/13 min or high pressure processing (HPP) at 600 MPa/5 min without/with follow-up reheating at 80 °C/30 min) on the digestibility of pea protein isolate. Both aqueous solutions and real food matrices (apple and carrot purees) containing pea protein was examined at 37 °C. In vitro gastrointestinal digestion was followed using sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, titrimetric techniques and theoretical calculations. Pea protein with HPP followed by re-heating showed the highest rate of proteolysis in gastric conditions. In case of sequential intestinal digestion of the gastric chyme, pea protein at pH 6.2 demonstrated higher degree and rate of digestibility as compared to that at pH 3.6, the latter being close to the isoelectric point of pea protein. However, autoclave treatments overshadowed such pH effects. Processing-induced enhancement in digestibility might be attributed to the unfolding of the globular pea protein subunits. Pea protein in the carrot puree was more digestible than in the apple puree, due to apple procyanidins binding to pea protein. These new findings might have important implications in designing the process parameters and selection of appropriate food matrices for delivering pea protein., The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under Grant Agreement No. Kbbe- 311754 (OPTIFEL).

Bioactive compounds and physical properties of sea buckthorn purees at production and after storage at 2°C and 18°C for 3 months were investigated. Heat treatment of the berries prior to sieving increased yield of the purees from 80% to 84%, and gave purees with 27-65% higher concentrations of total carotenoids, but did not affect vitamin C and total phenolics (TP). High-pressure homogenization (HPH) reduced the size of the particles in the purees, leading to lighter and more yellow purees. Vitamin C, total carotenoids, and TP were not affected by HPH. Storage explained most of the variation in vitamin C, TP, and chromaticity, i.e. they decreased during storage, especially at the highest storage temperature. To obtain higher yield and products with higher concentrations of bioactive compounds, heat treatment prior to further processing is recommended. HPH can be used to alter the physical properties and color of the product.

This study was focused on a comparative analysis of two drying methods, such as convective and infrared drying, on the red beetroot pur&eacute, es with lactic acid bacteria, as a strategy for tailoring the health benefits of the selected plant. For both varieties, the total betalain contents varied from 13.95 &plusmn, 0.14 mg/g dry weight in Beta vulgaris var. cylindra when compared with 11.09 &plusmn, 0.03 mg/g dry weight in Beta vulgaris var. vulgaris, whereas significant differences were found in total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Significant drying induced changes were found in selected bioactives, in terms of total betalains, flavonoids, and polyphenols, which influenced the antioxidant activities of the pur&eacute, es, structure, and color parameters. In general, infrared technology was more protective, leading to an increase of 20% in flavonoids content. One logarithmic decrease in cell viability was observed in all powders samples. After the in vitro digestion, the betalains decreased, in both gastric and intestinal simulated juices, with a more pronounced profile in infrared processed pur&eacute, es. Textural and rheological analysis of the dried pur&eacute, es highlighted that the infrared drying is milder compared to the conventional one, allowing us to obtain powders with enhanced functional properties, in terms of bioactives content, cell viability, color, and structural and rheological behavior.

This report adds to the ongoing vivid dispute on the fate of carotenes in tomato upon thermal processing. Although many papers dealing with changes in the raw tomatoes during industrial treatment have already appeared, data on the fate of finished, processed tomato products when they are additionally heated (e.g., when used in the household) is scarce. In this study, effects of heating and storage on a commercial, double concentrated tomato pur ee were examined spectrophotometrically. Our results indicate that upon exposing unopened cans with double concentrated tomato pur ee to thermal treatments between 100 and 135 ^o C during specific time intervals spectral profile of lycopene remained preserved. Likewise, a slight hypsochromic shift of lycopene peak III did not occur up to 135 ^o C. However, significant (20%) initial loss of lycopene content was induced by thermal treatment for 20 min at 100 ^o C. During the more intensive treatments that followed the lycopene content was first leveling off and then slightly increased. After storage of thermally treated samples at - 18 ^o C the content of lycopene was found to increase. All these results suggest simultaneous working of several mechanisms: possible autooxidation and isomerization processes of carotenes taking place, in addition to the Maillard reaction and enhanced extractability of carotenes at increased temperatures. Results acquired from hexane solutions of samples treated at temperatures of 120 and 135 ^oC obtained at different time points, confirmed severe isomerization in organic solvent and/or photo-oxidative degradation of lycopene.

International audience; The study comprises a systematic and quantitative evaluation of potential intrinsic and extrinsic factors that impact vitamin C degradation in a real food matrix. The supernatant of centrifuged apple purée was fortified in vitamin C, and degradation was followed without stirring. Model discrimination indicated better fit for the zero order model than the first order model which was hence chosen for determination of rate constants. pH influenced strongly vitamin C degradation in citrate-phosphate buffer but not in the apple purée serum. To get an idea of the impact of the food matrix, stability in apple purée serum was compared with that in carrot purée. In the latter, stability was slightly higher. Vitamin C degradation rates were not influenced by its initial concentration. The temperature effect was only marked in the temperature range 40–60 °C. In the range 60–80 °C, filling height of tubes had the greatest impact.

Oxygen availability in different media during heat treatment (8 h at 80 °C) and the related vitamin C loss was assessed. Dissolved oxygen in water containing 3 mmol kg−1 of ascorbic acid decreased initially and seemed to be replaced by oxygen from the headspace in the course of time, as oxygen values increased again. In apple puree and carrot puree in contrast, oxygen was depleted within 60 min. Vitamin C in ultrapure water was stable even in the presence of oxygen. A trigger seemed to be crucial to launch vitamin C degradation. Fe3+ ions added to water, but also the media Mc Ilvaine citrate-phosphate buffer (pH 3.5) or apple puree, initiated degradation. Adding Fe3+ ions to apple puree did not accelerate vitamin C degradation but shifted the equilibrium between ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid to the latter. Oxygen deprivation stabilized completely vitamin C, independently of the medium tested. A temperature decrease to 70 or 60 °C, in contrast, had no effect on the degradation extent of vitamin C in water containing 20 μmol kg−1 Fe3+ ions but led to complete stability in apple puree.

Two methods that are used at people's home to warm-up food namely a microwave and an Actifry® device, and a system that is usually employed in canteen kitchens to keep food warm, were examined on their impact on the stability of vitamin C and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate. The puree was heated until ebullition with the microwave, which lasted 1.5 min. Puree which was warmed-up by the Actifry® device needed around 20 min to attain 80 °C. When the puree was kept warm by a water bath, the vitamin stability was pursued for 180 min at 80 °C. During the latter, stability was examined at the surface and bottom of recipients that were filled with 600 g or 200 g of puree corresponding to a filling height of 5 cm and 1.5 cm respectively. Although vitamin C and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate are usually referred to as heat- and oxygen-susceptible molecules, none of the methods led to major vitamin losses. In terms of the warm holding method, no difference was observed between withdrawals at the surface and the bottom of vessels for neither of the two filling levels. Vitamins were also fairly stable at the surface of recipients where oxygen exposition is high.

Banana has a special place in the daily diet of millions of people around the world for sustenance and nutrient enrichment. Some of the popular food uses of banana are chips, raw ripened fruit, cooked green banana, fermented and unfermented beverages, juice, puree, dried flour for bakery and infant formula food. Banana is also used as a starch source for various chemicals and packaging materials. The storability and functional properties of these products can be altered by the application of various innovative food processing technologies. This review article focuses on different banana products, their potential for non-conventional uses and associated prospective novel processing techniques for value addition and preservation. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

International audience; Modifications in dietary fibre content of apples during industrial processing into applesauce were investigated. Samplings with different post-harvest storage times were performed at five different processing steps (apple sorting, cooking, refining, sugaring and pasteurisation) and the samples examined for their insoluble, soluble and total fibre contents, following the AOAC method. Total fibres were also estimated through preparation of alcohol-insoluble solids and polysaccharide compositions of the various fibre residues were determined. Total fibre content decreased from apple to applesauce from 2.4 to 1.7 g for 100 g of fresh weight and the soluble fraction increased. Fibre loss and soluble/insoluble redistribution occurred during processing. Refining triggered a loss of insoluble polysaccharides whilst cooking and, surprisingly, sugaring led to pectin solubilisation and further degradation due to prolonged heating. These pectic changes, moreover, seemed to be dependent on the post-maturity stage of the apples

The purpose of this study was to delineate and compare the sensory profiles of four different strawberry cultivars (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.), Elsanta, Marmolada, Maya and Queen Elisa, grown in Croatia in both conventional and organic cultivation. Sensory profiles of the fresh fruit and their purées were determined by quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA). ANOVA was applied to establish the differences between the intensities of sensory attributes of the fresh strawberries and their purées, arising from the employment of different cultivars and different cultivation types. Seven sensory attributes (out of 14 investigated) showed variations among fresh fruit samples and their purées, two types of cultivation and four cultivars. Sensory attributes, in terms of sour, sweet and harmonious tastes and colour intensity, were compared to the results of experimental physicochemical measurements of titratable acidity (TA), pH, total solids (TS), soluble solids (SS), quality index (SS/TA) and total amounts of anthocyanins, and showed strong correlations between them. The results of this study were also evaluated using multivariate modelling methods, such as principal component analysis (PCA). PCA showed that, regardless of cultivar employed, the attributes best characterizing the fresh samples under evaluation were sweet and harmonious taste, firmness, and floury and aqueous texture, while the purée samples could be best described by earthy and green flavour, off-odour and off-flavour, homogeneous texture, strawberry odour, viscous texture and sour taste. PCA of the sensory data showed that the analysed sensory attributes could be clearly linked to different cultivars and different cultivation types, for both the fresh samples and their purées.

Sensory analysis was performed on fresh fruits, purées and low-calorie jams prepared in laboratory conditions and under vacuum in three strawberry cultivars, Honeoye, Clery and NF 421, grown in Croatia. The purpose of this study was to characterize and compare the sensory quality of three different strawberry cultivars in fresh and processed strawberries. Quantitative descriptive analysis was used to establish sensory profiles. The results of investigation were presented by means of multivariate modelling methods, such as principal component analysis (PCA), which established that analysed sensory attributes can clearly be connected to different cultivars in fresh samples, purées and in all examined jams. The results established during this study on sensory profiles of fresh strawberries and their purées and jams represent a great contribution to the characterization of sensory profiles of these nutritionally high-valued products.

The effects of conventional industrial processing steps on global phytochemical composition of broccoli, tomato and carrot purees were investigated by using a range of complementary targeted and untargeted metabolomics approaches including LC-PDA for vitamins, (1)H NMR for polar metabolites, accurate mass LC-QTOF MS for semi-polar metabolites, LC-MRM for oxylipins, and headspace GC-MS for volatile compounds. An initial exploratory experiment indicated that the order of blending and thermal treatments had the highest impact on the phytochemicals in the purees. This blending-heating order effect was investigated in more depth by performing alternate blending-heating sequences in triplicate on the same batches of broccoli, tomato and carrot. For each vegetable and particularly in broccoli, a large proportion of the metabolites detected in the purees was significantly influenced by the blending-heating order, amongst which were potential health-related phytochemicals and flavour compounds like vitamins C and E, carotenoids, flavonoids, glucosinolates and oxylipins. Our metabolomics data indicates that during processing the activity of a series of endogenous plant enzymes, such as lipoxygenases, peroxidases and glycosidases, including myrosinase in broccoli, is key to the final metabolite composition and related quality of the purees.

Process stability studies towards temperature and/or pressure on pepper pectin methylesterase (PME) were carried out in different systems (purified form, crude extract, pepper pieces and puree) at pH 5.6. Within the temperature range studied (22–80 °C, 5 min), pepper PME in pure form and crude extract was gradually inactivated showing a biphasic inactivation behaviour, indicating the presence of isoenzymes of different thermostability. Pepper samples heated for 15 min showed a maximum of residual PME activity around 55 °C. Isothermal inactivation of pepper PME in purified form and crude extract at pH 5.6 could be described by a biphasic inactivation model for the temperature range studied (62–76 °C). A stable behaviour towards high-pressure/temperature treatments (400–800 MPa/25–60 °C) was observed for crude extract and purified pepper PME. PME in pepper puree samples revealed to be very pressure stable. Mild temperatures combined with pressure treatments seem to increase the extractability from PME in pepper tissue, probably due to the effect on the cell structure.

The effect of drying conditions on the color of tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus L.) leaves was studied. Tarragon leaves were dried at temperatures of 40 to 90 °C with a constant airflow of 0.6 m/s. The samples were collected at 7%, 10%, 20%, and 30% moisture content wet basis for evaluation of the color change. The color parameters of fresh and dried leaves were measured by a colorimeter. The individual parameters of L*a*b* and L*C*h° color systems were evaluated and h° proved to be the best parameter to monitor color change. The smallest change of the color parameters was observed at 40 °C, in which temperature was low, and also at 90 °C, when drying time was short. The biggest change occurred at the temperatures of 50 to 70 °C. Most of the color change happened before the material reaches 35% moisture content. The combination of drying time and temperature defines the change of color.