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The aim of the present research was to determine the effect of environmental conditions (biofortification with Mg) and technological processes (freezing, preserving in jars and drying) on the content of nitrates (III) in carrot. Besides this, the amount of human intake of nitrates (III) found in the carrot products analysed was assayed. The effect on environment resulting from the changes in carrot growing technology was not so unambiguous as for nitrates (V) since most NO2¯ was contained in, for example, processed foods from non-biofortified Mg material. The consumption of products was not hazardous to the consumer since it did not exceed Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) NO2¯. Most nitrates (III) are consumed with dried carrot and least - with carrot preserved in jars. For this reason, one should run a thorough monitoring of the contents of nitrates (III), toxic to humans since new products based on dried carrot material, such as crisps, are launched in the consumer market.

The aim of the research was to define changes in the content of NO3¯ determined by the environment and processing in products from five cultivars of carrot, orange in colour. Besides this, in the research, the human intake of toxic compounds found in processed foods was also assayed. All the processed foods were produced at laboratory scale compliant with the applicable guidelines and norms. The content of nitrates in processed foods depended significantly on the genetic conditions of material and on the processing method. Of all the cultivars under study, ‘Karotan’ was least applicable to processing since, irrespective of the processing method, the lowest decrease in nitrates was reported for that cultivar. The consumption of processed foods from the cultivars of carrot studied is not hazardous to consumer health, since the value of the ADI in adult, Acceptable Daily Intake, is not exceeded.

Beetroot is a vegetable known since antiquity, valued due to its high pro-health potential resulting from the high content of betalaine pigments, mainly betanin. Due to the allergenic nature of this compound, there may be some of the restrictions concerning red beetroots consumption. This study analysed the physicochemical characteristics of a new white beetroot cultivar 'Śnieżna Kula' ('Snowball'), which can become an alternative to red beetroot. The effects of the size and particular parts of the roots were assessed on betalain pigment, reducing sugar, total sugar, phenolic compounds, nitrate (III) and nitrate (V) contents, and on the antioxidant capacity (expressed as a FRAP and ABTS value). The mass of the beetroots of the 'Śnieżna Kula' cultivar varied and ranged from 279 to 1118 g. The analysed beetroot is devoid of red betalain pigments. The total sugar content was the highest for group B (401–600 g) with an average of 33.5 mg kg−1 FW. The roots with a less weight, i.e. those of groups A contained their greater amount phenolic compounds and chlorogenic acid (415 mg kg−1 FW i 279 mg kg−1 FW, respectively). A the same time, less roots contained more nitrates (V), ranging from 3 301 to 3 534 mg kg−1 FW. The inner parts of the root contained more nitrates (III) and (V), while the outer parts of the roots were richer in polyphenols and chlorogenic acid. The antioxidant capacity was correlated with polyphenol and chlorogenic acid contents. The roots for group A (<400 g) the bottom under leaf part and the bottom under leaf part proven antioxidant capacity respectively 17.5; 16.3 mmol Fe2+ kg−1 FW (FRAP) and 8.50; 8.40 mmol Trolox kg−1 (ABTS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of mechanical damage on both the contents of dry matter and chlorogenic acid and the degree of blackspot for five cultivars of potatoes of various earliness groups. The study was conducted immediately after the harvest as well as after two, four and six months of storage under constant conditions (air temperature +4 °C and RH 95%). Mechanical damage leads to a greater accumulation of chlorogenic acid and increases the tubers' susceptibility to blackening, irrespective of the earliness group. The duration of storage significantly determines the dry matter content of chlorogenic acid and the susceptibility to blackening of raw tuber flesh to the greatest extent for cultivars of the medium-early group. A significant (P < 0.01) correlation was demonstrated between the dry matter and chlorogenic acid contents and the degree of blackspot, which was higher on damaged tubers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]