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  • Physicochemical and bioactive compounds of ‘Cantaloupe’ Melon: effect of ozone processing on pulp and seeds
    Publication . Miller, Fátima A.; Fundo, Joana F.; Silva, Cristina L. M.; Brandão, Teresa R. S.
    Melon seeds are an important source of bioactive compounds, which are considered to be health beneficial. Therefore, the objective of this work was to assess the impact of gaseous ozone treatments (30 and 60 min) on melon seeds paste (nonedible part) and compare with the effect on pulp (edible part). Ozone treatments were evaluated in terms of physicochemical (color, pH, and soluble solids content) and nutritional profiles (total phenolics, total carotenoids, and total antioxidant capacity) of processed material. Results indicate that ozone has a different impact on the two fruit matrices, being seeds less affected by this preservation treatment.
  • A review on ozone-based treatments for fruit and vegetables preservation
    Publication . Miller, Fátima A.; Silva, Cristina L. M.; Brandão, Teresa R. S.
    The development and application of efficient methods for the preservation of food products have always been industrial concerns. The search for new technologies that assure safety and quality of the products is an ever-growing challenge. In this context, ozone has emerged, presenting a set of characteristics that makes it highly suitable for fruits and vegetables. Ozone properties and ozone applications to fruits and vegetables industries are included in this work. Due to the potential of ozone-based treatments for obtaining safe products with extended shelf life, several researchers have been focusing on this topic. A compilation of those works is presented in this review, with emphasis on the ozone impact on microbial inactivation and quality aspects of processed fruits and vegetables, and fruit juices as well. This review can be a helpful tool for finding process conditions of ozone-based treatments and subsequent impacts on quality and safety attributes of already studied products, opening further areas of research.
  • Quality assessment of Cantaloupe melon juice under ozone processing
    Publication . Fundo, Joana F.; Miller, Fátima A.; Tremarin, Andréia; Garcia, Ester; Brandão, Teresa R.S.; Silva, Cristina L.M.
    Ozone treatment is a non-thermal technology with promising applications in food processing. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of gaseous ozone at a concentration of 7.0 ± 2.4 g/L for 30 and 60 min of exposure, on some physicochemical characteristics (soluble solids content, pH, titratable acidity and color), bioactive compounds (vitamin C, total phenolics and carotenoids) and total antioxidant activity of Cantaloupe melon juice. The effectiveness of the ozone treatments in microbial survival was also assessed using Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris spores as target spoilers of the juice (artificially inoculated). Some quality parameters were significantly affected by ozone treatments. The most relevant alterations were observed for color, vitamin C, carotenoids and total antioxidant activity. However, total phenolics content increased significantly in ozonized juices. Even though A. acidoterrestris spores reduced 2.22 ± 0.04 log cycles after 60 min of exposure, other quality related characteristics of the juice were modified. Industrial relevance The actual consumers demand for high-quality food standards have launched research to alternative and milder non-thermal processes, which have gained increasing attention and importance in the fruit juice industries. Ideally, preservation and/or processing of foods should involve technologies that prevent undesirable microbial survival and minimize quality attributes changes and nutrient losses. Thermal treatments are conventionally used to attain such targets, however, the content and the biological activity of the most health-related compounds are dramatically reduced. In this context, and particularly for the beverages industries, ozone has been exploited due to their potential for inactivating spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms while being effective in overall quality retention of the products.
  • Effect of gaseous ozone process on cantaloupe melon peel: assessment of quality and antilisterial indicators
    Publication . Miller, Fátima A.; Fundo, Joana F.; Garcia, Ester; Silva, Cristina L. M.; Brandão, Teresa R. S.
    Fruit waste parts, particularly peel, are abundant sources of bioactive compounds. To be included in the formulation of value-added foods, peel needs to be transformed and subjected to a preservation process. Therefore, this study seeks to assess the effect of ozone on the quality and antilisterial indicators of cantaloupe melon peel paste, aiming at obtaining a product with the potential to be used as a food additive. Ozone was bubbled during 30 and 60 min, and some physicochemical characteristics (soluble solids content, pH and colour), bioactive compounds (total phenolics, chlorophylls and vitamin C) and antioxidant activity were analysed. Peel was also inoculated with Listeria innocua, used as a treatment efficiency indicator. The results indicated that, although ozone negatively affected antioxidant activity, it positively influenced all bioactive compounds analysed. An L. innocua reduction of 1.2 log cycle was achieved after ozone exposure. Ozone should be exploited as a promising technology to assure the quality/safety of cantaloupe melon peel. Indeed, if melon peel is conveniently converted into a suitable form that can be used as a food ingredient, this will promote the valorisation of waste materials with the consequent reduction of industrial by-products and new perspectives for market opportunities.