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Fresh pennywort (Centella asiatica) is usually eaten raw as ‘ulam’ or salad-like lettuce. Unfortunately, the fresh pennywort has the potential to cause foodborne outbreaks due to pathogens present on the surface and between the leaves, as washing the pennywort using tap water alone cannot guarantee that the pathogens are eliminated. Thus, the efficacies of several sanitizing solutions, i.e., sodium chloride, sodium hypochlorite, acetic acid, acidic electrolyzed water (acidic EW), alkaline electrolyzed water (alkaline EW), and a combination of acidic EW and alkaline EW (acidic-alkaline EW), were evaluated for their potential applications as washing solutions for pennywort. Washing using acidic EW alone or in combination with alkaline EW (two-step washing) reduced the microbial count. In sensory evaluation, all sanitizer solutions were accepted by the panellists with a score greater than 5, except those washing with acetic acid. Overall, the use of acidic EW, either alone or in combination with alkaline EW, was the best treatment to decontaminate microbes while maintaining the physicochemical and sensory properties of pennywort leaves.

Clinacanthus nutans leaves is a medicinal plant with promising therapeutic effect. The objective of this study was to produce C. nutans powder using a spray dryer and to evaluate its physicochemical properties, followed by physical observation after 3 months of storage at room temperature (21±1°C). C. nutans juice with and without the addition of 5% (w/v) of modified corn starch (MCS) was spray dried at a feed flow rate of 23 rpm, inlet air temperature of 160°C and outlet air temperature of 100°C. Results showed that significantly lower (p

Fresh-cut fruits are popular due to the convenience provided. However, fresh-cut processes damage fruit tissues and reduce the shelf life of products. Pulsed light (PL) treatment is a decontamination method of foods. PL treatment given repetitively at a certain interval during storage could further extend the shelf life of fresh-cut fruits. Edible coating preserves fresh-cut fruits by providing mechanical strength and reducing respiration and water loss. This study was to evaluate the effects of alginate coating combined with repetitive pulsed light (RPL) on sensory quality and flavour of fresh-cut cantaloupes during storage. Cantaloupes were treated with alginate (1.86%, w/v) and RPL (0.9 J/cm2 at every 48 h up to 26 days) alone or in combination. Flavour analysis of fresh-cut cantaloupes was carried out every 12 days during storage at 4 ± 1 °C while sensory analysis was performed on day 32. Alginate coating and/or RPL retained sugar contents (17.92–20.01 g/kg FW for fructose, 18.77–19.98 g/kg FW for glucose and 23.02–29.41 g/kg FW for sucrose) in fresh-cut cantaloupes during storage. Combination of alginate with RPL reduced accumulation of lactic acid although alginate coating was more effective to minimise changes of other organic acids in fresh-cut cantaloupes. The combined treatment was also more effective than individual treatment in retaining total aroma compound concentration of fresh-cut cantaloupes during storage with the highest relative concentration, i.e. 3.174 on day 36. Overall, the combined alginate coating and RPL was effective to maintain the fresh-like sensory quality of fresh-cut cantaloupes with insignificant overall acceptability compared to the control.

Eggs are an excellent source of quality proteins. Eggs as a whole and its components (egg white and egg yolk) are employed in a range of food preparations. Thermal processing employed for stabilizing and improving shelf‐life of egg components is known to have adverse effect on heat‐sensitive proteins leading to protein denaturation and aggregation thus, reducing the required functional, technological, and overall quality of egg proteins and other constituents. Therefore, the current challenge is to identify novel processing techniques that not only improve the intrinsic functional properties of eggs or its components, but also improve the quality of the product. This review focuses on the use of technologies such as ultrasound, pulsed electric field, high‐pressure processing, radiofrequency, ultraviolet light, microwave, and cold plasma for egg products. These novel technologies are known for their advantages over thermal treatments especially in protecting the heat sensitive nature and retaining the overall quality of the egg and egg products. Availability of alternatives processing has significantly improved the structural properties, techno‐functional, nutritional and as well improving the safety egg and egg products. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Eggs are consumed worldwide as whole egg or in some cases, consumed partly as egg whites or egg yolks. Egg components with improved techno‐functional properties can be used in various food industries (such as baking, confectionery, and culinary preparation, etc.). Value addition of new products can be achieved through modification of egg proteins. Additionally, these techniques also provide microbial safety and have a reduced impact on nutritional content and overall food quality.

This study was to investigate the effects of optimised alginate coating combined with repetitive pulsed light (RPL) on cell wall composition of fresh-cut cantaloupes during chilled storage. Fresh-cut cantaloupes were coated with alginate (1.86%, w/v) followed by RPL treatment (0.9 J cm(−2) at every 48 h up to 26 days) during storage of 36 days. Cell wall composition of fresh-cut cantaloupes was determined at every 12 days while microscopic analysis was conducted on day 2 and day 36. Alginate was effective in maintaining high pectin fractions of fresh-cut cantaloupes while RPL showed greater contribution in maintaining hemicellulose fraction. However, the combination of alginate and RPL was the most effective treatment to maintain the overall cell wall fractions that contributed to the cell wall integrity of fresh-cut cantaloupes during storage. The alginate + RPL samples also had the greatest cell turgidity and shape with well-defined cell walls at the end of storage.

Mango peels extract (MPE) was incorporated into fish gelatin films to determine their physical, barrier, mechanical and antioxidant properties for active food packaging. Films with three different concentrations of MPE (1–5%) were prepared by solution casting method. Films incorporated with MPE showed a decrease (P > 0.05) of water vapor permeability (WVP) and lower (P ≤ 0.05) films solubility. High level of MPE films also exhibited more rigid and less flexible film formation. Colored tint films and a reduction in transparency were due to the hydrogen bond linkages between fish gelatin molecules and phenolic content within the film matrix. Higher free radicals scavenging activities also observed for films with higher concentrations of MPE. This study reveals the benefits of mango by-products incorporated into gelatin based films as a potential material for active packaging.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of edible coatings combined with repetitive pulsed light (RPL) treatment on microbiological stability, quality and physicochemical changes of fresh-cut cantaloupes during storage at 4 ± 1 °C. Fresh-cut cantaloupes were coated with various coating materials. The coated fresh-cut cantaloupes were packed in polypropylene bag and exposed to RPL treatment with a fluence of 0.9 J cm−2 every 48 h up to 28 d of storage at 4 ± 1 °C. The microbiological quality, headspace gas composition, physical quality (firmness, fluid loss and colour), chemical quality (pH, titratable acidity, total soluble solids, total phenolic content and ascorbic acid content) and coating homogeneity and adherence of these fresh-cut cantaloupes were determined. The combination of pectin, alginate and gellan coatings with RPL treatment was effective to reduce fluid loss and retain firmness of fresh-cut cantaloupes compared to control samples while maintaining the desired headspace gas composition for fresh-cut cantaloupe throughout storage. Chitosan-based coating enhanced the microbiological quality of fresh-cut cantaloupes but increased its fluid loss and reduction of ascorbic acid content. Colour, pH, titratable acidity, total soluble solids and total phenolic content were maintained throughout the storage for coated fresh-cut cantaloupes treated with RPL. In conclusion, a combination of alginate and RPL treatment was the most effective treatment condition to extend the shelf life of fresh-cut cantaloupes by maintaining microbiological quality up to 28 d with significantly reduced fluid loss and enhanced firmness compared to samples treated with RPL alone. Alginate coating adhered well to the surfaces of fresh-cut cantaloupes and retained its physicochemical and nutritional quality when combined with RPL.

Pulsed-UV is an emerging innovation in non-thermal processing and is scarcely explored. This study introduces a combined treatment of microwave and pulsed-UV to reduce the microbial load in yellow alkaline noodle (YAN), a popular staple food among South East Asians that is easily perishable, without jeopardising its textural qualities. Results indicated that the combination of 5 s microwave (power = 900 W; frequency = 2450 MHz) and 3.5 J/cm(2) pulsed-UV significantly reduced aerobic plate count and spore forming bacteria, from 637.5 to 50 CFU/g and 1500 to 100 CFU/g, respectively. In terms of textural properties, even though significant changes were detected in hardness and springiness for treated YAN kept at ambient storage as compared to control, the alterations were not prominent. Based on these observations, it is concluded that a combined treatment of microwave and pulsed-UV successfully improved the shelf life of YAN at ambient storage by 50%, from 1.0 day (control) to 1.5 days (treated sample) and by 140%, from 2.0 to 4.8 weeks at chilled storage. Current study proves the potential of microwave + pulsed-UV, a “green” hurdle treatment, to extend the shelf life of preservative-free YAN without causing major undesirable textural alterations on the noodle.

Polyethylene (PE) films coated with an active layer of gelatin and mango peel extract (MPE) were developed for margarine product. MPE as an antioxidant source was incorporated into a fish gelatin-based film-forming solution (FFS). The FFS was coated onto PE films with different thicknesses (10, 20, 40, and 60 μm) to form polyethylene/gelatin bilayer films (PE/G). The physical and antioxidant properties of the PE/G films were determined. Thicker coatings produced coloured films, which improved light barrier properties and increased DPPH radical scavenging values. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed the bilayer films were compatible with one another and produced compacted film integrity. Also, the PE/G60 film improved the oxidation stability of margarine up to 28 days of storage period at 4 °C. The results suggest that bilayer films have potentials to be used as active packaging materials for delaying lipid oxidation.

This study was done in order to investigate the effect of repetitive pulsed light (RPL) treatment at certain interval on microbiological stability, quality and physicochemical changes of fresh-cut cantaloupes during storage. Fresh-cut cantaloupes packed in polypropylene bag were exposed to RPL treatment with fluences of 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 and 1.2 J/cm2 every 48 h up to 28 days of storage at 4 ± 1 °C. The microbiological quality, headspace gas composition, physical quality (firmness, fluid loss and colour), chemical quality (pH, titratable acidity, total soluble solids, total phenolic content and ascorbic acid content) and microscopic observations of fresh-cut cantaloupes were determined during storage. No significant (p > 0.05) effect was observed for firmness, colour and total soluble solids of fresh-cut cantaloupes treated with RPL throughout the storage study. Repetitive PL treatment using 0.9 J/cm2 was the most effective fluence for extending the shelf life of fresh-cut cantaloupes with extension by 20 days compared to control in term of microbiological quality while maintaining all quality parameters. Negative effect of single PL treatment (SPL) (11.7 J/cm2) on tissue structure of fresh-cut cantaloupes during storage was minimised by applying RPL treatment (0.9 J/cm2 for every 48 h interval). Industrial relevance Fresh-cut cantaloupes are becoming more popular due to the benefits of convenience and fresh-like quality provided. However, fresh-cut cantaloupes are susceptible to microbial contamination and deterioration as the fruit tissue is injured due to cutting of the product into pieces. Repetitive PL (RPL) treatment is an alternative application to single PL (SPL) treatment for extending shelf life of fresh-cut fruits by minimising the negative effect of SPL treatment on the tissue structure. This study demonstrates the usefulness of RPL treatment to further extend the shelf life of fresh-cut cantaloupes compared to SPL treatment. This is crucial for vending cut fruits through refrigerators equipped with RPL system. The RPL application contributes to reduced postharvest loss and increased convenience and availability of fresh-cut fruits to the public which benefit both producers and consumers.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cut type and pulsed light (PL) fluence on microbiological stability and quality of fresh-cut cantaloupes. Fresh-cut cantaloupes with various cut types (cuboid, triangular prism and sphere) were treated with PL technology at 6 J/cm(2). Samples were exposed to PL treatment at fluences of 2.7, 7.8, 11.7 and 15.6 J/cm(2) followed by storage at 4 ± 1 °C for 28 days. Microbiological quality, headspace composition, firmness, colour, pH, titratable acidity, total soluble solids, total phenolic content and ascorbic acid content of fresh-cut cantaloupes were determined. Spherical shape was found to be the most suitable shape for PL treatment of fresh-cut cantaloupes due to its significantly lowest (p ≤ 0.05) microbial counts before and after the PL treatment. No significant (p 0.05) effect was observed for firmness, colour, total soluble solids and total phenolic content of fresh-cut cantaloupes throughout the storage study. Pulsed light treatment using 7.8 J/cm(2) was the best for extending shelf life of fresh-cut cantaloupes with extension of 8 days longer at 4 ± 1 °C compared to the control while maintaining the ascorbic acid content. In conclusion, PL treatment is a potential technique for extending the shelf life of fresh-cut cantaloupes by inactivating microorganisms without compromising the nutritional value.

Ultraviolet (UV) is able to inactivate most microorganisms in fruit juices with a low absorption coefficient but its effect is limited in inactivating undesired enzymes. The aim of this study was to overcome limitation of ultraviolet light (UV) by combining mild heat with UV. Pineapple juice was treated with mild heat (temperature: 50, 55 and 60 degrees C; holding time: 10, 20 and 30 min) and subsequently exposed to UV (5.61, 7.55 and 11.23 mJ.cm(-2)). The effects of these combined treatments on pectin methylesterase (PME), bromelain activities and total phenolic content (TPC) were determined. Both enzymatic activities were reduced by mild heat but not by UV treatment. Increasing holding time and UV dosage led to higher depletion of TPC. Treating pineapple juice with mild heat at 55 degrees C for 10 min and UV at 5.61 mJ.cm(-2) decreased PME by 60.53% whilst retaining 61.57 +/- 0.21% and 72.80 +/- 033% of bromelain and TPC, respectively. Industrial relevance: As opposed to traditional heat pasteurisation, ultraviolet (UV) treatment has the potential to produce pineapple juice with added value, such as high amount of health benefiting phenols and bromelain. Despite being known for being economically feasible, this technology is not widely adapted by the industry due to its inability to inactivate pectin methylesterase (PME). To overcome the limitation of UV, mild heat (MH) is introduced as hurdle technology. This study demonstrates that combining UV and MH could be able to effectively inactivate the PME in pineapple juice whilst preserving relatively high amount of bromelain and phenols.