Pomegranate peels and seeds are industrial residues considered interesting sources of punicalagin (PU) and punicic acid (PA), respectively. To optimise their extraction process and protect them against environmental factors, pomegranate residues were extracted with supercritical CO 2 (SC-CO 2 ) using a Box-Behnken design and then optimal extracts encapsulated by spray-drying applying a 2 2 central composite design. Peel extracts showed a PU content of 0.4-9.5% with optimal extraction conditions of 400 bar, 43°C and 20% ethanol. On the other hand, SC-CO 2 seed extracts showed a PA content of 65.1-78.4% with 450 bar, 48°C and 10% ethanol as optimal extraction parameters. Otherwise, the encapsulation efficiency of SC-CO 2 extracts was significantly affected by core/wall material ratio and its quadratic effect. This parameter ranged from 35.1% to 72.4% for peel extracts and from 68.2% to 92.7% for seed extracts. Results showed that the proposed technologies are a feasible approach to the integral utilisation of residues from the pomegranate industry.

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Chlorine-based washing systems have been widely used by the fresh-cut industry. However, there is much interest in developing safer and more environmentally friendly sanitization methods. Watercress was immersed in sodium hypochlorite (100 mg/L), hydrogen peroxide (167 mg/L) or citric acid (10 g/L) or exposed to ultraviolet C (UV-C) light (6 or 18 kJ/m 2 by exposure for 3 or 7 min, respectively), and stored in modified atmosphere packaging at 5C and 95% relative humidity. The respiration rate, packaging gas composition, color, microbiological growth (psychrotrophic and mesophilic microorganisms, Enterobacteriaceae, mold and yeasts), antioxidant capability, polyphenol content and sensory quality were measured. The different treatments did not affect the respiration rate (average 22 mg CO2/kg·h) after 14 days. Psychrotrophic bacteria reached approximately 7 log10 cfu/g, regardless of the treatment, after 14 days. UV-C decreased mesophilic counts, while H2O2 reduced Enterobacteriaceae. UV-C exposure increased the antioxidant capability, which was maintained throughout the storage. None of the treatments affected the color parameters and sensory quality. All of the treatments analyzed, especially UV-C, may be useful for maintaining watercress quality. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSIncreasing popularity of nontraditional vegetables has created a new opportunity for innovation in the development of horticultural minimally processed fresh products. This industry is interested in developing safer and more environmentally friendly sanitization methods to replace chlorine-based washing systems. This study focused on the assessment of immersion in three chemical-sanitizer solutions (sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide and citric acid) or the exposure to ultraviolet C (UV-C) light in combination with modified atmosphere packaging and refrigerated storage (5C and 95% relative humidity). The evaluated disinfection methods resulted as or more effective at reducing microbial growth than chlorine washing. The UV-C treatments improved the functional quality of watercress by increasing the total antioxidant capability and total polyphenol content. The implementation of low cost sanitization methods such as the tested alternative sanitizers or UV-C light may be useful for maintaining the overall quality and extending the shelf life of ready-to-eat watercress and other vegetables. bs_bs_banner Journal of Food Quality

Artículo de publicación ISIThere is an increasing concern about the formation of halogenated compounds when sodium hypochlorite (SH) is used as food sanitizer. This research evaluated the quality of watercress harvested in two seasons treated with alternative sanitizers combined with modified atmosphere packaging. Chlorine dioxide (5-10 mg/L), acidified sodium chlorite (250-500 mg/L), peroxyacetic acid (5090 mg/L) and SH (100 mg/L) were used. Initial respiration rate decreased from 80-135 to 40-72 mg CO2 kg/h in spring-and summer-harvested watercress. Chlorine dioxide and SH caused a reduction in aerobic mesophilic bacteria of 1.8 and 1.3 log colony-forming unit (cfu/g), respectively. Enterobacteriaceae reductions of 1.1 log cfu/g were achieved using SH and peroxyacetic acid in spring and 1.4 log cfu/g by applying acidified sodium chlorite in summer. None of the sanitizers could handle high initial microbial loads for more than 8 days, showing that a raw material with low initial microbial count is required to guarantee the product safety.FONDECYT-CONICYT 1090059 1120274 79100005 313046