Freezing using oscillating magnetic fields (OMF), was developed and is marketed to overcome drawbacks that normally occur in conventional freezing, which affect firmness, colour, taste, and drip loss in frozen-thawed foods. In order to verify the aforementioned advantages, the effect of freezing using OMF on cubes of mango (Mangifera indica L. cv. ‘Kent’) was evaluated. The cubes were frozen at -30 °C for 35 min with OMF set at 0, 30%, 50%, 75% and 100%, and then immediately thawed at room temperature (25 °C) for 70 min. The frozen-thawed mango cubes showed cell wall breakage, presumably due to the formation of ice crystals. Likewise, the frozen-thawed cubes were less firm (p < 0.05) than fresh mango cubes (with both cubes having come from the same specimen), as determined using a texturometer and sensory evaluation. Drip loss ranged from 2.45% to 4.15% in the frozen-thawed mango. Freezing using OMF with a Cells Alive System (CAS) freezer caused negative changes to the thawed mango, mainly a decrease in firmness, with results similar to those reported elsewhere using conventional freezing.

No abstract

In Peru, cocoa (Theobroma cacao) cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) content may exceed the established limits for international trade and human consumption. Most farmers in the Peruvian jungle generally do not fertilise their cocoa crop parcels with organic amendments (OA). Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the application of compost and poultry manure in the doses of 30, 60 and 90 MT ha-1 in cocoa plantations to reduce Cd and Pb content in the cocoa nib. The study was conducted from February to November 2015, in Huánuco, Peru. The textural class of soil was loose silty clay, so it did not change after 9 months of applying the OA. The application of OA decreased available Cd and Pb content in soil over 75% and 98%, respectively. Likewise, the total content of Cd and Pb in cocoa nib decreased more than 95% and 67%, respectively (P < 0.05). Therefore, the OA could be a good alternative to reduce Cd and Pb in the cocoa nib.

This study evaluated the effect on physical and sensory properties of freezing Halved Avocados (HA) by Traditional Method (TM) in a continuous freezer and by electromagnetic field-assisted method (EM) with CAS (Cells Alive System) freezer, obtaining HATM and HAEM, respectively. Each HA from the same specimen (obtaining 2 HA: one for fresh and the other for frozen-thawed state) was coded and evaluated. The firmness of the upper part of the fresh HA was higher (p < 0.05) than the lower part. The freezing curve showed the crystallization phase in the HAEM (from 14.25 to 20.33 min), thus indicating the formation of ice crystals, as well as affecting the significant decrease (p < 0.05) in more than 60% of firmness in the thawed HA concerning the fresh state. Regarding the color, there were differences (p < 0.05) in saturation (C*) between fresh and thawed avocado (HATM and HAEM); however, there were no differences (p > 0.05) in the tonality (h*). Weight loss of thawed HA was less than 0.5%. The sensory evaluation indicated there were no significant differences (p < 0.05) in firmness between the HATM and HAEM using the triangular test.

<p>La corta duración de la vida útil de la anchoveta congelada influye en la limitada utilización de este producto. En el presente estudio, la anchoveta entera (<em>Engraulis ringens</em>) fue desollada, descabezada, eviscerada y desangrada en agua (Control) y en una solución de 2.5% citrato sódico (Tratamiento) y posteriormente congelada, glaseada y almacenada a -25 °C durante 14 meses. El valor peróxido (VP), acidez (A), perfil de ácidos grasos (PAG), sustancias reactivas al ácido tiobarbitúrico (SRAT), hierro hemínico (HH), pH y los atributos sensoriales de las muestras fueron evaluados mensualmente. Los resultados de los análisis de VP, SRAT, A, pH y el análisis sensorial mostraron diferencias significativas (p&lt;0.05) entre el tratamiento y la muestra control, donde la muestra bajo tratamiento presentó mejores características de conservación. Los valores de HH y PAG presentaron un comportamiento variable. La vida útil de la anchoveta desollada, descabezada y eviscerada (control y tratamiento) fue de 14 meses.</p>