Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit is widely used in the food and process industries due to its excellent nutritional and health value and as a raw material for the manufacture of secondary products such as jellies, dyes, and cosmetics. The objectives of this research were to determine the vitamin C content and antimicrobial properties of fresh and dried fractions of fruit peel and arils of locally grown and imported pomegranate in Oman. A significant variation in vitamin C content was found among the five varieties of pomegranate studied, ranging from 52.8 to 72.0 mg/100 g fresh weight (fw) for arils and 76.8 to 118.4 mg/100 g fw for peels. Irrespective of the variety of pomegranate, vitamin C content in the peel was significantly higher than the aril, with differences ranging from 24.4% to 97.0% depending on variety. Fruit fractions showed antimicrobial effects (inhibition zone) on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa but not Escherichia coli. Sun drying of fruit peel significantly (p≤ 0.05) enhanced vitamin C retention and antimicrobial effects in comparison with oven drying presumably due to lower rate of moisture removal associated with low temperature drying over longer duration in comparison with short-time high-temperature oven drying.

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Purpose -The purpose of the paper is to study the effects of cooking on proximate composition, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals and total, heme and non-heme iron content of camel meat. Design/methodology/approach -A total of ten longissimus thoracis muscles (500 grams) were collected between the tenth and twelfth ribs of the left side. Samples were randomly collected from two to three year old camel carcasses chilled (1-38C) for 48 hours then stored at 2 208C. The first portion was kept fresh while the second one was placed in plastic bags and cooked by immersion in a water bath at 708C for 90 minutes. Both samples were freeze-dried, and then ground to a homogeneous mass to be used for chemical analyses. Findings -Cooked samples had significantly (p , 0:05) higher dry matter by 27.7 per cent, protein by 31.1 per cent and fat by 22.2 per cent, but lower ash content by 8.3 per cent than the raw ones. Cooking had no significant effect on amino acid and fatty acid composition of the meat. The components of camel meat most significantly affected by cooking were macro-and micro-minerals, which ranged between 13.1 and 52.5 per cent, respectively. Cooking resulted in a significant decrease in total, heme and non-heme iron contents by 4.3, 8.7 and 4.0 per cent, respectively. Research limitations/implications -The research is restricted to camel meat but it is an exploratory study. The issue of research outcome as only longissimus thoracic muscle is another limitation. Further investigation is needed to include different muscles, temperatures, durations and cooking methods. Practical implications -Amino acids and fatty acids of camel meat are not affected by cooking, while heating accelerated total and heme iron oxidation suggest camel meat to be a rich source of heme iron. Originality/value -The paper is original in its findings and useful for both researchers and academics in the field of meat science.

Malindi' banana ( Musa,'Dwarf Cavendish') was stored at three storage conditions (11)(12)(20)(21)(22) and cyclic cooling and warming to simulate day/night conditions during the banana harvest season: 28 • C and 50% RH/18 • C and 70% RH). Fruit storage life was 21, 10, and 8 days in the refrigerated storage, normal room storage, and storage under cyclic day/night conditions, respectively. Fruit ripening, respiration, and ethyelene production were significantly higher at high temperature storage and cyclic day/night conditions leading to faster fruit deterioration. Under these storage conditions, the rate of fruit weight loss, firmness, vitamin C loss, and chlorophyll degradation was also higher compared to refrigeration.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate the difference in antioxidant contents of pre‐packed fresh‐cut and whole fruit and vegetables as sold in the market.Design/methodology/approachSamples of pre‐packed fresh‐cut fruit and vegetables as well as whole produce were collected from the market in Muscat and Oman, and analyzed for vitamin C, lycopene and total carotenoids. Analysis of variance was carried out to determine the level of statistical differences between fresh‐cut and whole fruit and vegetables.FindingsIn both fruit and vegetables, vitamin C contents are higher in whole than fresh‐cut produce, with greater reductions in vitamin C contents of fresh‐cut vegetables than fruit. In both fresh‐cut and whole fruit, lycopene content is 30‐36 times higher in watermelon than the contents of other fruit genotypes studied. Similarly, total carotenoids content of watermelon is six to 21 times higher than other types of fruit studied. Both lycopene and total carotenoids content are higher in whole than fresh‐cut fruit, except in pineapple fruit. In both fresh‐cut and whole vegetables, lycopene content of carrot is three to four times higher than cucumber, and four to six times higher than celery. Implications of these results on public health policy are discussed.Originality/valuePrevious studies on quality of fresh‐cut produce are based on controlled experimental studies using samples of produce from the same batch to compare fresh‐cut versus whole produce. However, consumers in retails stores often have to make a choice between pre‐packed fresh‐cut or whole (un‐cut) produce, which are not usually from the same source or batch. It is therefore essential to understand the differences in nutritional value of whole and pre‐packed fresh‐cuts sold in the market.