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By-products from fruits and vegetables are slices and peels that have been removed or rejected by the food industry and are considered to have low commercial value. Pumpkin peel is a source of carotenoids, minerals, antioxidants and phenolic compounds. This work studied the nutritional value of pumpkin peel flours produced by convective drying (40 °C) and milling. Pumpkin peel flours contained high contents of insoluble fibres (24.46 g/100 g), potassium (19.1 g/kg) and iron (152.5 mg/kg). Carotenoids were extracted using hexane at 40 °C, and flour particles were classified by 35-, 80- and 100-mesh sieves. The total carotenoids content ranged from 216.9 to 306.8 μg/g. Fick’s second law model computed that 215 min was required to extract 99 % of the total carotenoids. This work evidenced the effects of particle size on carotenoids extraction efficiency and demonstrated that pumpkin by-product flour could be used as a food ingredient or natural dye.

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The Pachira aquatica (PA) Aubl. (Malvaceae), commonly known as munguba, castanheira, wild cocoa, and maranhão nut, is a native tree of Mexico (Paula, Cruz, & Barbosa, 2006). In Brazil, it is common in the Amazon region and occurs mainly in streams and rivers, from which originated its scientific name. Some studies have shown that PA seeds present a high amount of lipids (44%), 12.9% of protein showing a high amount of essential amino acids such as tyrosine,

The contemporary context in which the food industry is set up instigates a new product conception towards food ethics. However, how effectively does this perspective materialize on the gondolas of retail chains? In order to bring some elements to discussion, this article presents an exploratory study based on the decoding of information contained in food labels marketed in Brazil. In total, 287 labels regarding four categories (juices, snacks, chocolates, and yogurt) were analyzed using the Reverse Engineering methodology. The results indicate a movement of brand differentiation structured in actions conducted inside (a result of product and process engineering) and outside (regarding relationship engineering along the value chain). In other words, the internalization of innovations in products and processes (inside perspective) and; the development of vertical cooperation and coordination relations outside the company (outside perspective). In this sense, participation in globally connected markets is described as a driver of differentiation strategies regarding ethical aspects in the food processing industry and has direct effects on the vertical structures of firms, as suggested by the value chain literature.