Pasteurization Techniques Research Articles

Enhancing Shelf‐Life of Bael Beverage Through Various Pasteurization Techniques: A Comparative Study at 25°C and 4°C With Thermal, Pulsed Light, and Microwave Treatments

ABSTRACTThe influence of thermal (95°C, 5 min), pulsed light (PL, 1.64 kJ/cm2 available fluence) and microwave (MW, 2 kW, and 16 min ≈ 90°C final temperature) treatment on various quality attributes and shelf‐life of bael (Aegle marmelos) beverage was investigated. The quality parameters under consideration included microbial growth, enzyme activity, bioactive components, sensory quality, and physicochemical properties. Effects of different packaging materials (ethyl vinyl alcohol (EVOH) and multilayered (ML) pouches) and storage temperatures (25°C and 4°C) were also explored. The rate of sample deterioration, loss of bioactive components, and sensory qualities increased with higher storage temperature. MW and thermal processing showed better storage stability based on the minimum microbial counts, enzyme activities, and minimal changes in soluble solids. Least sedimentation was seen in thermally treated samples. MW treatment was better in preventing alterations in pH and titratable acidity (at 25°C), reducing sugars, browning, and sensory acceptance. On 50th day at 4°C, higher total phenolic content (59%–64%), antioxidant capacity (69%–72%), and total carotenoid content (136%–139%) were obtained with the PL treatment. For both packaging materials, a shelf‐life of 40–50 days (as per aerobic mesophile count ≤ 4.0 log CFU/mL) and 30 days (as per overall sensory acceptability > 5) at 4°C was obtained for thermal and microwave. As per AM count, shelf‐life of PL irradiated beverages was 40 days, and according to sensory acceptability, it was 30 days. Overall, MW processed beverages stored in ML‐pouches and at 4°C exhibited better shelf life and storage quality.

Exploring the tunable micro-/macro-structure enabled by alginate-gelatin bioinks for tissue engineering

This study explores the development of optimized alginate-gelatin (AG) bioinks for advanced 3D bioprinting applications, particularly in tissue engineering. Central to our investigation is the establishment of a method for producing AG bioinks with highly tunable viscoelastic properties and the ability to create both macro- and micro-porous scaffolds through a liquid-liquid emulsion technique applied to chemically crosslinked hydrogels and shaped by microextrusion. Our methodology encompasses a comprehensive evaluation of homogenization, pasteurization techniques, and rheological assessments to optimize the mechanical properties of AG hydrogels, ensuring their suitability for bioprinting.The study demonstrates that dynamic homogenization and conventional pasteurization methods yield superior dissolution and sterility of the bioinks, crucial for maintaining optical quality and biological compatibility. Crosslinking optimization significantly enhanced the elasticity and reduced post-crosslinking shrinkage of the hydrogels, a key factor in achieving desired cell viability and function within the engineered tissues. The incorporation of porosity through a controlled liquid-liquid emulsion process was found to enhance cellular interactions and integration within the bioprinted constructs.Our findings confirm that the rheological properties of bioinks play a crucial role in determining bioprintability, with temperature modulation emerging as a key tool for tailoring these characteristics. The biocompatibility and functional performance of the AG hydrogels were validated through in vitro experiments, demonstrating promising cell viability and proliferation. This research lays the groundwork for the development of advanced bioinks capable of supporting complex tissue architectures in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. By marrying the versatility of alginate and gelatin with innovative fabrication techniques, our study advances the frontier of 3D bioprinting, paving the way for the creation of biomimetic tissues with enhanced physiological relevance and therapeutic potential.

Optimization of High-Pressure Processing for Microbial Inactivation in Pigmented Rice Grass Juice and Quality Impact Assessment during Refrigerated Storage.

Pigmented rice grass juice (RGJ) is a good source of bioactive compounds, but fresh juice has a relatively short shelf life of only 7 days at 4 °C. The objectives of this study were to determine the optimal growth stage of pigmented rice grass, investigate the optimal condition of high-pressure processing (HPP) for bacterial inactivation in inoculated RGJ using response surface methodology (RSM), and evaluate quality changes in uninoculated HPP-treated juice during storage at 4 °C compared with heat-treated (85 °C/10 min) and untreated samples. Results revealed that the optimal growth stage of rice grass was 9 days with the highest total anthocyanin content of 158.92 mg/L. The optimal condition of HPP was determined to be 612 MPa, 11 min, and 36 °C, and inactivated Escherichia coli K12 and Listeria innocua with 6.43 and 5.02 log reductions, respectively, meeting FDA regulations. The lethality of bacteria after HPP treatment can be explained by damage to the cell membrane and the leakage of intracellular constituents such as protein and nucleic acid. During 12 weeks of storage at 4 °C, total plate counts and yeast and mold counts in uninoculated HPP-treated juice were not detected. Moreover, HPP did not significantly change phytochemical properties (p < 0.05), caused a minor impact on physicochemical properties of RGJ, and maintained the durability of juice samples during storage. Analysis of the phytochemical profile revealed that HPP treatment could preserve most of the phenolic compounds in RGJ and especially increase the contents of protocatechuic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, syringic acid, transcinnamic acid, isorhamnetin-3-o-glucoside, quercetin, and cyanidin-3-glucoside (p < 0.05). Overall, HPP is a potential pasteurization technique for microbial inactivation and nutritional preservation for rice grass juice.

Hybrid pasteurization strategy for energy conservation and quality preservation in cloudy apple juice processing

The study investigates the combination of microfiltration (MF) with traditional thermal pasteurization (TP), high-pressure processing (HPP), and electron beam irradiation (EBI) in the production of cloudy apple juice. Using 0.22 μm MF membranes instead of 0.45 or 0.1 μm, the highest flux was achieved, the permeate and retentate exhibited minimal deviation from raw apple juice (RAJ) in terms of physicochemical indicators. MF divided RAJ into a cloudy retentate containing microorganisms and a clarified permeate in a 1:4 vol ratio. The retentate was then pasteurized by HPP, TP, and EBI, after which it was mixed with the permeate to create cloudy apple juice. This innovative process reduced processed juice volume by 80% compared to single pasteurization method, decreased the loss of volatile compounds by 20.05%–33.52%, and cut energy consumption by 72.29%–75.35%. Overall, the hybrid pasteurization strategy approach shows great promise pasteurization technique for producing high-quality cloudy apple juice.

Enhancing low‐temperature long‐time milk pasteurization process with a C4.5 algorithm‐driven AIoT system for real‐time decision‐making

AbstractThis research is driven by the imperative to improve the milk pasteurization process's efficiency and safety within the Industry 5.0 framework. It introduces the artificial intelligence of things (AIoT) into the pasteurization system and focuses on deploying the C4.5 algorithm, anticipated to render precise real‐time decisions by analyzing critical temperature and duration data essential for the low‐temperature long‐time (LTLT) pasteurization technique. Test results indicate that the C4.5 model is highly effective, demonstrating nearly perfect metrics with a precision of .78, a recall of .77, and an F1‐score of .73, while achieving an overall algorithm accuracy of .76. In terms of heating control, the double jacket method tested on a 300‐L system proved the control design's capability to quickly reach and maintain desired temperatures, hitting the set‐point within 70 min. However, it was observed that systems with larger capacities took longer to reach the set‐point, suggesting a potential for further optimization. The findings affirm that integrating AIoT into control systems can significantly enhance process efficiency and effectiveness, consistent with the goal of incorporating sophisticated technological solutions in the food sector.Practical ApplicationsThe article “Enhancing Low‐Temperature Long‐Time Milk Pasteurization Process with a C4.5 Algorithm‐Driven AIoT System for Real‐Time Decision‐Making” explores an AIoT system's potential to revolutionize the dairy industry's pasteurization methods. This system promises enhanced efficiency by optimizing energy and time, thereby reducing costs. It ensures superior quality control through continuous monitoring, maintaining nutritional integrity and safety. The high automation level minimizes human error and operational demands, while predictive maintenance forecasts prevent downtime. The system's scalability supports production expansion with minimal resource increase. Moreover, it guarantees product traceability and compliance with food safety regulations. The generated data offers insights for further supply chain optimizations. This integration of AI and IoT thus presents significant advancements in process management, quality assurance, and scalable operations for the dairy industry.

The Design and Process Parameters for the Optimization of an Ultrasonic—Thermal Co-Sterilization System for Liquid Eggs

The sterilization of liquid eggs plays a crucial role in the production of liquid egg products. Traditional pasteurization techniques can easily cause protein denaturation, while non-thermal sterilization techniques are often constrained by processing intensity and time. Improving the effectiveness of liquid egg sterilization while preserving the stability of its functional attributes poses a significant challenge. In response to this issue, a synergistic ultrasonic mild thermal sterilization system for liquid eggs is proposed, accompanied by the optimization of its process parameters. COMSOL is employed to simulate the acoustic field distribution of the ultrasonic–thermal system in the liquid egg medium. Verification is conducted through acoustic intensity measurements, and analysis is performed to obtain the optimal arrangement of ultrasonic transducers. Based on Modbus communication, an ultrasonic–thermal synergistic sterilization system is designed. Sterilization experiments are conducted with both 20 kHz + 28 kHz and 20 kHz + 40 kHz multifrequency ultrasound, compared with traditional 20 kHz single-frequency ultrasound. The results indicate that multifrequency ultrasound improves sterilization efficiency by approximately 15% compared to traditional single-source ultrasound. Utilizing multifrequency ultrasonic–thermal synergistic sterilization experiments, a three-factor, three-level response surface test is conducted with sterilization rate and foaming properties as evaluation criteria. The results indicate a strong correlation between ultrasonic frequency, processing time, heating temperature, and sterilization performance, with the impact magnitude being sterilization temperature &gt; processing time &gt; ultrasound frequency. Parameter optimization analysis is performed using a genetic algorithm, yielding sterilization conditions of 55 °C, 11 min and 30 s processing time, and 20 + 40 kHz ultrasonic frequency. The liquid egg sterilization rate is 99.32%, an average decimal reduction of 3.17 log values, and foaming properties are 42.79%.Through comparative analysis, it is determined that the sterilization rate of the ultrasonic–thermal synergistic sterilization system meets national standards, and functional properties such as foaming are superior to traditional pasteurization. This validates the proposed ultrasonic–thermal synergistic liquid egg sterilization control system as effective and feasible.

EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT PASTEURIZATION AND STERILIZATION METHODS FOR OYSTER MUSHROOM SUBSTRATES

Oyster mushrooms can be cultivated with great spatial efficiency, on nutrient-poor plant materials, without light and under diverse climatic conditions. Their production therefore has a great potential for improving food security, especially in impoverished and overpopulated areas. However, the pasteurization or sterilization of mushroom substrates uses a lot of energy and water. This study investigates the impact of different pasteurization and sterilization techniques on the growth and yield of oyster mushrooms, and evaluates their water and energy usage. The efficacy of heat-based methods, including hot water, hot air, and pressurized steam, as well as a chemical method utilizing hydrated lime (Ca(OH)2) were assessed. The results show that sterilizing mushroom substrates through autoclaving can significantly increase the dry yields, up to 50% compared to pasteurization methods. However, pasteurization methods also achieved excellent results compared to untreated substrates, with good harvests and low pest occurrence. The mushroom water content was significantly higher in pasteurization methods where the substrate is submerged in water. In terms of fresh yield, hot water pasteurization was as good as autoclaving and significantly better than the other pasteurization methods. Hot air pasteurization has, on balance, a better water and energy efficiency than autoclave sterilization (about 75 % less energy) or hot water pasteurization (about 85 % less water). When performed at an air temperature of 75° C, which was found to be sufficient for successful mushroom cultivation, as little as 1068 kJ was needed to pasteurize one kg of dry substrate (e.g. maize straw). While hydrated lime pasteurization could use as little as 270 kJ per kg of dry substrate, it is very wasteful of water, as is hot water pasteurization and could lead to nutrient leaking. The success of mushroom cultivation, especially with hot air pasteurization, could also be influenced by the duration of substrate soaking before treatment. The study provides slight evidence, although inconclusive, for a positive effect of prolonged soaking periods on yield. Lastly, the study discusses the applicability of different disinfection techniques at varying production scales and for different mushroom species, focusing on African countries, where comparably small mushroom economies are growing rapidly, but often through the use of unsustainable pasteurization technology.

Donor human milk: the influence of processing technologies on its nutritional and microbial composition.

Human milk is regarded as the gold standard nutrition for newborn infants, providing all nutrients required for adequate growth and development from birth to 6 months. In addition, human milk is host to an array of bioactive factors that confer immune protection to the newborn infant. For this reason, the supply of human milk is crucial for premature, seriously ill, or low birth weight infants (<1,500 g). When a mother's own milk is unavailable, donor human milk is the recommended alternative by the World Health Organization. Prior to consumption, donor human milk undergoes pasteurization to ensure the eradication of bacterial agents and prevent the transfer of potentially pathogenic organisms. Currently, Holder Pasteurization, a heat-based treatment, is the widely adopted pasteurization technique used by milk banks. Holder pasteurization has demonstrated degradative effects on some of milk's biologically active factors, thus depleting critical bioactive agents with known functional, protective, and beneficial properties, ultimately reducing the immunoprotective value of donor human milk. As a result, alternative strategies for the processing of donor human milk have garnered much interest. These include thermal and non-thermal techniques. In the current review, we describe the effects of Holder pasteurization and alternative milk processing technologies on the nutritional and bioactive properties of milk. In addition, the capacity of each technique to ensure microbial inactivation of milk is summarized. These include the most extensively studied, high-temperature short-time and high-pressure processing, the emerging yet promising techniques, microwave heating and UV-C irradiation, and the lesser studied technologies, thermoultrasonication, retort processing, pulsed electric field, and gamma irradiation. Herein, we collate the findings of studies, to date, to allow for greater insight into the existing gaps in scientific knowledge. It is apparent that the lack of a cohesive standardized approach to human milk processing has resulted in contrasting findings, preventing a direct comparative analysis of the research. We conclude that donor human milk is a unique and valuable resource to the health sector, and although substantial research has been completed, persistent data disparities must be overcome to ensure optimal nutrition for the vulnerable newborn preterm infant group, in particular.

Rapid Versus Slow Cooling Pasteurization of Donor Breast Milk: Does the Cooling Rate Effect Melatonin Reduction?

Background and Objective: There is a question as to whether melatonin levels in breast milk are impacted by the cooling rate postpasteurization. Past research that has used in the Australian donor bank's breast milk Holder Pasteurization technique has reported varying findings regarding melatonin levels postpasteurization. Where breast milk was cooled slowly, a significant reduction in breast milk melatonin levels was observed. Conversely, where a rapid cooling method was used, there was no significant reduction in melatonin levels. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the cooling process between the different pasteurization techniques impact on melatonin levels in breast milk postpasteurization. Materials and Methods: Twenty-seven nighttime breast milk samples were collected, with each sample divided into three; one remained unpasteurized, one was pasteurized and rapidly cooled to 4°C, and the other was pasteurized and cooled slowly to 4°C. Results: Melatonin levels were significantly reduced in both the rapidly cooled and slow cooled breast milk samples when compared to their unpasteurized counterpart (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in melatonin levels between the two cooling methods (p = 0.91). Conclusion: This study showed that both the rapid and cooling pasteurization processes had a similar reduction in melatonin levels in breast milk. However, even after pasteurization melatonin was still present. Therefore, it is recommended that donor banks still take into consideration circadian timing hormones such as melatonin and the time of day breast milk is expressed.

Sonication results in variable quality and enhanced sensory attributes of Adajamir (Citrus assamensis) juice: A study on an underutilized fruit

Citrus assamensis, commonly known as Adajamir, is an underutilized fruit with distinctive sensory and nutritional properties. The limited amount of research on this particular citrus type was recognized as one of the research gaps for this study. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the impacts of sonication, pasteurization, and thermosonication techniques on the quality and sensory attributes of Adajamir juice. A randomized experimental design was used in the study, wherein the juice underwent three different treatments. The results indicate that there were no significant changes in pH or titratable acidity following all treatments. Yet, notable differences in juice color were observed. The use of sonication and thermosonication resulted in an increase in β-carotenoid levels. Additionally, total phenolic content and antioxidant activities were observed to increase. All three treatments led to a reduction in ascorbic acid levels relative to the control. However, the complete elimination of microbial growth was observed during the thermal treatment. Compared to other approaches, sonication has been shown to be notably more efficacious in enhancing both the flavor and aroma. Sonication has been observed to improve the perceived bitterness to a certain degree. These findings support the potential of sonication as an alternative preservation method for Adajamir juice, offering enhanced quality and sensory acceptance.

Novel techniques for the mass production of nutritionally improved, fungus-treated lignocellulosic biomass for ruminant nutrition.

Laboratory-scale experiments have shown that treatment with selective lignin-degrading white-rot fungi improves the nutritional value and ruminal degradability of lignocellulosic biomass (LCB). However, the lack of effective field-applicable pasteurization methods has long been recognized as a major obstacle for scaling up the technique for fungal treatment of large quantities of LCB for animal feeding. In this study, wheat straw (an LCB substrate) was subjected to four field-applicable pasteurization methods - hot-water, formaldehyde fumigation, steam, and hydrated lime - and cultured with Pleurotus ostreatus grain spawn for 10, 20, and 30 days under solid-state fermentation. Samples of untreated, pasteurized but non-inoculated and fungus-treated straws were analyzed for chemical composition, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1 ), and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), in vitro total gas (IVGP), methane (CH4 ), and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production. During the 30-day fungal treatment, steam and lime pasteurized straws had the greatest loss of lignin, resulting in marked improvements in crude protein (CP), IVDMD, IVGP, and total VFAs. Irrespective of the pasteurization method, the increase in IVDMD during fungal treatment was linearly (R2 = 0.77-0.92) related to lignin-loss in the substrate during fungal treatment. The CH4 production of the fungus-treated straw was not affected by the pasteurization methods. Aflatoxin B1 was within the safe level (<5 μg kg-1 ) in all pasteurized, fungus treated straws. Steam and lime were promising field-applicable pasteurization techniques to produce nutritionally improved fungus-treated wheat straw to feed ruminants. Lime pasteurization was more economical and did not require expensive energy inputs. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Comparative Analysis of Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) and Traditional Pasteurization Techniques: Comparative Effects on Nutritional Attributes and Bacterial Viability in Milk and Whey Products

With the current upsurge in the desire to foster healthy lifestyles and consume nutritious food products, the food industry has been propelled to develop novel food processing technologies. In our study, we critically evaluated the influence of pulsed electric field (PEF) processing by comparing it to conventional thermal pasteurization protocols—low temperature, long time (LTLT), high temperature, short time (HTST), and microfiltration (MF)—and its ramifications on the nutritional properties inherent in raw milk, which comprises vitamins, whey protein, amino acids, cholesterol, and fatty acids. A significant difference in β-lactoglobulin content was observed in PEF-treated liquid whey samples compared to those treated with high-temperature (HT) pasteurization, where 4.8-fold reduction with a concentration of 0.80 mg/mL was observed. Liquid whey samples treated with PEF, LTLT, HTST and MF retained β-lactoglobulin content, PEF-treated samples yielded 3.85 mg/mL, while HTST, LTLT, and MF-treated samples had β-lactoglobulin content of 3.62 mg/mL, 3.63 mg/mL, and 3.62 mg/mL compared to raw whey control (RWC) at 3.81 mg/mL. The concentrations of nutritional properties, like vitamins (A, D, E), amino acids, cholesterol, and fatty acids, remained approximately consistent across all the pasteurization methodologies. Moreover, the bacterial viability in the context of various pasteurization methodologies was scrutinized, with an absence of colonies observed in whey specimens subjected to thermal pasteurization. PEF-treated samples exhibited a substantial 1.6-log reduction in coliform colony count to less than 4 CFU/mL after curd reduction, in contrast to raw milk samples.

Effects of pasteurization on osteopontin concentrations in human breastmilk.

Osteopontin (OPN) is an important breastmilk protein involved in infant intestinal, immunological, and brain development. However, little is known about how common milk pasteurization and storage techniques affect this important bioactive protein. Human milk osteopontin concentration was measured in single-donor fresh (n = 1) or frozen (n = 20) breastmilk, pooled Holder-pasteurized donor breastmilk (n = 11), and a shelf-stable (retort pasteurized) breastmilk product (n = 2) by ELISA. Single-donor breastmilk samples were subjected to pasteurization and/or freezing before measuring osteopontin concentrations. Holder pasteurization of breastmilk resulted in an ∼50% decrease in osteopontin concentration within single-donor samples. Breastmilk from mothers of preterm infants trended toward higher osteopontin concentration than mothers of term infants; however, samples from preterm mothers experienced greater osteopontin degradation upon pasteurization. A commercial breastmilk product that underwent retort pasteurization had lower osteopontin concentration than a Holder-pasteurized pooled breastmilk product. Finally, freezing breastmilk prior to Holder pasteurization resulted in less osteopontin degradation than Holder pasteurization prior to freezing. Commonly used breastmilk pasteurization and storage techniques, including freezing and Holder pasteurization, decrease the concentration of the bioactive protein osteopontin in human breastmilk. Holder pasteurization reduced osteopontin concentration by an average of 63%, while freezing resulted in an 8-12% decrease. Pasteurization of human breastmilk significantly decreases the concentration of the bioactive protein osteopontin. Use of both pasteurization and freezing techniques for breastmilk preservation results in greater loss of osteopontin. This study presents for the first time an analysis of osteopontin concentrations in single-donor pasteurized milk samples.

Ultrasound-Treated and Thermal-Pasteurized Hawthorn Vinegar: Antioxidant and Lipid Profiles in Rats.

The hawthorn fruit, a member of the Rosaceae family, is a medicinal plant with numerous therapeutic properties. It has a wide range of variants, with Crataegus tanacetifolia being the most widely recognized species in the world. The hawthorn fruit has various biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, immune-modulating, and anti-carcinogenic properties. This study focused on improving the antioxidant activity of hawthorn vinegar via different methods. We also aimed to investigate the influence of its hepatic antioxidant abilities on health and extend the shelf life of the vinegar. In the study, the vinegar was produced from the hawthorn fruit, and thermal pasteurization and ultrasound techniques were applied. A total of 56 female adult Wistar-Albino rats were allocated into seven groups and administered hawthorn fruit vinegar via oral gavage on a daily basis. The experimental groups included rats treated with pasteurized vinegar (HVP), ultrasound-treated rats (HVU), and an untreated group that received regular vinegar (HVN) at two different dosage levels (0.5 and 1 mL/kg). The SOD, MDA, and CAT antioxidant levels were measured using the ELISA method in plasma and liver tissue samples. The total plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL, LDL, AST, and ALT values were quantified using commercially available kits. The levels of SOD and CAT in the plasma and liver were found to be significantly higher in the HVU1 group compared to all other groups. Furthermore, the HVU1 cohort exhibited the highest HDL value in plasma. The plasma LDL levels were comparably low in both the thermal-pasteurized and ultrasound-treated groups. There were significant expressions of both CAT and SOD in the liver tissues of the HVU groups (analyzed immunohistochemically). These results indicated that hawthorn vinegar administration with 1 mL/kg in group HVU1 could significantly enhance antioxidant capacity in the liver and, consequently, overall health. It can be suggested that the possible therapeutic effects of hawthorn vinegar may boost its antioxidant capabilities and contribute to an overall improvement in quality of life.

Effect of pasteurization processing and storage conditions on softening of acidified chili pepper: Pectin and it related enzymes

The softening of acidified chili peppers induced by processing and storage has become a major challenge for the food industry. This study aims to explore the impact of pasteurization techniques, thermal processing (TP), high-pressure processing (HPP), addition of sodium metabisulfite (SMS), and storage conditions (25 °C, 37 °C, and 42 °C for 30 days) on the texture-related properties of acidified chili pepper. The results showed that the textural properties of samples were destructed by TP (the hardness of samples decreased by 19.43 %) but were less affected by HPP and SMS. Compared with processing, storage temperature had a more dominant impact on texture and pectin characteristics. With increased storage temperature, water-solubilized pectin fraction content increased (increased by 160.99 %, 136.74 %, and 13.01 % in TP, HPP, and SMS-stored groups, respectively), but sodium carbonate-solubilized pectin fraction content decreased (decreased by 29.84 %, 26.81 %, and 8.60 % in TP-, HPP-, and SMS-stored groups, respectively), especially in TP-stored groups. Multivariate data analysis showed that softening was more closely related to pectin conversion induced by acid hydrolysis and pectinase depolymerization. This finding offers new perspectives for the production of acidified chili pepper.

Examining the Influence of Ultrasounds and the Addition of Arrowroot on the Physicochemical Properties of Ice Cream

The aim of the study was to evaluate the possibility of utilizing ultrasonic pasteurization as an alternative method to the standard pasteurization technique used for ice cream mixes. In addition, the possibility of replacing commercial stabilizers (guar gum (GG) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)) with arrowroot was assessed. The evaluation of the ice cream involved an analysis of its chemical composition and physical properties, including X-ray diffraction and microstructure analysis. The ice cream containing arrowroot and undergoing ultrasonic pasteurization exhibited significantly higher content of total solids (47.17%), protein (16.26 [g·(100 g)−1]), and free reducing sugars while displaying a notably lower fat content (6.60 [g·(100·g)−1]). The combination of arrowroot and ultrasonic pasteurization exerted a positive effect on reducing the apparent viscosity of the ice cream mixture (166.10 mPa·s). Consequently, it led to decreased hardness (19.97 N), increased overrun (87.02%), and extended melting time (37.48 min) in comparison to ice creams incorporating GG and CMC with traditional pasteurization. The study showed that arrowroot is a promising alternative to standard commercial stabilizers (CMC and GG) in ice cream production, while ultrasound pasteurization has the potential to replace traditional pasteurization methods.

Non-thermal pasteurization of milk by an innovative energy-saving moderate electrical field equipped with elongated electrodes and process optimization

Environmental concerns and consumer demand necessitate alternative pasteurization techniques that sustainably produce safe and high-quality milk. To this end, a new non-thermal (<42 °C) moderate electric field (MEF) system was developed with elongated electrodes and a reduced electrode gap. Response surface methodology optimized technical and thermo-physical attributes, including viscosity, density, freezing point, solid non-fat (SNF), temperature, power usage, and specific energy consumption (SEC), by altering electrical field intensities (EFI) and mass flow rates (ṁ) from 25 to 30 V/cm and from 0.017 to 0.033 kg/s, respectively. The results were then compared with the conventional thermal pasteurization (CP, 63 °C for 30 min). Besides, process cost analysis in terms of electricity consumption was performed to identify cost reduction opportunity for the industry, and milk samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy to elaborate on the mechanisms involved. MEF optimal processing conditions were 29.8 V/cm EFI and 0.018 kg/s ṁ, which reduced 98.58% of energy consumption, 98.51% of SEC, and 99.09% of processing time in comparison with CP. Also, MEF possessed higher productivity than CP. D-value for total count bacteria (TCB) in MEF was significantly lower than CP (0.06 vs. 14.80 min), and MEF and CP reduced TCB by 99% and 88.61%, respectively. Compared with the previously reported MEF milk pasteurizer, the MEF system developed in this study saved energy, cost, and time by 99.2%, 99.0%, and 78.4%; therefore, this emerging technology could further contribute to sustainable manufacturing of foods.

Comparing the antioxidant properties and volatile compounds of carrot-orange juice blend processed through varied chemical, pasteurization and ultrasound conditions

Ultrasound technique is one of the green technologies that is being utilized widely for varying food processes. Our aim in this study was to carry out ultrasonication, pasteurization and chemical preservation (Potassium metabisulfite) techniques on a carrot-orange juice blend. Additionally, the effect of these treatments on the storage period of about 21 days was also determined. The study displayed an array of results under the effect of different treatments. Throughout the storage period of 21 days’ significant results were presented by the carrot juice blend subjected to the ultrasound technique (25 min) giving the highest values for total phenolic content (25.56 ± 1.29 mg GAE/100 mL), total antioxidant activity (573.48 ± 2.29 mg Trolox /100 mL), DPPH (32.32 ± 1.83 %) and reducing power (45.45 ± 1.92 mg AAE/100 mL) with least deterioration, followed by the blends treated with potassium metabisulfite (KMS) and pasteurization. The physicochemical analysis showed a non-significant effect of treatments on pH and total soluble solids (oBrix) of carrot-orange juice blends whereas, the changes in color parameters L*, a* and b* were noted to show changes in treated blends. Similarly, the results for the GC–MS quantification of volatile compounds displayed the highest concentrations in the ultrasonicated blends as compared to other techniques. The peak quantity was obtained for the hexanal (9903.43 ± 7.61 μg.kg−1) followed by 3-Methylbutanal (2638.7 ± 5.44 μg.kg−1), terpinolene (2337.16 ± 5.28 μg.kg−1), elemicin (2198.28 ± 5.28 μg.kg−1), myristicin (1936.62 ± 6.72 μg.kg−1). The use of sonication can effectively enhance the nutritional qualities of juice, as perceived by consumers.

Skim coconut milk processing by thermal- and ultrasonic-thermal pasteurization

The coconut industry in Indonesia is significant for national income, with the potential for value-added products that could enhance the industry’s expansion. Skim coconut milk, a by-product of virgin coconut oil production, is a healthy substitute for dairy milk that can be consumed by people with lactose intolerance. The low-fat and high-protein content of skim coconut milk makes it a healthier alternative to regular coconut milk and cow milk. This study compares ultrasonic-assisted pasteurization of skim coconut milk to conventional pasteurization technique in terms of contamination reduction efficacy and energy efficiency with minimum product characteristic change. The process consisted of thawing frozen skim coconut milk, homogenization of liquid skim coconut milk and pasteurization in a shaking water bath or ultrasonic bath. Total cell counting was conducted, D-value and z-value were estimated to measure the effectiveness of pasteurization in reducing the number of harmful microorganisms in skim coconut milk. The study found that ultrasonic-assisted pasteurization reduced the number of microorganisms more effectively than conventional pasteurization with a lower energy consumption. The study showed the removal efficiency of ultrasonic-assisted pasteurization and conventional pasteurization at 70°C and 15 minutes were 28.74% and 12.33%, respectively. At that condition, energy consumption for every microbial cell being removed was approximately 3 times lower in ultrasonic-assisted pasteurization than the conventional one (0.13 kWh vs. 0.36 kWh). Skim coconut milk processed by ultrasonic-assisted pasteurization at 75°C for 15 minutes featured homogeneous white liquid with shelf time of 11.2 h, which was 2.65 times longer than the unprocessed coconut skim milk. The research suggests that ultrasonic-assisted pasteurization can be a feasible and sustainable processing technology for skim coconut milk, with potential commercial value for small companies and farmers in Indonesia.

High-Temperature Pasteurization Used at Donor Breast Milk Banks Reduces Melatonin Levels in Breast Milk.

Background and Objective: Donor human milk banks are used when breast milk directly from mothers is unavailable or insufficient. Breast milk contains melatonin, which exhibits a 24-hour pattern. Melatonin promotes sleep onset and is barely detected in daytime milk but rises in the evening and peaks early in the morning. Melatonin supports the development of an infant's own circadian rhythm and is important for neurodevelopment. Currently, donor banks pasteurize breast milk using a Holder Pasteurization (HoP) technique where breast milk is treated at a high temperature (+62°) for 30 minutes before cooling to eliminate any pathogens before it is given to infants. It is not known how the pasteurization process affects the melatonin levels in breast milk. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the pasteurization process reduces melatonin levels in breast milk. Materials and Methods: Ten night-time breast milk samples were collected and each divided into two groups; one group remained unpasteurized and the other group was pasteurized using the HoP technique. Results: Melatonin levels between the unpasteurized and pasteurized groups were compared. Results showed that there was a significant reduction after pasteurization (mean ± standard deviation = 51.92 pg/mL ± 19.54 versus 39.66 pg/mL ± 13.05, p = 0.01). Conclusions: It is important to understand that pasteurization can reduce melatonin levels in breast milk because this hormone is considered important to support the neurodevelopment of infants, especially those born preterm. Further focus on the effect of pasteurization techniques on melatonin in donor breast milk is warranted.