Summary
This study investigates cold atmospheric plasma as a non-thermal decontamination technology for fresh-cut carrots, evaluating its effectiveness in reducing surface microbial populations whilst monitoring any trade-offs in nutritional and physicochemical quality over storage. The paper likely demonstrates that CAP treatment achieves significant microbial reduction with minimal or acceptable degradation of key nutritional compounds such as carotenoids and antioxidants, though storage duration may influence outcomes. The findings contribute to a growing body of evidence supporting CAP as a viable alternative to conventional chemical sanitisation methods for minimally processed vegetables.
UK applicability
Although the study is likely conducted in Turkey, the findings are directly relevant to UK fresh-cut produce processors and retailers seeking alternatives to chlorine-based washing treatments, particularly given evolving UK and EU regulatory scrutiny of chemical sanitisers in minimally processed horticulture.
Key measures
Microbial load (log CFU/g); colour parameters (L*, a*, b*); texture (firmness, N); pH; moisture content (%); total carotenoid content (mg/kg); antioxidant capacity (DPPH/ABTS assay); total phenolic content (mg GAE/100g); ascorbic acid content (mg/100g)
Outcomes reported
The study measured the antimicrobial efficacy of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) treatment on fresh-cut carrots and assessed its effects on physicochemical properties (colour, texture, pH, moisture) and nutritional attributes (carotenoids, antioxidant capacity, vitamin content) during post-treatment storage.
Topic tags
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