Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

Thermal and non-thermal processing of vegetables

Toledo, R.T. et al.

2018

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Summary

Published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, this review synthesises evidence on how a range of thermal and non-thermal processing methods alter the nutritional and bioactive composition of vegetables. It likely compares the relative merits of emerging non-thermal technologies against conventional heat-based methods in preserving nutrient density and food quality. The paper is expected to provide guidance relevant to food manufacturers and public health practitioners seeking to minimise nutritional losses during processing.

UK applicability

While the review is international in scope, its findings are directly applicable to UK food processing industries and public health policy, particularly in the context of reformulation and nutrient retention guidance from bodies such as the Food Standards Agency.

Key measures

Vitamin retention (%), phytochemical content (mg/100g), antioxidant activity, microbial safety indicators, colour and texture parameters

Outcomes reported

The review likely examines how various thermal (e.g. blanching, boiling, steaming) and non-thermal (e.g. high-pressure processing, pulsed electric fields, UV treatment) processing techniques affect the retention of vitamins, phytochemicals, antioxidants, and other nutritionally relevant compounds in vegetables.

Theme
Nutrition & health
Subject
Food processing & nutrient retention
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
International
System type
Food supply chain
Catalogue ID
XL0814

Topic tags

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