Differences Between the Order Model and the Weibull Model in the Modeling of the Enzymatic Browning

Image analysis-based discoloration rate quantification and kinetic modeling for shelf-life prediction in herb-coated pear slices

The present research study aimed to examine three different herb extract's effects on the discoloration rate of fresh-cut pear slices using an image analysis technique. Pear slices were sprayed and dip-coated with Ocimum basilicum, Origanum vulgare, and Camellia sinensis (0.1 g/ml) extract solution. During 15 days storage period with three days intervals, all sprayed/dip-coated pear slices were analyzed for the quality attribute (TA) and color parameters notably a*, b*, hue angle (H*), lightness (L*), and total color change (ΔE). Further, order kinetic models were used to observe the color changes and to predict the shelf-life. The results obtained showed that the applicability of image analysis helped to predict the discoloration rate, and it was better fitted to the first-order (FO) kinetic model (R2 ranging from 0.87 to 0.99). Based on the kinetic model, color features ΔE and L* was used to predict the shelf-life as they had high regression coefficient values. Thus, the findings obtained from the kinetic study demonstrated Camellia sinensis (assamica) extract spray-coated pear slices reported approximately 28.63- and 27.95-days shelf-stability without much discoloration compared with all other types of surface coating.

Reparameterization of the Weibull model for practical uses in food science

The reparameterization of the Weibull cumulative distribution function and its survival function was performed to obtain meaningful parameters in food and biological sciences such as the lag phase (λ), the maximum rate ( μ max ${\mu _{{\rm{max}}}}$ ), and the maximum increase/decrease of the function (A). The application of the Lambert function was crucial in order to achieve an explicit mathematical solution. Since the reparameterized model is applicable only when the shape parameter (α) is greater than one, the Weibull model was modified with the introduction of a new parameter ( μ β ${\mu _\beta }$ ) that represents the model rate at time β (scale parameter). All models were applied to literature data on food technology and microbiology topics: Microbial growth, thermal microbial inactivation, thermal degradation kinetics, and particle size distributions. The Weibull model and the reparameterized versions showed identical fitting performance in terms of coefficient of determination, residual mean standard error, values of residuals, and estimated values of the parameters. Some faults in the datasets used in this study permitted to re-mark the criticality of a good experimental plan when data modeling is approached. The parameter μ β ${\mu _\beta }$ resulted in an interesting new rate parameter that is not correlated with the scale parameter ( | r ¯ | $| {\bar{r}} |$ = 0.64 ± 0.37) and highly correlated with the shape parameter ( | r ¯ | $| {\bar{r}} |$ = 0.90 ± 0.11). Also, the reparameterization of the Weibull probability density function was performed by using both the standard and new parameters and applied to experimental data and gave useful information from the distribution curve, such as the value of the mode ( μ max ${\mu _{{\rm{max}}}}$ ) and a measure of the curve skewness (λ).

Fresh Mushroom Preservation Techniques

The production and consumption of fresh mushrooms has experienced a significant increase in recent decades. This trend has been driven mainly by their nutritional value and by the presence of bioactive and nutraceutical components that are associated with health benefits, which has led some to consider them a functional food. Mushrooms represent an attractive food for vegetarian and vegan consumers due to their high contents of high-biological-value proteins and vitamin D. However, due to their high respiratory rate, high water content, and lack of a cuticular structure, mushrooms rapidly lose quality and have a short shelf life after harvest, which limits their commercialization in the fresh state. Several traditional preservation methods are used to maintain their quality and extend their shelf life. This article reviews some preservation methods that are commonly used to preserve fresh mushrooms and promising new preservation techniques, highlighting the use of new packaging systems and regulations aimed at the development of more sustainable packaging.

Mathematical modeling of nutritional, color, texture, and microbial activity changes in fruit and vegetables during drying: A critical review

Retention of quality attributes during drying of fruit and vegetables is a prime concern since the product's acceptability depends on the overall quality; particularly on the nutritional, color, and physical attributes. However, these quality parameters deteriorate during drying. Food quality changes are strongly related to the drying conditions and researchers have attempted to develop mathematical models to understand these relationships. A better insight toward the degradation of quality attributes is crucial for making real predictions and minimizing the quality deterioration. The previous empirical quality models employed kinetic modeling approaches to describe the quality changes and therefore, lack the realistic understanding of fundamental transport mechanisms. In order to develop a physics based mathematical model for the prediction of quality changes during drying, an in-depth understanding of research progress made toward this direction is indispensable. Therefore, the main goal of this paper is to present a critical review of the mathematical models developed and applied to describe the degradation kinetics of nutritional, color, and texture attributes during drying of fruit and vegetables and microbial growth model during storage. This review also presents the advantages and drawbacks of the existing models along with their industrial relevance. Finally, future research propositions toward developing physics-based mathematical model are presented.

Impact of post-harvest processing or thermal dehydration on physiochemical, nutritional and sensory quality of shiitake mushrooms

Shiitake mushrooms are one of the most popular and highly consumed mushrooms worldwide both in fresh and dry forms. However, it rapidly starts losing its quality immediately after harvest which necessitates processing and/or proper storage before being distributed. However, the processes used for preserving other mushrooms (e.g., Agaricus) become unviable for shiitake due to its uniqueness (higher respiration rate, varied biochemicals, growth, etc.) which demands individual studies on shiitake. This review starts by listing the factors and their interdependence leading to a quality decline in shiitake after harvest. Understanding well about these factors, numerous post-harvest operations preserve shiitake as fresh form for a shorter period and as dried forms for a longer shelf-life. These processes also affect the intrinsic quality and nutrients of shiitake. This review comprehensively summarizes and discusses the effects of chemical processing (washing, fumigation, coating, and ozone), modified atmosphere packaging (including irradiation) on the quality of fresh shiitake while discussing their efficiency in extending their shelf-life by inhibiting microbial spoilage and deterioration in quality including texture, appearance, nutrients, and favor. It also reviews the impact of thermal dehydration on the quality of dried shiitake mushrooms, especially the acquired unique textural, nutritional, and aromatic properties along with their merits and limitations. Since shiitake are preferred to be low-cost consumer products, the applicability of freeze-drying and sophisticated novel methodologies, which prove to be expensive and/or complex, are discussed. The review also outlines the challenges and proposes the subsequent future directives, which either retains/enhances the desirable quality in shiitake mushrooms.

Shelf Life of Food Products: From Open Labeling to Real-Time Measurements

The labels currently used on food and beverage products only provide consumers with a rough guide to their expected shelf lives because they assume that a product only experiences a limited range of predefined handling and storage conditions. These static labels do not take into consideration conditions that might shorten a product's shelf life (such as temperature abuse), which can lead to problems associated with food safety and waste. Advances in shelf-life estimation have the potential to improve the safety, reliability, and sustainability of the food supply. Selection of appropriate kinetic models and data-analysis techniques is essential to predict shelf life, to account for variability in environmental conditions, and to allow real-time monitoring. Novel analytical tools to determine safety and quality attributes in situ coupled with modern tracking technologies and appropriate predictive tools have the potential to provide accurate estimations of the remaining shelf life of a food product in real time. This review summarizes the necessary steps to attain a transition from open labeling to real-time shelf-life measurements.