Shelf life predictive model for postharvest shiitake mushrooms

Extending the shelf-life of whole egg powder with different packaging: Based on the multivariate accelerated shelf-life test model

Whole egg powder (WEP), predominantly utilized as an ingredient in ready-to-eat foods such as bakery items, puffed snacks and other products, necessitates the consideration of appropriate packaging materials to preserve its quality properties during processing and transportation. The quality changes of WEP were evaluated in PA, C-PA and PE-PP-Al packaging for 35 days at 60 °C in accelerated storage. The results indicate that among the three packaging materials, PE-PP-Al exhibits the highest barrier properties, effectively inhibiting moisture loss, caking, reduced solubility, oxidative deterioration, and decreased thermal stability in WEP. The Multivariate Accelerated Shelf-Life Test (MASLT) was carried out using water content, moisture activity, color value, lipid oxidation (PV, TBA, AV) and organoleptic attributes in different packaging methods, and the predicted shelf-life of WEP at room temperature was 421, 470 and 549 days with RMSE (0.171-0.893) using principal component analysis coupled with kinetic modeling.

Microencapsulation of ginger essential oil using mung bean protein isolate-chitosan complex coacervates: Application in the preservation of crab meatballs and the prediction of shelf life

Crab meatballs with more unsaturated fat tend to spoil. Ginger essential oil (GEO) with oxidation resistance was encapsulated into microcapsules (GM) by complex cohesion of mung bean protein isolate (MBPI) and chitosan (CS) in a ratio of 8:1 at pH = 6.4, encapsulation efficiency (EE) and payload (PL) of GM (D50 = 26.16 ± 0.45 μm) with high thermal stability were 78.35 ± 1.02% and 55.43 ± 0.64%. GM (0.6%, w/w) did not interfere with the original flavor of crab meatballs, and lowered values of pH, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and total bacteria counts (TBC) of the products than those spiked with GEO and the control. The prediction accuracy of the logistic first-order growth kinetic equation in line with TBC (2.84%) was better than that of zero-order and Arrhenius coupled equation based on pH (7.48%) and TBARS (5.94%), but all of them could predict the shelf life of crab meatballs containing GM stored at 4-25 °C.

Emerging technologies for preservation and quality evaluation of postharvest edible mushrooms: A review

Edible mushrooms are the highly demanded foods of which production and consumption have been steadily increasing globally. Owing to the quality loss and short shelf-life in harvested mushrooms, it is necessary for the implementation of effective preservation and intelligent evaluation technologies to alleviate this issue. The aim of this review was to analyze the development and innovation thematic lines, topics, and trends by bibliometric analysis and review of the literature methods. The challenges faced in researching these topics were proposed and the mechanisms of quality loss in mushrooms during storage were updated. This review summarized the effects of chemical processing (antioxidants, ozone, and coatings), physical treatments (non-thermal plasma, packaging and latent thermal storage) and other emerging application on the quality of fresh mushrooms while discussing the efficiency in extending the shelf-life. It also discussed the emerging evaluation techniques based on the various chemometric methods and computer vision system in monitoring the freshness and predicting the shelf-life of mushrooms which have been developed. Preservation technology optimization and dynamic quality evaluation are vital for achieving mushroom quality control. This review can provide a comprehensive research reference for reducing mushroom quality loss and extending shelf-life, along with optimizing efficiency of storage and transportation operations.

Characterization of an active film prepared with Lentinus edodes (shiitake) polysaccharide and its effect on post-harvest quality and storage of shiitake

The aim of this study was to prepare a film based on shiitake (Lentinus edodes) stalk polysaccharides (LEP) for mushroom preservation. The effects of different LEP concentrations on physical, mechanical, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of the prepared film were evaluated. Using scanning electron microscopy, it was revealed that the addition of 1.5 % LEP resulted in homogeneous distribution in the prepared film, as well as greatly improved its antimicrobial properties. Moreover, LEP film resulted in superior mushroom preservation by regulating enzyme activities related to mushroom browning and softening, thereby decaying these processes. In addition, the prepared film maintained mushroom quality by reducing the accumulation of H₂O₂ and activating the regulatory system against oxidative stress. Collectively, the findings of the present study highlight the potential benefits of LEP films as a strategy to improve mushroom quality and prevent post-harvest spoilage, hence constituting a novel prospect for the development of shiitake by-products.

Recent advances in shelf life prediction models for monitoring food quality

Each year, 1.3 billion tons of food is lost due to spoilage or loss in the supply chain, accounting for approximately one third of global food production. This requires a manufacturer to provide accurate information on the shelf life of the food in each stage. Various models for monitoring food quality have been developed and applied to predict food shelf life. This review classified shelf life models and detailed the application background and characteristics of commonly used models to better understand the different uses and aspects of the commonly used models. In particular, the structural framework, application mechanisms, and numerical relationships of commonly used models were elaborated. In addition, the study focused on the application of commonly used models in the food field. Besides predicting the freshness index and remaining shelf life of food, the study addressed aspects such as food classification (maturity and damage) and content prediction. Finally, further promotion of shelf life models in the food field, use of multivariate analysis methods, and development of new models were foreseen. More reliable transportation, processing, and packaging methods could be screened out based on real-time food quality monitoring.

Advances in the Role and Mechanisms of Essential Oils and Plant Extracts as Natural Preservatives to Extend the Postharvest Shelf Life of Edible Mushrooms

China has a large variety of edible mushrooms and ranks first in the world in terms of production and variety. Nevertheless, due to their high moisture content and rapid respiration rate, they experience constant quality deterioration, browning of color, loss of moisture, changes in texture, increases in microbial populations, and loss of nutrition and flavor during postharvest storage. Therefore, this paper reviews the effects of essential oils and plant extracts on the preservation of edible mushrooms and summarizes their mechanisms of action to better understand their effects during the storage of mushrooms. The quality degradation process of edible mushrooms is complex and influenced by internal and external factors. Essential oils and plant extracts are considered environmentally friendly preservation methods for better postharvest quality. This review aims to provide a reference for the development of new green and safe preservation and provides research directions for the postharvest processing and product development of edible mushrooms.