Effect of the packing and the gama irradiation on the microbiological contamination control of the minimally processed mango.
Vieites R. L., Evangelista R. M., Campos A. J. de, Moreira G. C.
Author Affiliation: Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Campus de Botucatu, Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas, Departamento de Gestão e Tecnologia Agroindustrial, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
Semina: Ciencias Agrárias (Londrina) 25 : 197-206
Abstract : An experiment was conducted to verify the microbiological contamination of minimally processed and irradiated mango cv. Tommy Atkins. The fruits were washed in water, peeled, manually cut in cubes of 3×3 cm and conditioned in packages of polyethylene terphthalate (PET) tray Neoform, transparent plastic glass with cover (250 ml), and plastic bag (25 mm) under vacuum. The fruits were irradiated with doses T1 (0, control), T2 (0.1 kGy), T3 (0.2 kGy), T4 (0.3 kGy), T5 (0.4 kGy) and T6 (0.5 kGy), and stored under 5°C and 85% relative humidity. Every 2 days of storage, the fruits were evaluated for the incidence of coliforms, mesophiles and psychrophile microorganisms. At the end of a 10-day period, the fruits irradiated with 0.4 and 0.5 kGy doses and packages of PET tray Neoform, transparent plastic glass with cover (250 ml), presented the smallest mesophile and psychrophile rates, while the control presented the largest mesophile and psychrophile rates, being considered inappropriate for consumption from the fifth day of storage.