Chemistry

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    Microbial Status of Fresh Cut Cooking Banana Variety Alukesel (Musa acuminata× Musa balbisiana, ABB Group) as Affected by Pre-treatments
    (2016) Siriwardana, H.; Abeywickrama, K.P.; Herath, I.
    Fresh cut (minimally processed) cooking banana variety Alukesel was subjected to different pretreatments, packed in polystyrene packages and stored at 5-7 °C for a week. Effect of several identified pre-treatments on Total Plate Count (TPC) and Total Yeast and Mould counts (TYM) were evaluated. Bacteria isolated from plates were identified using biochemical tests and molecular tools. In pre-treated samples, microbial counts were within safe-to-consume limits. Bacillus cereus, Enterobacter ludwigii and Bacillus thuringiensis were identified from fresh cut samples using molecular tools. Citric acid at 3% w/v effectively controlled bacteria, yeasts and moulds and this observation was significantly different from the control (p<0.05). The present study has shown that 3% citric acid was the most effective pretreatment for minimal processing of Alukesel which controlled bacteria, yeasts & moulds completely. Alukesel pretreated with 3% citric acid was free from food borne pathogens such as Salmonella, Clostridium, Yersinia, and Listeria.
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    Effect of pretreatments on extending the shelf life of minimally processed “Ela Batu” (Solanum surattense)
    (Tropical Agricultural Research and Extension, 2007) Dharmabandu, P.T.S.; de Silva, D.S.M.; Wimalasena, S.; Wijesinghe, W.A.J.P.; Sarananda, S.
    Due to the cumbersome nature of the cleaning process and high time consumption for the preparation, most Sri Lankan housewives are reluctant to prepare Solunum surattense (Sinh. Elabatu) as a vegetable for their diet. If S. surattense is available in „ready to cook‟ form it would become a popular vegetable among Sri Lankan housewives. Studies were carried out to identify the best conditions for minimal processing of S. surattense. As pre-treatments 2% (w/v) calcium chloride solution, 0.6% (w/v) turmeric solution, 1% (w/v) vinegar solution, 2% (w/v) calcium chloride + 0.6% (w/v) turmeric solution and 2% (w/v) calcium chloride +1% (w/v) vinegar solution were used. Low density polyethylene (LDPE) pouches (gauge 150) were used to pack pre-treated samples and stored them at 8ºC. In all the pre-treated samples stored at 8ºC, Salmonella and E. coli were absent and coliform counts were at acceptable levels. Sensory evaluation of cooked pre-treated samples showed that the sample pre-treated with 2% (w/v) calcium chloride was the best. In addition to shelf life, colour, and degree of browning of the treatments were also acceptable. Treating S. surattense cut fruits with 2% (w/v) calcium chlo-ride solution before packing in LDPE pouches and storing in 8ºC found to be the best method for extending shelf-life of the fruit. The product could be kept for seven days.