Adriana Pinotti

Mathematical modelling of microbial growth in packaged refrigerated beef stored at different temperatures

Gompertz and logistic models were fitted to experimental counts of microorganisms growing in beef stored at 0, 4, 7, 9 and 10 degrees C. Samples were packaged in polyethylene (high gaseous permeability) and in EVA/SARAN/EVA (low gaseous permeability) films, being EVA ethyl vinyl acetate and SARAN polyvinyl and polyvinylidene chloride copolymer. Lag phase duration (LPD) and specific growth rate (mu) were obtained as derived parameters for lactic acid bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas sp. and psychrotrophic microorganisms. The reciprocal of LPD was fitted to an Arrhenius type equation; LPD of lactic acid bacteria showed a marked dependence on temperature, with activation energy values (ELPD) of 222.2 and 216.9 kJ/mol for polyethylene and ESE respectively. The effect of initial microbial population at different storage temperatures on adaptation period was analyzed. As the initial microbial population increased, adaptation period decreased for all studied microorganisms and for both packaging films. The effect of temperature on specific growth rate was better interpreted by the Arrhenius model than by the linear or the square root equations. Psychrotrophic microorganisms in beef showed the highest activation energy values for specific growth rate (E mu) in both packaging films, being E mu 85.50 and 103.10 KJ/mol for polyethylene and ESE film respectively. In both films, Enterobacteriaceae showed the lowest E mu values, being 15.33 and 59.89 kJ/mol in ESE and polyethylene respectively. The final number of microorganisms (maximum population density) did not show significant changes with storage temperature.

Optimization of the flocculation stage in a model system of a food emulsion waste using chitosan as polyelectrolyte

The influence of different factors on the dose of chitosan necessary to neutralize electrical charge and to get flocculation in a model system of a sunflower oil/ water emulsion was analyzed. These factors included: ionic strength, pH, size of the drops in the emulsion, concentration of oil and surfactant and type of emulsifier (sodium dodecyl and tetradecyl sulfate). Results showed that the increase of NaCl concentration reduces the dose necessary to produce destabilization and flocculation. The longer the surfactant chain length the greater the chitosan dose to reach zero charge. pH variation did not show any influence on the chitosan dose necessary to flocculate the colloidal system. Increasing globule size led to lower chitosan doses to reach flocculation. A linear relationship between initial values of colloidal charge and electrophoretic mobility was established, allowing the prediction of the optimum dose of chitosan as polyelectrolyte to be applied for the treatment of food emulsion wastes.

Characterization of Starch and Composite Edible Films and Coatings

Starch-based and composite edible films and coatings can enhance food quality, safety and stability. They can control mass transfer between components within a product, as well as between product and environment. They can improve performance of the product through the addition of antioxidants, antimicrobial agents, and other food additives. Unique advantages of edible films and coatings can lead to the development of new products, such as individual packaging for particular foods, carriers for various food additives, and nutrient supplements. Film materials and their properties have been reviewed extensively in this book and previously (Guilbert 1986; Kester and Fennema 1986; Krochta and De Mulder-Johnson 1997).

Heat Treatment To Modify the Structural and Physical Properties of Chitosan-Based Films

This work was focused on studying the changes undergone by heat-treated chitosan films with and without tannic acid addition by monitoring both microstructure and physical properties. Once the films were submitted to different heat treatments, they exhibited higher barrier properties as well as lower water uptake, solubility, and moisture content. These results were also confirmed through X-ray patterns, which changed from the hydrated to the anhydrous conformation, sharper FTIR peaks specifically associated with water, and shift of T(g) toward higher temperatures determined by DMA. Moreover, the modifications caused by the curing process at a molecular scale were observed at a structural level by using a TEM technique. FTIR evaluation granted new insights into the interactions between tannic acid and chitosan molecules, before and after the heat curing, especially due to the occurrence of new peaks and changes in the wavenumber region 1550-1750 cm(-1).

Edible methylcellulose-based films containing fructo-oligosaccharides as vehicles for lactic acid bacteria

The goal of this work was to investigate the physicochemical properties of methylcellulose (MC) based films as stabilizers of two strains of lactobacilli: Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus CIDCA 333 and Lactobacillus plantarum CIDCA 83114. The incorporation of 3% w/v fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) into the MC film formulation improved the viability of L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus CIDCA 333 after film preparation. L. plantarum CIDCA 83114 was intrinsically more resistant as no viability loss was observed upon preparation of the films in the absence of FOS. Scanning electronic microscopy images also showed a good incorporation of microorganisms without affecting the homogeneity of the films. FTIR spectroscopy provided structural information about the bacteria-loaded films. Water sorption isotherms showed an impervious behavior at low aw but on exceeding 0.7 of aw the film started to dissolve and form syrup, causing a drastic drop of bacterial viability (log N/N0≤-5). Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) demonstrated that the incorporation of microorganisms into the MC films had no effect on vitreous transition temperatures. FOS incorporated into the MC films had a plasticizing effect. Microorganism-loaded films were stored at relative humidities (RH) ranging from 11 to 75%. Both strains could be stored at 11% RH for 90days. At 33 and 44% RH L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus CIDCA 333 could be stored up to 15days and L. plantarum CIDCA 83114 up to 45days. At 75% RH only L. plantarum CIDCA 83114 could be equilibrated (log N/N0: -2.05±0.25), but CFU/g films were undetectable after 15days of storage. The results obtained in this work support the use of MC films containing FOS as a good strategy to immobilize lactic acid bacteria, with potential applications in the development of functional foods.

Plasticized methylcellulose coating for reducing oil uptake in potato chips.

BACKGROUNDnAs a result of consumers health concerns and the trend towards healthier and low-fat food products, research has been undertaken to reduce the amount of fat absorbed in fried foods. This work focused on studying the efficacy of sorbitol and glycerol as plasticizers of methylcellulose coatings used to reduce oil uptake during the frying process of potato chipsnnnRESULTSnChanges in color, mechanical properties, water activity and lipid oxidation during storage were monitored. Also, an explanation regarding the different performances between both methylcellulose coatings with and without plasticizer was attained and techniques from the field of packaging films such as dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were applied to analyze the behavior of coatings submitted to the frying operation. The application of a methylcellulose coating was an adequate choice to reduce oil absorption in fried potato chips. The most effective formulation was 10 g L(-1) methylcellulose with the addition of 7.5 g L(-1) sorbitol. With the incorporation of this formulation, oil absorption was reduced by 30%. Neither the sorbitol concentration nor the presence of the MC coating affected the puncture maximum force and color parameters L and a*. The results of the sensory analysis indicated that the panelists could not distinguish between the coated and uncoated potato chips.nnnCONCLUSIONnMethylcellulose-based coating plasticized with sorbitol could be an alternative for obtaining healthier potato chips.

Design of chitosan-based nanoparticles functionalized with gallic acid.

Active nanoparticles based on chitosan could be applied as a support for the modulation of gallic acid delivery. In this sense, these nanostructures could be employed in different fields such as food, packaging, and pharmaceutical areas. The design parameters of chitosan-based nanoparticles functionalized with gallic acid (GA) were optimized through RSM by means of the analysis of zeta potential (ZP) and percentage encapsulation efficiency (PEE). The nanoparticles were prepared by ionotropic gelation using tripolyphosphate (TPP), at different combinations of chitosan (CH) concentration, CH:TPP ratio and GA. Global desirability methodology allowed finding the optimum formulation that included CH 0.76% (w/w), CH:TPP ratio of 5 and 37mgGA/gCH leading to ZP of +50mV and 82% of PEE. Analysis through QuickScan and turbidity demonstrated that the most stable nanoparticle suspensions were achieved combining concentrations of chitosan ranging between 0.5 and 0.75% with CH:TPP ratios higher than 3. These suspensions had high stability confirmed by means ZP and transmittance values which were higher than +25mV and 0.21 on average, respectively, as well as nanoparticle diameters of about 140nm. FTIR revealed the occurrence of both hydrogen bond and ionic interactions of CH-TPP which allowed the encapsulation and the improvement of the stability of the active agent.

An Insight into the Role of Glycerol in Chitosan Films

This work was focused on assessing the influence of the glycerol in chitosan matrices, analyzing the changes produced in the molecular mobility, mechanical, thermal, barrier and structural properties. The addition of glycerol in the matrix decreased the stress values, increasing the elasticity and water vapor permeability of the films, with a marked decrease in glass transition temperature; Detailed analyses of Fourier Transform IR Spectroscopy spectra supported the observed changes, especially in the spectral windows 1700–1500xa0cm−1 revealing the modifications at molecular level caused by hydrogen bond interactions between chitosan and water in the presence of glycerol. Positron annihilation spectroscopic (PALS) measurements allowed determining the free volume assuming spherical holes as well as monitoring the structural changes in chitosan films caused by the addition of both, glycerol and water molecules. It was possible to infer that for unplasticized matrices, a sustained increase of the radius between 0.06 and 0.2 of Xwater was observed, followed by a plateau up to 0.35. In the other case, with the addition of glycerol, there were two plateaus, the first between 0.25 and 0.37 of Xwater, and the second from 0.41 to 0.47. For higher glycerol concentrations, the plasticizer would be mainly bounded to the chitosan pack more efficiently and the water present in the system would be predominantly free in the matrix causing its swelling. Findings on molecular mobility contributed to the understanding of the role of water and glycerol in the structural arrangement and its influence on film properties.

Modelling of Microbial Growth in Potato Homogenate

The use of linear and non-linear models (Gompertz and logistic equations) to fit changes in microbial counts in a model system of potato homogenate at various concentrations of chemical preservatives (citric and ascorbic acids) was evaluated. The effect of undissociated acid concentrations (UAC) on μ (specific growth rate), lag phase duration and inactivation rate of Enterobacteriaceae, Lactobacillus sp, Pseudomonas sp and psychrotrophic microorganisms was determined. Citric acid had a strong inhibitory action on growth rate at low concentrations (0.065 mM UAC, pH=5). Pseudomonas sp were the microorganisms most inhibited by citric acid. Ascorbic acid, at low UAC concentrations (0.302 mM UAC) was more inhibitory to Enterobacteriaceae than to the other microorganisms. For UAC concentration lower than 3 mM, μ values of all the microorganisms tested were higher with ascorbic acid than with citric acid; however at higher concentrations (>10 mM) both acids had similar effects on μ.

Changes induced by UV radiation in the presence of sodium benzoate in films formulated with polyvinyl alcohol and carboxymethyl cellulose

This work was focused on: i) developing single and blend films based on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) studying their properties, ii) analyzing the interactions between CMC and PVOH and their modifications UV-induced in the presence of sodium benzoate (SB), and iii) evaluating the antimicrobial capacity of blend films containing SB with and without UV treatment. Once the blend films with SB were exposed to UV radiation, they exhibited lower moisture content as well as a greater elongation at break and rougher surfaces compared to those without treatment. Considering oxygen barrier properties, the low values obtained would allow their application as packaging with selective oxygen permeability. Moreover, the characteristics of the amorphous phase of the matrix prevailed with a rearrangement of the structure of the polymer chain, causing a decrease of the crystallinity degree. These results were supported by X-rays and DSC analysis. FT-IR spectra reflected some degree of polymer-polymer interaction at a molecular level in the amorphous regions. The incorporation of sodium benzoate combined with UV treatment in blend films was positive from the microbial point of view because of the growth inhibition of a wide spectrum of microorganisms. From a physicochemical perspective, the UV treatment of films also changed their morphology rendering them more insoluble in water, turning the functionalized blend films into a potential material to be applied as food packaging.