No Brasil os dados sobre a utilização dos sulfitos pela indústria de alimentos e pesquisas sobre o seu consumo são escassos. Sendo assim, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar o nível de sulfitos em sucos de frutas e estimar seu consumo por escolares de 5ª. a 8ª. séries de escolas públicas, do ensino fundamental, do município de São Caetano do Sul-SP, Brasil. Foi aplicado questionário de freqüência de consumo de alimentos (QFCA) em 313 escolares, sendo 56,9 % do sexo feminino e 43,1 % do sexo masculino, com média de idade de 14,7 anos. Os alimentos sulfitados mais consumidos foram os néctares ou sucos de frutas, o açúcar refinado, as batatas fritas congeladas, o coco ralado, o suco de caju e as frutas secas e cristalizadas. Considerando os limites máximos permitidos (LMP) pela legislação brasileira, o consumo de SO2, em mg SO2/kg pc/dia, foi de 0,12 mg SO2/kg pc/dia, sendo que este valor médio corresponde a 17% da IDA (0,7 mg SO2/kg pc/dia). Já os resultados das análises dos sucos de frutas demonstram que a análise por injeção em fluxo (Flow injection analysis - FIA) modificada obteve resultados de sulfitos nas amostras analisadas com menor variação do que aqueles obtidos pelo método Monier-Williams (M-W) otimizado, e que nenhuma amostra ultrapassou os LMP. / In Brazil there are no data on use of sulphites by the food industry and research on their consumption by population. Thus, the objective of this research was to evaluate sulphites in fruits juices and estimate intake sulphites in a group of 5th 8th schoolchildren of public schools in São Caetano do Sul-SP, Brazil. It was applied a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) at 313 schoolchildrens (56.9% female, 43.1% male and average age 14.7 years). Sulphited products identified were fruits juices, sugar, frozen chips, grated coconut, cashew juice and dried fruits. Considering maximum permitted levels (MPL) stabilished by Brazilian legislation, none of the students exceeded the ADI of 0.70 mg SO2/kg bw/day, with average of consumption of 0.12 mg SO2/kg bw/day (17 % of the ADI). The results of the fruits juices analysis demonstrated flow injection analysis (FIA) modified obtained better results than optimized Monier-Williams method (M-W) and no sample exceeded the MPL.

No Brasil os dados sobre a utilização dos sulfitos pela indústria de alimentos e pesquisas sobre o seu consumo são escassos. Sendo assim, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar o nível de sulfitos em sucos de frutas e estimar seu consumo por escolares de 5ª. a 8ª. séries de escolas públicas, do ensino fundamental, do município de São Caetano do Sul-SP, Brasil. Foi aplicado questionário de freqüência de consumo de alimentos (QFCA) em 313 escolares, sendo 56,9 % do sexo feminino e 43,1 % do sexo masculino, com média de idade de 14,7 anos. Os alimentos sulfitados mais consumidos foram os néctares ou sucos de frutas, o açúcar refinado, as batatas fritas congeladas, o coco ralado, o suco de caju e as frutas secas e cristalizadas. Considerando os limites máximos permitidos (LMP) pela legislação brasileira, o consumo de SO2, em mg SO2/kg pc/dia, foi de 0,12 mg SO2/kg pc/dia, sendo que este valor médio corresponde a 17% da IDA (0,7 mg SO2/kg pc/dia). Já os resultados das análises dos sucos de frutas demonstram que a análise por injeção em fluxo (Flow injection analysis - FIA) modificada obteve resultados de sulfitos nas amostras analisadas com menor variação do que aqueles obtidos pelo método Monier-Williams (M-W) otimizado, e que nenhuma amostra ultrapassou os LMP. / In Brazil there are no data on use of sulphites by the food industry and research on their consumption by population. Thus, the objective of this research was to evaluate sulphites in fruits juices and estimate intake sulphites in a group of 5th 8th schoolchildren of public schools in São Caetano do Sul-SP, Brazil. It was applied a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) at 313 schoolchildrens (56.9% female, 43.1% male and average age 14.7 years). Sulphited products identified were fruits juices, sugar, frozen chips, grated coconut, cashew juice and dried fruits. Considering maximum permitted levels (MPL) stabilished by Brazilian legislation, none of the students exceeded the ADI of 0.70 mg SO2/kg bw/day, with average of consumption of 0.12 mg SO2/kg bw/day (17 % of the ADI). The results of the fruits juices analysis demonstrated flow injection analysis (FIA) modified obtained better results than optimized Monier-Williams method (M-W) and no sample exceeded the MPL.

Outbreaks of food-born illness associated with the consumption of unpasteurized juice and apple cider have resulted in a rule published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in order to improve the safety of juice products. The rule (21 CFR120) requires manufacturers of juice products to develop a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan and to achieve a 5-log reduction in the number of the most resistant pathogens. Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection is one of the promising methods to reach this 5-log reduction of pathogens. The absorption coefficients of juices typically vary from 10 to 40 1/cm and can be even higher depending on brand and processing conditions. Thin film reactors consisting of two concentric cylinders are suitable for inactivating pathogens in juices. When the two concentric cylinders are fixed, the flow pattern in the gap can be laminar Poiseuille flow or turbulent flow depending on flow rates. If the inner cylinder is rotating, and the rotating speed of the inner cylinder exceeds a certain value, the flow pattern can be either laminar or turbulent Taylor-Couette flow. UV disinfection between concentric cylinders in laminar Poiseuille flow, turbulent flow and both laminar and turbulent Taylor-Couette flow was investigated experimentally and numerically. This is the first systematic study done on UV disinfection between concentric cylinders in all three flow patterns. The present work provides new experimental data for pathogen inactivation in each of the three flow patterns. In addition, the present study constitutes the first systematic numerical CFD predictions of expected inactivation levels. Proper operating parameters and optimum gap widths for different flow patterns are suggested. It is concluded that laminar Poiseuille flow provides inferior (small) inactivation levels while laminar Taylor-Couette flow provides superior (large) inactivation levels. The relative inactivation levels are: laminar Poiseuille flow < turbulent flow < laminar Taylor-Couette flow.

Orientador: Roger Darros-Barbosa / Banca: Maria Aparecida Mauro / Banca: José Fernando Durigan / Resumo: A recuperação dos sólidos solúveis presentes na membrana central da laranja, separada durante a etapa de extração industrial do suco, normalmente produz um suco contendo de 5 a 6ºBrix e uma série de outros compostos insolúveis (cerca de 9%), muitos dos quais contribuem para a baixa qualidade do suco, sendo responsáveis pelo amargor e adstringência. O presente trabalho propôs-se a clarificar esse suco contendo sólidos recuperados, empregando um pré-tratamento com enzimas pectinolíticas seguido por tratamento por flotação por injeção de ar comprimido auxiliada por agentes clarificantes: bentonita, sílica sol e colágeno hidrolisado. Constituíram-se os objetivos: (i) a determinação das melhores condições (tipo de enzima pectinolítica, duas hidrolases e duas pectinases, e tempo de incubação) para a degradação enzimática da pectina presente; (ii) a determinação da melhor combinação dos agentes clarificantes visando obter um subproduto clarificado através do monitoramento de parâmetros físico-químicos (capacidade floculante e transmitância) e (iii) a avaliação do processo de flotação com diferentes concentrações de bentonita (500, 1.000 e 1.500 mg L-suco-1 e pressões (490, 680 e 880 kPa) pela determinação do grau de clarificação através de monitoramento da transmitância do clarificado, pela determinação da velocidade de flotação/separação das fases, através da verificação das frações volumétricas das fases separadas (clarificado, sedimentado e flotado), em intervalos de tempos regulares durante o processo de flotação e pela análise do produto final clarificado. Os produtos clarificados foram analisados com relação ao conteúdo de sólidos solúveis e insolúveis, pH, acidez titulável, polpa, transmitância, cor (parâmetros L*, a*, b*) proteína, pectina total, sódio, hesperidina, polifenóis e bioflavonóides. Para o tratamento... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Core membrane of the orange fruit separated during the juice extraction step in the citrus processing industrial plant, is currently submitted to a soluble solids recovery process, normally producing a by product (secondary) juice containing about 5 to 6º Brix and other insoluble components (about 9%), which contribute to the juice's low quality, since many are responsible for the bitterness and adstringency. This research aimed to clarify this by-product juice containing recovered solids, by enzyme pre-treatment with pectic enzymes, followed by a flotation treatment with compressed air injection using fining agents: bentonite, silica sol and hydrolyzed collagen. The objectives were (i) to determine the best conditions (enzyme type, two hydrolyses and two pectin-liases and incubation time) for the enzyme treatment for pectin degradation; (ii) to determine the best combination of the fining agents to obtain a clarified by-product through monitoring physical chemical parameters (flocculating ability and product transmittance); and (iii) to evaluate the flotation process and the effects of bentonite concentration (500, 1.000 and 1.500 mg L-juice-1) and saturation pressure (490, 680 and 880 kPa) by determining the degree of clarification through monitoring the product transmittance and by determining the flotation rate (and phase separation) through measurements of volumetric fractions of the separated phases (clarified, floated and sediment) over time during the flotation and phase separation processes. Both untreated and clarified juices were analyzed for soluble and insoluble solid contents, pH, total titratable acidity, pulp content, transmittance, color (parameters L*, a* and b*), protein and pectin contents, sodium, hesperidine, poliphenols and bioflavonoids. The results indicates a purified poligalacturonase as the adequate for the enzyme treatment in 1 hour, 45ºC, with 0,05 mL... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

MSCFST / Department of Food Science and Technology / Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) juice is rich in phytochemicals that possess antioxidant properties which are known to have a positive contribution to human health. Colour, pH, total soluble solids, lycopene, β-carotene, ascorbic acid, total polyphenolic content and antioxidants activity are quality properties that characterise watermelon juice. However, these quality properties undergo some chemical changes throughout the stages of maturity of the fruit as well as during thermal processing. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of maturity and filtration on the physicochemical properties (colour, pH, total soluble solids) and the phytochemicals (lycopene, β-carotene, ascorbic acid, total polyphenolic content and antioxidants activity) of fresh watermelon juice. It further investigated thermosonication effects on these quality properties using response surface methodology (RSM). RSM considering temperature (25 – 52ºC), time (2 – 10 min) and amplitude level (24.1 – 60 μm) at a constant frequency of 20 kHz were the independent variables while colour variables (L*, a* and b*, C* and h*), pH, total soluble solids, lycopene, β-carotene, ascorbic acid, total polyphenolic content and antioxidants activity were the dependent variables. Results showed that colour, pH, total soluble solids, lycopene, β-carotene, ascorbic acid, total polyphenolic content and antioxidants activity of watermelon fruit juice are maturity dependent. All the physicochemical and phytochemical properties increased with maturity. The combination of the CIELAB parameters (L*, a*, b*) was clearly explained by the Chroma (C*) and hue (hº). The (C*) and hº values of the watermelon fruit juice were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by the stages of maturity. The red colour was observed to be more saturated in the fully - ripe sample as indicated by the highest Chroma (7.35) values. The half - ripe sample which was observed to be pink - red had a C* of 5.88 while the lowest (4.32) value was observed from the unripe sample. The highest hº value was obtained from unripe sample (83.89), while lower value was observed from the fully - ripe (76.03) sample because of the saturation of the red colour in the fully - ripe sample. The total soluble solids also increased with stages of maturity 6.66 to 6.60 at half - ripe while at fully - ripe redness changed from 9.3 to 8.99 and TSS 8.37 to 8.02. Filtration has shown a significant (p < 0.05) on the C* and hº values. There was a higher retention of all dependent variables at lower thermosonication treatment (25ºC; 24.4 μm), especially the lycopene which increased by 127%. Model predictions for the colour properties and phytochemicals were closely correlated to the experimental results obtained. Prediction models were found to be significant (p < 0.05) with low standard errors and high coefficients of determination (R2). / NRF

South Africa has over 19 500 different indigenous plant species. Most of these are of ethnobotanical significance and are still used by local rural communities as medicine, food and for making beverages. The relatively little research that has been conducted on indigenous plant species has focused mainly on their medicinal potential. However, in view of the rapidly growing size of the global and local beverage industry and their constant search for new products, beverage-making indigenous plant species may have commercial development potential. To date, no detailed studies have been conducted on these plants, especially in the species-rich Limpopo province. The aim of this study was, therefore to evaluate the potential of indigenous plants for commercial beverage production. In order to achieve this, a survey was conducted in the Limpopo province to identify beverage-making plants and to document beverage preparation methods. Selected beverages were analysed and evaluated for their nutrient and sensory characteristics and a market product acceptability survey was conducted to identify those beverages with the greatest potential for development. Sixty three different beverage-plant species were identified in three study areas within the Limpopo province. These were used for the preparation of teas, fruit juices and alcoholic beverages. Plants that received further research attention were selected on the basis of their status as indigenous plants, frequency of use, nature of harvesting methods and availability. Some of the selected beverages were found to be rich in nutrients, especially with respect to vitamin C and mineral content. Furthermore, sensory analyses and market surveys indicated that four species, namely, Doyvalis caffra, Garcinia livingstonei, Grewia flavescens and Englerophytum magalismontanum have potential for further development for the beverage industry while Athrixia phylicoides has commercialisation potential as a herbal tea. However, further research is required to improve and refine preparation methods and to ensure compliance with quality standards. The availability of sufficient plant material for the industry must also be ensured. This research has indicated that South African indigenous plants have untapped market potential for the beverage industry which, if developed sustainably, could contribute to economic growth of the rural parts of South Africa. / Environmental Sciences / D. Ed. (Environmental Management)

South Africa has over 19 500 different indigenous plant species. Most of these are of ethnobotanical significance and are still used by local rural communities as medicine, food and for making beverages. The relatively little research that has been conducted on indigenous plant species has focused mainly on their medicinal potential. However, in view of the rapidly growing size of the global and local beverage industry and their constant search for new products, beverage-making indigenous plant species may have commercial development potential. To date, no detailed studies have been conducted on these plants, especially in the species-rich Limpopo province. The aim of this study was, therefore to evaluate the potential of indigenous plants for commercial beverage production. In order to achieve this, a survey was conducted in the Limpopo province to identify beverage-making plants and to document beverage preparation methods. Selected beverages were analysed and evaluated for their nutrient and sensory characteristics and a market product acceptability survey was conducted to identify those beverages with the greatest potential for development. Sixty three different beverage-plant species were identified in three study areas within the Limpopo province. These were used for the preparation of teas, fruit juices and alcoholic beverages. Plants that received further research attention were selected on the basis of their status as indigenous plants, frequency of use, nature of harvesting methods and availability. Some of the selected beverages were found to be rich in nutrients, especially with respect to vitamin C and mineral content. Furthermore, sensory analyses and market surveys indicated that four species, namely, Doyvalis caffra, Garcinia livingstonei, Grewia flavescens and Englerophytum magalismontanum have potential for further development for the beverage industry while Athrixia phylicoides has commercialisation potential as a herbal tea. However, further research is required to improve and refine preparation methods and to ensure compliance with quality standards. The availability of sufficient plant material for the industry must also be ensured. This research has indicated that South African indigenous plants have untapped market potential for the beverage industry which, if developed sustainably, could contribute to economic growth of the rural parts of South Africa. / Environmental Sciences / D. Ed. (Environmental Management)