Antioxidant enrichment and antimicrobial protection of fresh-cut fruits using their own byproducts: looking for integral exploitation

J Food Sci. 2010 Oct;75(8):R175-81. doi: 10.1111/j.1750-3841.2010.01792.x. Epub 2010 Sep 23.

Abstract

Fresh-cut fruit consumption is increasing due to the rising public demand for convenience and awareness of fresh-cut fruit's health benefits. The entire tissue of fruits and vegetables is rich in bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and vitamins. The fresh-cut fruit industry deals with the perishable character of its products and the large percentage of byproducts, such as peels, seeds, and unused flesh that are generated by different steps of the industrial process. In most cases, the wasted byproducts can present similar or even higher contents of antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds than the final produce can. In this context, this hypothesis article finds that the antioxidant enrichment and antimicrobial protection of fresh-cut fruits, provided by the fruit's own byproducts, could be possible.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Infective Agents* / analysis
  • Anti-Infective Agents* / economics
  • Antioxidants* / analysis
  • Antioxidants* / economics
  • Fast Foods / analysis
  • Fast Foods / microbiology
  • Food Packaging
  • Food Preservation / methods*
  • Food, Fortified / analysis*
  • Food, Fortified / microbiology*
  • Food-Processing Industry / economics
  • Fruit / chemistry*
  • Fruit / microbiology*
  • Industrial Waste / analysis
  • Industrial Waste / economics
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / economics

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Industrial Waste
  • Plant Extracts