Liquid would be able to preserve blueberries without refrigeration

29/10/2018

The Chilean scientist Laura Almedares is responsible for a formula that extends the shelf life of some fruits, including avocados, and prevents them from turning black due to oxidation.

Almedares, which belongs to the department of food technology of the Technological Faculty of the University of Santiago, developed the liquid to meet the need of farmers to prolong the life of fruits and vegetables for marketing, he explained in an interview to the media. Chilean communication.

"Some farmers approached us and asked us what we could do to give more value to the tuna (tuno or prickly pear, fruit of cactus or prickly pear). Our idea was to find a formula so that it could be sold peeled, ready to serve, but because of its instability it was a very complex issue, "explained the researcher. The life time of that fruit does not exceed two days after being stripped of the husk.

The formula developed by Almedares will allow prickly pears to be kept for up to 40 days in refrigeration, so that their marketing can be done in that format.

After the success in the prickly pears, the researcher decided to try it in other foods with remarkable results in avocados: the liquid prevents them from turning black until a month after being split. A similar case occurs with the apple.

The product, odorless, colorless and without flavor, is in the process of patents, so Almedares avoided offering details of the content of the formula. However, he said: "are edible antioxidant compounds that control microbiologically the growth of the fruit."

He stressed that tests are already being done so that this same product can be used in other fruits, such as cranberry. "For these berries it would be ideal because it reduces the microbial load and does not affect the purine of the fruit. In addition, it would be perfect for the export of cranberry. "

Source

Fruit Portal