New technologies to enhance quality and safety of table eggs: ultra-violet treatment and modified atmosphere packaging

Submitted: 24 June 2014
Accepted: 1 September 2014
Published: 9 December 2014
Abstract Views: 1276
PDF - FULL TEXT IN ENG: 794
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In the present study the effect of ultra-violet (UV) treatment alone and in combination with 100% CO2 modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) was evaluated both on the survival of naturally occurring bacteria, as well as on quality parameters of table eggs during 28 days of storage at 21°C. Table eggs were collected from the conveyor belt after the UV module, and placed on carton trays. A representative number of carton trays were packed in a high barrier multilayer pouch filled with 100% CO2. All eggs were stored at 21°C and analysed at 0, 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of storage. Eggs not treated with UV and not packed were also included. On the eggshells total colony count, total coliforms and faecal coliforms counts, as well as the detection of Salmonella spp. were investigated. Moreover, chemical-functional parameters such as weight loss, albumen pH and Haugh Unit (HU) were evaluated. The total colony count on UV treated table eggs was approximately 1 log10 CFU/g lower than untreated eggs (2.27 vs 3.29 log10 CFU/g). During storage, CO2 packed eggs maintained the initial values of HU, whereas the albumen pH decreased up to 1.5-2 points in comparison to unpacked eggs. The UV treatment was effective in reducing the total colony count on the surface of table eggs. MAP showed a great potential in maintaining/enhance the technological properties of egg constituents (higher foam stability of the albumen for meringue preparation) without significantly impacting on the microbial load of table eggs.

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Supporting Agencies

Regione Emilia Romagna
Frédérique Pasquali, Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari, Università degli Studi di Bologna
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari
Pietro Rocculi, Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari, Università degli Studi di Bologna
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari
Federica Bovo, Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari, Università degli Studi di Bologna
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari
Pietro Olivi, Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari, Università degli Studi di Bologna
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari
Alex Lucchi, Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari, Università degli Studi di Bologna
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari
Adele Meluzzi, Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari, Università degli Studi di Bologna
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari

How to Cite

1.
Pasquali F, Rocculi P, De Cesare A, Bovo F, Olivi P, Lucchi A, Meluzzi A. New technologies to enhance quality and safety of table eggs: ultra-violet treatment and modified atmosphere packaging. Ital J Food Safety [Internet]. 2014 Dec. 9 [cited 2024 Dec. 6];3(4). Available from: https://www.pagepressjournals.org/ijfs/article/view/ijfs.2014.4462