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Minimum durability date of fruit and vegetable products
Project
Project code: MRI-OG-08-1060 MHD
Contract period: 01.09.2017
- 30.10.2020
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: food product safety, shelf life, fruit, vegetables
In the frame of this project, initiated by the BMEL, the validity of the current used minimal shelf life date declaration (MHD/VD) of fruit and vegetable products is determined. The institute of safety and quality of fruit and vegetables is investigating three product groups with different durability: under 3 months (e.g. fresh cut salads), 3 to 18 months or 24 months (frozen spinach), and over 18 months (fruit and vegetable cans).
Extensive research work concerning the product group with a shelf life of under 3 months (fresh cut salads, fresh cut fruit, sprouts) showed that these products are microbiologically sensitive and potential pathogenic microorganisms like Listeria can occur. Furthermore, an inspection revealed that information about the shelf life of these products, given by the producer, is inconsistent. Some products had no declaration at all, some were marked with the MHD label, and some possessed a best before date (VD). The determined microbial counts exceeded partly the guidelines of the DGHM (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie) already within the MHD time frame. Therefore a compulsory declaration of a best before date is claimed. In the frame of the project products of the shelf life group 3 to 18 months, frozen creamed spinach (high market importance) are analytically and sensory be evaluated. The storage of frozen spinach will take place for 3 years and therefore one year longer than the minimal durability date given by the producers. Frozen creamed spinach will be analytically and sensory investigated before, at and a few months after the MHD date.
Section overview
Subjects
- Food Processing
- Nutritional behaviour
Framework programme
Funding programme
Excutive institution
MRI - Department of Safety and Quality of Fruit and Vegetables (MRI-OG)
