Effect of the packing and the gama irradiation on the microbiological contamination control of the minimally processed mango

Abstract

The objective of this work was to verify the microbiological contamination of mangoes Tommy Atkins minimally processed and irradiated. The fruits were washed in water, peeled, manually cut in cubes of 3 x 3 cm and conditioned in packages of polyethylene terphthalate (PET) tray Neoform, transparent plastic glass with cover (250 ml), and plastic bag (25 mm) under vaccum. After that, they were in the EMBRARAD company, with the doses T1 (control), T2 (0,1 kGy), T3 (0,2 kGy), T4 (0,3 kGy), T5 (0,4 kGy) and T6 (0,5 kGy), and stored under 5o C and 85% RM. Every 2 days of storage, the fruits were evaluated for the incidence of coliforms, mesophiles and psychrophiles microorganisms. From the obtained results is it verified at the end of a 10-day period, the fruits with 0,4 and 0,5 kGy doses and packages of polyethylene terphthalate (PET) tray Neoform, transparent plastic glass with cover (250 ml), presented the smallest mesophile and psychrophile rates, while the fruits control presented the largest mesophile and psychrophile rates, being considered inappropriate for consuption from the fifith day of storage. Terefore it can be concluded that the radiation with 0,4 and 0,5 kGy doses was an effective treatment in the minimally processed mangoes.