Quality of minimally processed snap bean in function of rinse and sanification operations

Abstract

This work had the purpose to evaluate the quality of the minimally processed snap bean in function of rinse and sanification operations. Snap bean cv. Itatiba 2 were selected, cleaned, processed and submitted to the following treatments: T1 - rinse in water only, T2 - rinse in water, followed by immersion in chlorinated solution (100 mg.L^-1) for 5 minutes, T3 - immersion in chlorinated solution (100 mg.L^-1) for 5 minutes and T4 - without rinse and without immersion in chlorinated solution (control). The minimally processed snap beans were assessed for appearance, color of the section surface and microbiological characteristics. About the color of the section surface, it could be noticed from the ninth day of storage that the snap bean of the Treatment 1 showed less darkening in relation to the other treatments, and also better accepted sensorially. It wasn't detected Salmonella and neither coliforms at 45°C in any sample of the different treatments. In relation to the total coliform counts, it could be noticed reduction with the sanification (T2 and T3) on the processing day, and, in general, an increase in the coliform counts during the storage. The total bacteria count was > 10⁵ UFC.g^-1 in the snap bean of all treatments in the sixth day of storage, except in that one, which the snap beans were rinsed and sanitized. Therefore, this treatment is recommended and guarantee six days of shelf life for minimally processed snap bean, limited by the bacteria growth.