Combined Effect of UV-C and Modified Atmosphere Packaging for Keeping Antioxidant Compounds and Extend to Shelf-Life of Fresh-Cut Rocket Leaves

Diego R. Gutierrez, Silvia del C. Rodriguez

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of UV-C treatments (7.5, 15 and 30 kJ/m2) combined with modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity and shelf-life of fresh-cut rocket leaves during 12 days of storage at 5 °C. Samples no UV-C irradiation under passive MAP were used as a control. According to the sensory quality attributes, all combination treatments resulted in a shelf-life for up to 12 days, with the exception of higher doses of 30 kJ UV-C/m2 which resulted in a shorter shelf-life. The results showed that combined treatments had no adverse effects on ascorbic acid content, phenolic compound and antioxidant capacity of fresh-cut rocket leaves. The application of 15 kJ/m2UV-C combined with MAPdelayed the degradation of total chlorophyll content throughout shelf-life. UV-C decreased microbial counts after illumination. Until 8 days at 5 ºC, mesophilic, psycrophilic, enterobacteria and yeast and moulds populations were significantly lower in treated samples with UV-C with MAP.As a main conclusion, UV-C light treatment combined with MAP was demonstrated to be a high potential novel technology for surface decontamination and keeping the overall quality and bioactive compounds of fresh-cut rocket leaves.