Antioxidant vitamins have been postulated as a protective factor in asthma. The associations between the frequency of fresh fruit consumption in summer, and the prevalence of self-reported asthma symptoms were investigated. The analysis was based on 5,582 males and 5,770 females, born in England, Wales and Scotland between March 3-9, 1958 and aged 33 yrs at the time of survey. The 12-month peri...

Mango fruit (Mangifera indica L.), cv. ‘Cogshall’, ‘Kent’ and ‘Keitt’ were harvested at different maturities (61–115 d past flowering and 0–307 average g fresh weight for ‘Cogshall’) and at different sizes (364–1563 and 276–894 average g fresh weight for ‘Keitt’ and ‘Kent’, respecively). Immediately after harvest (green) or after 1 week of ripening at room temperature (ripe), fruit were homogen...

Bell peppers grown in greenhouses in the Mediterranean region are frequently subjected to high temperatures in summer and low temperatures in winter. The present experiment was designed to quantify the effect of season on pepper fruit growth, maturation and ripening. Three bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars (Yolo Wonder, California Wonder and E84066) were cultivated in an unheated ...

The effect of mild heat fruit pre-treatment on some properties of fresh-cut cantaloupe melon during storage was determined. Whole fruit, previously held at 4 C, was immersed in heated water (60 C) with and without dissolved calcium lactate (1%). Fresh-cut processing was done immediately, either after treatment or after storage at 4 C for 24 h. Headspace gas accumulation during storage indicated...

Fresh-cut fruit consumption is increasing due to the rising public demand for convenience and awareness of fresh-cut fruit's health benefits. The entire tissue of fruits and vegetables is rich in bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and vitamins. The fresh-cut fruit industry deals with the perishable character of its products and the large percentage of byproducts, such...

Cantaloupes are associated with recent outbreaks of foodborne illnesses and recalls. Therefore, new approaches are needed for sanitization of whole and cut fruit. In the present study, whole cantaloupes were submerged into water in the following 3 conditions: 10 degrees C water for 20 min (control), 20 ppm chlorine at 10 degrees C for 20 min, and 76 degrees C water for 3 min. Populations of mic...

This review describes the biochemical bases for color and firmness changes in fruit and vegetable tissues, since appearance and texture are two f the most fundamental factors affecting the quality of fresh-cut products. The intent is to provide a level of understanding that can be used to nderpin future research directions in order to resolve existing issues that limit fresh-cut quality and she...

To the Editor: The oral allergy syndrome (OAS) describes an allergic reaction that occurs on ingestion of certain fresh fruits and vegetables in pollen-sensitized subjects. The culprit allergens found in associated fresh foods are rapidly inactivated by digestion and cooking. As a result, symptoms are usually limited to the mouth and throat and preferably observed with raw forms of the food. Wh...