• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.411-418
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of calcinated calcium (CC) alone or combination with heat treatment on storage quality and microbial growth in fresh-cut broccoli. Fresh broccoli samples were cut into small pieces and washed in normal tap water (TW), $50{\mu}L{\cdot}L^{-1}$ chlorinated water (pH 6.5), $1.5g{\cdot}L^{-1}$ CC, heat treatment in TW at $45^{\circ}C$, and CC dissolved in TW at $45^{\circ}C$ for 2 minutes separately. Samples were then packaged in $50{\mu}m$ polyethylene bags and stored at $5^{\circ}C$. Results revealed that like $50{\mu}L{\cdot}L^{-1}$ chlorine, washing in CC at normal water temperature was effective in reducing microbial population in fresh-cut broccoli samples. Washing with CC combined with heat treatment increased an electrical conductivity of fresh-cut broccoli. Combined heat treatments with TW and CC reduced aerobic plate count on fresh-cut broccoli, only in initial period of storage. But, later on heat treatment induced injury of fresh-cut broccoli resulting more microbial population compared to non heat treatment. However, samples treated with CC alone had good quality with low off-odor at the end of storage. Results suggest that CC, an environment-friendly sanitizer could be an alternative to chlorinated water for washing of fresh-cut broccoli without affecting sensorial quality.