Novel Edible Coating of Fresh-cut Fruits: Application to Prevent Calcium and Vitamin D Deficiencies in Children

Abstract

Aims: To enrich fresh-cut tropical fruits such s papaya, guava and banana with calcium and Vitamin D by applying based-alginate edible coatings, and to evaluate its adequacy levels in the daily requirements of children in school age, and as well as, to study both their physicochemical and microbiological stability during storage. Study Design: Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with multiple range test (MRT) applying the Fisher´s method of the least significant difference (LSD) were used to determine significant statistically differences (P < 0.05) for physicochemical and sensory properties. Microbiological behavior and shelf-life were modeled by the modified Gompertz’s equation. Methodology: Each fresh-cut fruit was dipped in a solution of sodium alginate (2%) enriched with vitamin D (0.0002%), then drained and dipped in another calcium lactate solution (8%) and ascorbic acid (2%; only added in the case of bananas). Finally, the samples were dried, packaged and stored at 5°C for 15 days until analysis. Calcium was determined by the volumetric method of permanganometry. Vitamin D was determined by the method of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Physicochemical (titratable acidity, soluble solids, pH, firmness and color) and microbiological (mesophiles, psychrophiles, molds and yeasts counts) analyses were conducted by standard methods. Sensory analysis was performed in 60 children using a hedonic scale based on gestures. Results: The results showed that the enrichment of fresh-cut fruit with vitamin D and calcium provides a contribution of 32-50% of the daily requirement of calcium and 83.2% of the daily requirement of vitamin D recommended for children in school age. An extended microbiological and physicochemical shelf-life was reached with those coated fresh-cut fruits in comparison with uncoated fresh-cut fruits. Sensory evaluation showed that coated fresh-cut fruits and enriched with calcium and vitamin D were well accepted by children. Conclusion: The consumption of fresh-cut fruits coated with enriched edible coatings could be a novel alternative to prevent deficiencies of calcium and vitamin D in children allergic to milk or lactose intolerant.