The effect of packaging type on quality of cereal muesli during storage
Latvia University of Agriculture, Faculty of Food Technology, Department of Food Technology, Liela Street 2, LV 3001 Jelgava, Latvia *Correspondence: santa@musli.lv
Abstract:
Cereal-derived breakfast products (cereal flakes, bread, and muesli) are increasingly consumed because they are an important source of energy for adults and children. Shelf-life of foods is highly dependent on the permeability characteristics of the packaging materials, which emphasize the importance of packaging design. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes of physically-chemical, microbiological and sensory parametrs of cereal muesli with chocolate and apricots during storage. Samples of muesli with chocolate and apricots were packaged in 3 different types of packaging–paper bag, paper tubes and Doypack (stand-up pouches) and stored for 9 months (at 20 ± 2°C temperature and relative air humidity – 55 ± 3%). During the storage moisture content, water activity, total plate count of mesophilic aerobic and facultative anaerobic microorganisms (MAFAm), mould and yeast, volatile compounds and sensory quality were evaluated in analysed muesli samples. The lowest moisture content after 9 months storage was determined for muesli samples stored in paper bag. Total number of mesophilic aerobic facultative anaerobic microorganisms (MAFAm, mould and yeast) of muesli in all samples during storage slightly increased. After 9 months storage muesli with chocolate and apricots in the Doypack had the best sensory properties. In muesli with chocolate and apricots there were identified 18 volatile compounds. The results indicated that paper bags were the least suitable for packaging of cereal muesli with chocolate and apricot, because of essential quality changes of samples during their storage. The shelf-life of 9 months can be recommended for cereal muesli with chocolate and apricots packaged in paper tube or Doypack.
Key words:
cereals, muesli, packaging, storage time.