Physico-chemical and microbial properties of undervalued dates and processed dates by-products in Morocco

The undervalued dates and processed dates by-products, from Morocco, were analyzed for their physico-chemical and microbial properties. The samples varied significantly (p < 0.05) in their physico-chemical properties (pH, water activity, moisture, total sugars, reducing sugars and sucrose content...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inInternational food research journal Vol. 24; no. 3; pp. 963 - 969
Main Authors Bellaouchi, R, Ghomari, I, Hasnaoui, A, Hakkou, A, Bechchari, A, Chihib, N E, Asehraou, A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Selangor Universiti Putra Malaysia, Faculty of Food Science & Technology 2017
Subjects
Acids
Agriculture
Analytical chemistry
Byproducts
Cultivars
Food
Food and Nutrition
Fruits
Life Sciences
Microorganisms
Morocco
Physicochemical
Microbial properties
Date by-products
Undervalued-date
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Summary:The undervalued dates and processed dates by-products, from Morocco, were analyzed for their physico-chemical and microbial properties. The samples varied significantly (p < 0.05) in their physico-chemical properties (pH, water activity, moisture, total sugars, reducing sugars and sucrose contents). Total and reducing sugars amounts of under-valued dates are ranging between (45.5-66.2 g/100g dry weight), and (45.3-65.8g/100g dry weight) respectively. Likewise, processed dates by-products (date paste, date syrup, date jam, date flesh powder and date seed powder) were rich in sugars, deserving to be used for value-added product. Total viable count (TVC) ranged from 1.7x103 CFU/g to 3.5x108 CFU/g and from 22 CFU/g to 44x103 CFU/g in undervalued-date and processing dates by-products, respectively. Lactic acid bacteria, spore forming bacteria (Bacillus), yeasts and moulds were present in all samples with different levels related to water activity and moisture contents. Enterobacteriaceae, potential public health concern, were absent in all samples. Staphylococcus were absent in most samples, they were detected only in six out of the fifteen samples of undervalued-dates. These results revealed essential information that could promote biotechnological valuation of undervalued-date and processed dates by-products.
ISSN:1985-4668
2231-7546