Food waste: causes and economic losses estimation at household level in Pakistan.

Food waste is one of the major sustainability issues that need to be addressed due to its negative impacts on the economy, environment, and food security. To develop food waste reduction policies on regional and global level, it is mandatory to have a clear understanding of the various factors prompting food waste at household level and the extent of the economic losses incurred by food waste. Reducing food waste can decrease household expenditure on food, freeing resources for health, education, and well-being.

Maintaining the quality of postharvest broccoli by inhibiting ethylene accumulation using diacetyl.

Broccoli ( L. var. ) is rich in nutrition.

Impact of sonolytic ozonation (OUS) on degradation of pesticide residues in fresh vegetables and fruits: Case study of Faisalabad, Pakistan.

High pesticide residues in fresh produce is a serious food safety issue. This study was aimed at assessing the pesticides residues in some important vegetables and fruits marketed in Faisalabad, Pakistan and the impact of sonolytic ozonation (O/US) treatment in removing these contaminants. From a short grower's survey, five registered and mostly used pesticides (acetamiprid, carbendazim, imidacloprid, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam) were identified.

Sonolytic-ozonation technology for sanitizing microbial contaminants and pesticide residues from spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) leaves, at household level.

Increasing foodborne illnesses linked with the consumption of contaminated food pose serious health risks. Fresh fruits and vegetables can potentially be contaminated (microbes/chemicals) throughout the supply chain. Various chemical and thermal approaches have been used in the past to decontaminate fresh produce, which have had a negative impact on commodities and health hazardous.

High-Throughput LC-ESI-MS/MS Metabolomics Approach Reveals Regulation of Metabolites Related to Diverse Functions in Mature Fruit of Grafted Watermelon.

Grafting has been reported as a factor regulating the metabolome of a plant. Therefore, a comprehensive metabolic profile and comparative analysis of metabolites were conducted from fully mature fruit of pumpkin-grafted watermelon (PGW) and a self-rooted watermelon (SRW). Widely targeted LC-ESI-MS/MS metabolomics approach facilitated the simultaneous identification and quantification of 339 metabolites across PGW and SRW.

Potential of Aloe vera gel coating for storage life extension and quality conservation of fruits and vegetables: An overview.

Aloe vera (ALV) with its unique nutritional profile is being used for food, health, and nutraceutical industries globally. Due to its organic nature, ALV gel coating has created lot of interest for exploring its potential in extending the shelf and storage life of fresh produce. ALV gel coating plays imperative role in delaying fruit ripening by lowering ethylene biosynthesis, respiration rate, and internal metabolic activities associated with fruit softening, color development, enzymatic browning, and decay.

Postharvest application of antibrowning chemicals modulates oxidative stress and delays pericarp browning of controlled atmosphere stored litchi fruit.

Litchi fruit were treated with methionine [(0.25%) MN] and cysteine [(025%) CN] alone or in combination, and kept under 1% O + 5% CO controlled atmosphere (CA) at 5 ± 1ºC for 28 days. Among different treatments, CN was most effective to inhibit browning, than MN and CN + MN under CA conditions.

Effect of controlled atmosphere storage on pericarp browning, bioactive compounds and antioxidant enzymes of litchi fruits.

'Gola' litchi fruits were stored under ten different CA-combinations at 5±1°C to investigate its effects on pericarp browning, biochemical quality and antioxidative activities. Control fruit turned completely brown after 28days of storage and were excluded from the study. Fruit-stored under CA7-combination (1% O2+5% CO2) showed reduced weight loss, pericarp browning, membrane leakage and malondialdehyde contents.

Tree age, fruit size and storage conditions affect levels of ascorbic acid, total phenolic concentrations and total antioxidant activity of 'Kinnow' mandarin juice.

Background: Bioactive compounds (ascorbic acid, total phenolics and total antioxidants) are important constituents of citrus fruit juice; however, information with regard to their concentrations and changes in relation to tree age and storage conditions is limited. 'Kinnow' (Citrus nobilis Lour × Citrus deliciosa Tenora) mandarin juice from fruit of three tree ages (6, 18 and 35 years old) and fruit sizes (large, medium and small) were examined for their bioactive compounds during 7 days under ambient storage conditions (20 ± 2 °C and 60-65% relative humidity (RH)) and during 60 days under cold storage (4 ± 1 °C and 75-80% RH) conditions.

Results: Under ambient conditions, a reduction in total phenolic concentrations (TPC) and in total antioxidant activity (TAA) was found for the juice from all tree ages and fruit sizes.