Open Access
Effects of ozonation on the physicochemical properties and antimicrobial activity of virgin and pomace olive oils
(Wiley, 2025-05-22) Domínguez-Lacueva, Paula; Corella Guillamón, Paula; Cantalejo Díez, María Jesús; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
Ozonated olive oils are recognized for their remarkable antimicrobial properties. The reaction between ozone (O3) and unsaturated fatty acids leads to the formation of bactericidal compounds (ozonides, aldehydes, and peroxides) with valuable applications. This study represents the first comprehensive investigation into the effects of a wide range of ozone exposure durations (from 0 to 48 h) on the physicochemical properties and antimicrobial activity of both virgin olive oil (VOO) and pomace olive oil (POO), along with a thorough statistical analysis of the correlation between ozone dose and these parameters. The physicochemical indicators, including fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) composition, peroxide index, acidity index, iodine value, and viscosity, were measured at ozonation doses ranging from 0 to 1 mol O3. Significant changes were observed with increasing ozonation time, including a 69% and 46% reduction in oleic acid content, as well as increased peroxide values of 1255.2 mEq O₂/kg and 1878.8 mEq O₂/kg for VOO and POO, respectively. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against Escherichia coli (STCC 45), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (STCC 109), and Staphylococcus aureus (STCC 239), with the highest inhibition observed against S. aureus (22.68 mm with POO at 48 h and 1 mol O3). PCA analysis identified three groups: low ozone doses (0–0.08 mol O₃) associated with higher iodine values; intermediate doses (0.16–0.5 mol O₃) linked to increased peroxide, acidity, viscosity, and antimicrobial activity; while high doses (1 mol O₃) provided no further benefits, suggesting that moderate doses are sufficient for effective antimicrobial activity. These findings highlight the potential of ozonated olive oils for novel applications in the food industry.
Open Access
Effects of ozone and chlorine postharvest treatments on quality of fresh-cut red bell peppers
(Oxford University Press, 2012-06-20) Horvitz Szoichet, Sandra Susana; Cantalejo Díez, María Jesús; Tecnología de Alimentos; Elikagaien Teknologia; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
The effects of chlorine (200 μL L¯¹), ozonated water (1 μL L¯¹) and gaseous ozone (0.7 μL L¯¹) on physicochemical attributes and microbial quality of minimally processed red bell peppers were studied. In all the experiments, O2 continuously decreased and CO2 concentration increased, the pH augmented and a significant softening was observed in all the fruits. By day 14, L* values decreased in all the fruits, with the greatest changes found in the chlorinated samples (approximately 12 units). Peppers treated with the aqueous solutions showed greater changes in the quality attributes with increasing washing times and especially when chlorine was used. The exposure for three min to gaseous O3 reduced the mesophiles, psychrotrophes and fungal populations of the fresh-cut peppers in 2.5, 3.3 and 1.8 log units, respectively. Combined with modified atmosphere, this could be an appropriate method to maintain the quality and extend the storage period of minimally processed red bell peppers.
Open Access
Application of ozone for the postharvest treatment of fruits and vegetables
(Taylor & Francis , 2013-11-04) Horvitz Szoichet, Sandra Susana; Cantalejo Díez, María Jesús; Tecnología de Alimentos; Elikagaien Teknologia; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
Fruits and vegetables consumption has risen noticeably during recent decades, leading to a greater frequency of foodborne illnesses associated with fresh produce. Novel industrial applications and improvements in ozone technology together with new regulatory actions worldwide have emerged in recent years, making its use in the food industry easier. This technology has attracted considerable commercial interest, especially because ozone does not leave any residues on the treated produce and it is also accepted by many organic grower organizations. However, discrepancies regarding the efficacy of this technology are often found in the bibliography and further research is still needed. These differences could be attributed to a great variability in the conditions of the research work: method of ozone generation and application, O3 concentration and exposure time to the gas, as well as the way in which produce is packed. In this sense, standardization in the working conditions and in the units to measure ozone concentration will be useful to better understand the mode of action and the effects of ozone on food products. Consequently, it would be possible to improve its potential as a sanitizer in the food industry.
Open Access
Excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy coupled with chemometrics for monitoring ozonation of olive oil and olive pomace oil
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2025-02-07) Domínguez-Lacueva, Paula; Sikorska, Ewa; Cantalejo Díez, María Jesús; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
The effects of ozonation on the Total Polyphenol Content (TPC) of olive oils remain largely unexplored, despite the significant role that polyphenols play in enhancing the health benefits and quality of these oils. Understanding how ozone treatment impacts phenolic compounds is vital, especially considering the documented negative effects of thermal and photochemical oxidation on TPC. The aim of this study was to explore the use of fluorescence spectroscopy combined with chemometrics to develop multivariate models for monitoring the effects of ozonation on TPC and key physicochemical parameters such as the peroxide index (PI), acidity index (AI), iodine value (IV) and viscosity (V) in both, virgin and pomace olive oils. Parallel factor analysis and principal component analysis of fluorescence excitation¿emission matrices (EEMs) of ozonated olive oils revealed that as the ozonation process progressed, TPC and fluorescence emission decreased. And, at the same time, ozonation increased the values of oxidation indicators such as PI, AI, viscosity and intensity of the Rayleigh scattering signal. PLS models based on analysis of unfolded EEMs exhibited good predictive performance for PI (R2 = 0.822; RPD > 2.5), and moderate for TPC and V (R2 = 0.792 and 0.753; RPD > 2). In summary, we demonstrated the feasibility of EEM spectroscopy for monitoring the ozonation process. The use of this method can ease the characterization of ozonated olive oils and, additionally, make the analysis more sustainable.
Open Access
Development of a new fresh-like product from 'Lamuyo' red bell peppers using hurdle technology
(Elsevier, 2013-01-01) Horvitz Szoichet, Sandra Susana; Cantalejo Díez, María Jesús; Tecnología de Alimentos; Elikagaien Teknologia; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
A new, fresh-like product from "Lamuyo" red bell peppers has been developed by combining partial dehydration and modified atmosphere packaging. The effects of different processing and storage conditions on the quality and shelf life of the partially dehydrated peppers were studied. Neither chlorine nor blanching treatments affected the quality of the dehydrated product. The best results were obtained with peppers cut in eight longitudinal strips (2e3 cm width), washed with tap water and dried for 6 h at 80 C and 10% RH. After this treatment, peppers did not need to be rehydrated for consumption. Whereas N2 and air-packed samples were spoiled after 5 and 10 d of storage at 8 C, respectively, an atmosphere with 3 ml/100 ml O2 and 5 ml/100 ml CO2 yielded the best results during the storage period. Under these conditions, all the physicochemical parameters studied remained stable and the ready-to-eat pepper strips were found to keep good aroma, visual quality and global impression. At the same time, the shelflife was extended up to 18 days at 8 1 C, limited mainly by fungal growth and the development of offodors inside the packages.
Open Access
Efecto de la maduración en la conservación de la carne de potro
(Asociación Interprofesional para el Desarrollo Agrario, 2018) Ruiz Darbonnens, Marta; Beriain Apesteguía, María José; Insausti Barrenetxea, Kizkitza; Cantalejo Díez, María Jesús; Sarriés Martínez, María Victoria; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
Para el desarrollo del presente estudio, se investigó el efecto de la maduración del músculo Longissimus dorsi (LD), por un lado como pieza entera y por otro lado tras el fileteado, sobre los parámetros de calidad de la carne de potro. Se emplearon músculos madurados 24 horas en la canal procedentes de ocho potros quincenos de raza Burguete. Cada lomo se dividió en dos partes iguales. Una parte no fue madurada, y la segunda fue madurada 7 días. Posteriormente, ambas partes fueron fileteadas y los filetes fueron conservados durante 9 días en bandejas cubiertas con film permeable al oxígeno en un expositor. No hubo interacción entre la maduración en el lomo y el tiempo de conservación posterior del filete. Los valores de textura fueron bajos desde el comienzo siendo considerada 'tierna'. Debido a la maduración, el enrojecimiento (a*) fue intenso y el contenido de metamioglobina fue bajo, pero la oxidación de los lípidos y la degradación del olor aumentaron. Cuando la maduración se llevó a cabo en filete, el tiempo de conservación y la atmósfera rica en oxígeno hicieron que la carne de potro se deteriorara rápidamente. La oxidación de los lípidos y la mioglobina y la degradación del color aumentaron día a día. Además, cuanto más tiempo estuvo expuesta la carne al oxígeno, peores fueron las valoraciones de color y olor sensorial de la carne de potro. El tiempo de conservación de la carne de potro fue inferior a 3 días, siendo el color característico el factor limitante.
Open Access
Influence of acid adaptation on the probability of germination of Clostridium sporogenes spores against pH, NaCl and time
(MDPI, 2020) Valero, Antonio; Olagüe Ramos, Elena; Medina Pradas, Eduardo; Garrido Fernández, Antonio; Romero Gil, Verónica; Cantalejo Díez, María Jesús; García Gimeno, Rosa María; Pérez Rodríguez, Fernando; Posada Izquierdo, Guiomar Denisse; Arroyo López, Francisco Noé; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura
The Clostridium sp. is a large group of spore-forming, facultative or strictly anaerobic, Gram-positive bacteria that can produce food poisoning. The table olive industry is demanding alternative formulations to respond to market demand for the reduction of acidity and salt contents in final products. while maintaining the appearance of freshness of fruits. In this work, logistic regression models for non-adapted and acid-adapted Clostridium sp. strains were developed in laboratory medium to study the influence of pH, NaCl (%) and time on the probability of germination of their spores. A Clostridium sporogenes cocktail was not able to germinate at pH <5.0, although the adaptation of the strains produced an increase in the probability of germination at 5.0-5.5 pH levels and 6% NaCl concentration. At acidic pH values (5.0), the adapted strains germinated after 10 days of incubation, while those which were non-adapted required 15 days. At pH 5.75 and with 4% NaCl, germination of the adapted strains took place before 7 days, while several replicates of the non-adapted strains did not germinate after 42 days of storage. The model was validated in natural green olive brines with good results (>81.7% correct prediction cases). The information will be useful for the industry and administration to assess the safety risk in the formulation of new processing conditions in table olives and other fermented vegetables.
Open Access
Study of modified atmosphere packaging on the quality of ozonated freeze-dried chicken meat
(Elsevier, 2016) Zouaghi, Ferdaous; Cantalejo Díez, María Jesús; Tecnología de Alimentos; Elikagaien Teknologia; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) conditions on the physicochemical and sensory properties of ozonated freeze-dried chicken meat stored at 21 ± 1 °C for 28 days. To this end, 14 MAP treatments were performed to obtain the most suitable packaging atmosphere.High concentrations of O2in MAP promoted loss of redness and increased the pH values. Moreover, when the concentration of CO2in MAP was more than 40%, high values of textural parameters and low scores of sensory hardness and chewiness were achieved. The 20%CO2/80%N2 gas combination was found to be the most effective treatment for best maintaining the physicochemical and sensory quality of ozonated dried chicken samples similar to that of raw meat.
Open Access
Modeling the growth of six Listeria monocytogenes strains in smoked salmon pâté
(MDPI, 2023) Bolívar, Araceli; Garrote Achou, Chajira Camila; Tarlak, Fatih; Cantalejo Díez, María Jesús; Correia Peres Costa, Jean Carlos; Pérez Rodríguez, Fernando; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura
In this study, the growth of six L. monocytogenes strains isolated from different fish products was quantified and modeled in smoked salmon pâté at a temperature ranging from 2 to 20 °C. The experimental data obtained for each strain was fitted to the primary growth model of Baranyi and Roberts to estimate the following kinetic parameters: lag phase (λ), maximum specific growth rate (μmax), and maximum cell density (Nmax). Then, the effect of storage temperature on the obtained μmax values was modeled by the Ratkowsky secondary model. In general, the six L. monocytogenes strains showed rapid growth in salmon pâté at all storage temperatures, with a relatively short lag phase λ, even at 2 °C. The growth behavior among the tested strains was similar at the same storage temperature, although significant differences were found for the parameters λ and μmax. Besides, the growth variations among the strains did not follow a regular pattern. The estimated secondary model parameter Tmin ranged from −4.25 to −3.19 °C. This study provides accurate predictive models for the growth of L. monocytogenes in fish pâtés that can be used in shelf life and microbial risk assessment studies. In addition, the models generated in this work can be implemented in predictive modeling tools and repositories that can be reliably and easily used by the fish industry and end-users to establish measures aimed at controlling the growth of L. monocytogenes in fish-based pâtés.
Open Access
Effects of modified atmosphere packaging on quality and shelf-life of partially dehydrated red bell pepper
(ISHS, 2015) Horvitz Szoichet, Sandra Susana; Cantalejo Díez, María Jesús; Tecnología de Alimentos; Elikagaien Teknologia; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD