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1. Baby carrots
Perfotec empirical evidencePerfotec empirical evidencePerfotec empirical evidencePerfotec empirical evidence
Literature data optimal storage condition and
empirical evidence of the Perfotec system
Baby carrots packed in microperforated pillow bags in a
controlled chilled chain have less whitening and become less
dry compared to those packed in macroperforated pillow
bags. The experimental data with the Perfotec system,
comprising of a Perfotec Fast Respiration Meter, AMAP
website and Perfotec laser with automatic OTR control,
confirmed this.
Baby carrots packed in microperforated film had no weight
loss.
Optimal O2 and CO2 concentration for storage of baby carrots
at maximum 7 °C are both 5 to 10%.
Regular measurement of respiration rate is needed to allow
the right response to large variations in respiration rate of
cultivars, storage conditions and time and processing
conditions. Fact based adjustment of the laser
microperforations per package works in practice.
The potential of the Perfotec system on shelf life
improvement of baby carrots has been proven.
SummarySummarySummarySummary
If you are interested into more details like the list of
references please feel free to contact us at amap@top-bv.nl
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Phone +31 317 466270
amap@top-bv.nl | www.top-bv.nl

2. PackagingPackagingPackagingPackaging O2O2O2O2
[%][%][%][%]
CO2CO2CO2CO2
[%][%][%][%]
Overall qualityOverall qualityOverall qualityOverall quality judgementjudgementjudgementjudgement
Microperforated film A 8 6 8 (less white & dry)
Macroperforated film A 17 4 6 (white & dry)
Microperforated film B 15 5 7 (less white & dry, less taste)
Macroperforated film B 10 20 7 (a bit white & wet)
Cultivar, originCultivar, originCultivar, originCultivar, origin RR (C)O2 value inRR (C)O2 value inRR (C)O2 value inRR (C)O2 value in
mlmlmlml air/kg.24hrair/kg.24hrair/kg.24hrair/kg.24hr
T[°C]T[°C]T[°C]T[°C] RefRefRefRef.*.*.*.*
Nandor, France 400 10 6
Nandor, grated
France
2000 10 6
Unknown, grated
Belgium at 3% O2
500 7 7
Baby carrots, the
Netherlands
1200 7 10
Literature dataLiterature dataLiterature dataLiterature data
Experimental dataExperimental dataExperimental dataExperimental data
Experimental set upExperimental set upExperimental set upExperimental set up
Baby carrots Storage conditions: 7 °C
Evaluation criteria and methods: sensory on day 0, 7, 14 and 21
Per type 20 packagings were being made
Respiration rateRespiration rateRespiration rateRespiration rate
Few rates have been reported showing the impact of
processing.Benefits and issues of MAP packedBenefits and issues of MAP packedBenefits and issues of MAP packedBenefits and issues of MAP packed babybabybabybaby carrotscarrotscarrotscarrots
During shelf life baby carrot quality loss can be off flavor
development, acidification, firmness loss and (white)
discoloration. Respiration rates of processed carrots are high
and increase with an increase in cutting surface. Anaerobic
conditions quickly occur when baby carrots are being packed
in MAP flexible film bags, giving quality loss due to
fermentation (6). More open films (OTR > 25.000) have shown
beneficial effects but the COTR needs to be equal too (5, 6).
But too open films cause weight loss and white blush
formation (5, 9).
Optimal O2 and CO2 conditions reported in time for processed
carrots range from:
o 2-10% O2 and 10-40% CO2 @ 8 °C gives better sugar
content retainance but spoilage due to rapid lactic acid
bacteria growth can occur (3)
o 10-20% O2 and 1-10% CO2 @ 3-8 °C (4)
o 5% O2 and 5% CO2 @ 5 °C (2)
o 10-15 O2 and less than 10% CO2 @ 5 °C (1)
Baby carrot quality is largely affected by microbiological
spoilage (8). Lactic acid bacteria are predominant on
processed carrots, giving high CO2 levels in pillow bags having
relatively low COTR values (7, 8).
A recent study did show in a flow through set up with
humidified air that a 5 % O2 and 15% CO2 environment reduced
respiration rate and maintained the shelf life of commercially
prepared baby carrots for up to 8 days at 4 °C based on the
scores for flavor, whiteness and visual appearance (9). The
above given information suggest an optimal range of the
atmosphere of packed baby carrots of 3- 8% O2 and 5 – 15%
CO2 at 7 °C.
*Available via TOP at amap@top-bv.nl
21 days after packing Perfotec system microperforated versus macroperforated
Film A
Film B