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Abstract
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Article Information:
Shelf-life of Roasted Cashew Nuts as Affected by Relative Humidity, Thickness of Polythene Packaging Material and Duration of Storage
S.V. Irtwange and A.O. Oshodi
Corresponding Author: Simon V. Irtwange
Submitted: 2009 August, 06
Accepted: 2009 August, 17
Published: |
Abstract:
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The effect of relative humidity, thickness of polythene packaging material and duration of storage
on the shelf life of roasted cashew was determined to provide inform ation for packaged roasted cashew nuts
marketers. For this study, split plot in Randomized Complete Block Design was used with a total number of
180 observations (3 relative humidity x 4 polythene thicknesses x 5 duration levels of storage x 3 replications)
each for moisture content, microbial count and quality index, which w ere measured using standard procedures.
The initial mean moisture content, total fungal counts and percentage quality index of the nuts were found to
be 1.17%db, 30CFU/g and 100% respectively, which were all deemed appropriate in comparison with the set
acceptable storage moisture content of 5.8%db, tolerable fungal levels of 103 and 104/g and acceptable
percentage quality index of 45% for roasted cashew nuts which did not exceed its shelf-life and still deemed
fit for human consumption. The results of the study indicates that relative humidity, polythene thickness and
duration of storage have a highly significant effect (P≤0.01) on moisture content and quality index while for
the microbial count, polythene thickness and duration of storage has significant effect (P≤0.05) with relative
humidity showing non-significance. For all levels of relative humidity and polythene thickness, moisture
content and microbial count increased with increase in duration of storage w hile quality index decreased with
increase in duration of storage. As the polythene thickness increased at constant storage duration, the moisture
content decreased. The moisture content of all the samples increased with increase in duration of storage at
constant polythene thickness level. As the thickness of the polythene packaging material increased, the amount
of moisture absorbed over time (in days) decreases; the total fugal growth decreases, and the percentage quality
index increases. It is recommended that for the packaged roasted cashew nuts industry for poverty alleviation,
the most favourable polythene thickness of 0.95mm should be used. The best storage relative humidity was
determined in the study to be 47.2% under which conditions, storage period should not exceed 14 days for best
quality and value for money.
Key words: Polythene thickness, packaging material, roasted cashew nuts, shelf-life, , ,
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Cite this Reference:
S.V. Irtwange and A.O. Oshodi, . Shelf-life of Roasted Cashew Nuts as Affected by Relative Humidity, Thickness of Polythene Packaging Material and Duration of Storage. Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology, (3): Page No: 149-153.
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ISSN (Online): 2040-7467
ISSN (Print): 2040-7459 |
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