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Honey is a natural, sweet viscous food produced by honeybees and other insects through regurgitation, enzymatic activity and water evaporation, to sustain the colony when flowers are not in season. Domestication of the Apis genera of the honeybees, lead Humans to better control the quality and the amount of honey production. Honey’s nutritional value is exceptional, due to the variety of carbohydrates, such as fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose and other polysaccharides and oligosaccharides. Additionally, honey is composed of multiple vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, acids, and enzymes. Honey’s biological activity is quite known and studied for high antioxidant content, and for bactericidal and antiviral action. Honey is one of the most important food products made in the Beira Baixa Region. Here, we show the nutritional value of the Honey produced in neighbour cities in Beira Baixa’s region: Oleiros, Castelo Branco and Vila Velha de Rodão; with special focus on the carbohydrate composition compared between the type of honey.

Food safety and eradication of food waste are current concerns of society and governments due to health, ethics, and sustainable economics. There are multiple technologies for monitoring food safety at different chain stages, among them, time-temperature integrators (TTI). Temperature is a major factor affecting food quality and safety during its life cycle. This parameter can be monitored using TTI devices on food packages, allowing users to know the thermal exposure. This chapter addresses food safety issues, namely factors related to microbial growth responsible for food deterioration. Moreover, TTI monitoring technologies are also described, focusing on features, advantages, disadvantages, applicability, and product examples. Analysis of the current state of TTI and technological evolution, a prediction is provided for future TTI devices designed for more assertive, traceable, safe, and quality food products.

Currently, there is a growing demand for cleaner and sustainable technologies due to environmental issues. In this sense, there is a necessity to manage the assessment of production processes and the rationalization of energy consumption. In this study, an Energy Life-Cycle Assessment (ELCA) was carried out through energy efficiency indicators, directed to the characterization and renewability of the peach production system life-cycle in the Portuguese region of Beira Interior. The study intends to investigate the non-renewable energy inputs from fossil fuels, as well as the emissions resulting from machinery. In addition, warehouse energy inputs are analyzed, mainly cooling systems of refrigerated chambers where fruits are preserved. This analysis aims to find opportunities for technological, environmental and best practices improvements. Test scenarios were analyzed and revealing soil groundcover maintenance is the operation with the largest impact in the energy consumption of the production process (3176 MJ·ha−1 ). In the post-harvest processes, the energy consumption largest impact is given by the warehouse’s operations (35,700 MJ·ha−1 ), followed by transportation (6180 MJ·ha−1 ). Concerning the emissions resulting from the fuels consumption, the largest impact is due to the plantation machinery and the transportation from warehouse to retailers

Cistus ladanifer is a persistent, abundant and widespread underexplored resource in the Iberian Peninsula. The seeds have been used as food for centuries, although their nutritional value and potential as food ingredients have not been exploited until now. In this study seeds from natural shrubland were collected three times during summer for two consecutive years. Analytical evaluation of the macronutrient content, fatty acids, and mineral composition was performed. Regarding the macronutrients, seeds showed a carbohydrate content of 46.1 ± 1.6%, a fibre content of 20.9 ± 1.4%, a protein content of 16.2 ± 0.4%, a lipid content of 13.0 ± 1.1%, and an ash content of 3.87 ± 0.16%. The fatty acids were found to be mostly unsaturated (74.05 ± 0.59%). Potassium was the most abundant mineral (975 ± 53 mg/100 g) followed by phosphorous, magnesium and calcium. In conclusion, several nutrient-related label claims may be used for C. ladanifer seeds as food ingredient. Compared to common cereals, nuts and seeds, C. ladanifer seeds are close to flax and chia seeds in relation to nutritional composition, and to pine nuts in relation to mineral composition.

Com este trabalho, onde apenas são abordados aspetos relativos às características físico-químicas e microbiológicas dos leites de ovelha recolhidos na área geográfica de produção do Queijo Serra da Estrela com DOP, apresentam-se os resultados de amostras de leite recolhidas nos produtores entre fevereiro de 2019 e julho de 2021 analisadas nos Laboratórios da Associação CATAA e os resultados analíticos recolhidos nos boletins de análise de leite do tanque de refrigeração dos produtores que se candidataram ao “Vale Pastor +”, uma ação integrada no Programa de Valorização da Fileira do Queijo da Região Centro.

Com este trabalho, onde apenas são abordados aspetos relativos às características físico-químicas e microbiológicas dos leites de ovelha e cabra recolhidos na área geográfica de produção dos Queijos da Beira Baixa com DOP, apresentam-se os resultados de amostras de leite recolhidas nos produtores entre fevereiro de 2019 e julho de 2021 analisadas nos Laboratórios da Associação CATAA e os resultados analíticos recolhidos nos boletins de análise de leite do tanque de refrigeração dos produtores que se candidataram ao “Vale Pastor +”, uma ação integrada no Programa de Valorização da Fileira do Queijo da Região Centro.

Com este trabalho, onde apenas são abordados aspetos relativos às características físico-químicas e microbiológicas dos leites de ovelha e cabra recolhidos na área geográfica de produção do Queijo Rabaçal com DOP, apresentam-se os resultados de amostras de leite recolhidas nos produtores entre fevereiro de 2019 e julho de 2021 analisadas nos Laboratórios da Associação CATAA e os resultados analíticos recolhidos nos boletins de análise de leite do tanque de refrigeração dos produtores que se candidataram ao “Vale Pastor +”, uma ação integrada no Programa de Valorização da Fileira do Queijo da Região Centro.

Cherry is a highly perishable fruit widely appreciated that is only commercialized during a short period. The post-harvest control and monitoring of this fruit is central and essential for optimal consumption in its highest state of quality. The conservation process aimed to inhibit the microbial propagation is usually accomplished by low temperatures and/or variable atmosphere composition. This paper describes experimental tests conducted in different refrigeration chambers located in industrial and laboratorial facilities. The latter one includes modified atmosphere and controlled atmosphere chambers. The tests were performed with four different concentration of O2 and CO2 in the controlled atmosphere chamber. Fruit samples extracted from each chamber were analyzed at specific residence times and several organoleptic characteristics were analyzed. The results show that the modified and controlled atmosphere maintain the fruit quality in terms of size, color, appearance and firmness, thus increasing their shelf life and food safety.

A cereja é muito apreciada e apresenta um tempo de comercialização muito curto devido a ser um fruto altamente perecível. Técnicas de conservação pós-colheita são essenciais para manter a qualidade da cereja até serem consumidas. Baixas temperaturas são utilizadas para retardar o processo de deterioração da fruta e como complemento a aplicação de atmosferas controladas permite retardar o processo de amadurecimento e envelhecimento. A diminuição de oxigénio e o aumento de dióxido de carbono e azoto inibe o amadurecimento, mantendo o sabor e a qualidade da fruta. Neste trabalho experimental, cerejas da cultivar Satin foram conservadas em câmaras de refrigeração no produtor e nas instalações do CATAA com equipamento de atmosferas controladas. Quatro atmosferas controladas com diferentes combinações de oxigénio e dióxido de carbono foram testadas e o seu efeito na qualidade das cerejas foi avaliado. Ao longo do tempo de conservação as cerejas foram analisadas a diferentes níveis: qualidade (peso, dureza, cor e sólidos solúveis totais), microbiológico e organolético. Os resultados de temperatura e humidade no produtor e no CATAA, foram comparados e indicam que ambas as situações apresentam ótimas condições de conservação. No entanto, complementar a conservação com atmosferas controladas sugere que a qualidade da cereja é mantida por mais tempo, através da minimização do envelhecimento e processo de amadurecimento.