The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition has published two new reports from its Scientific Committee:
- Report on the storage conditions of fruit cut in half in retail establishments.
- Report on the safety of the use of an aqueous solution of sodium lauryl ether sulfate as a processing aid for washing apples, peaches, bananas, tomatoes, peppers and citrus in processing plants .
Report on the storage conditions of fruit cut in half in retail establishments
The AESAN Scientific Committee has assessed whether it is possible to keep melon, watermelon, pineapple and papaya cut in half at room temperature in retail establishments for a limited time, ensuring consumer safety.
The Scientific Committee has concluded that, on the basis of the information
- Storage at room temperature of melon, watermelon, papaya and pineapple cut in half can pose a health risk as the physicochemical conditions (pH, water activity, total soluble solids, nutrient availability, etc.) are compatible with growth. of foodborne pathogens, such as Salmonella , E. coli verotoxigenic or L. monocytogenes .
- In order to make the storage conditions of melon, watermelon, papaya and pineapple cut in half more flexible, temperatures below 25 ºC for a time of less than 3 may be allowed, as they do not pose a significant microbiological risk. hours in a place sufficiently ventilated and preserved from sunlight, followed by continuous refrigerated storage at temperatures below 5 ºC.
- To minimize the health risk that these practices may pose, it is recommended to discard for cutting fruits with an excessive degree of ripeness, or that have wounds or cracks on their surface, as they can be a source of contamination.
Report on the safety of the use of an aqueous solution of sodium lauryl ether sulfate as a processing aid for washing apples, peaches, bananas, tomatoes, peppers and citrus in processing plants
The AESAN Scientific Committee has evaluated the safety of using an aqueous solution of sodium lauryl ether sulfate (27%) as a technological aid for washing apples, peaches, bananas, tomatoes, peppers and citrus in processing plants. request of a company request.
Sodium lauryl ether sulfate (LESS) is not authorized for human consumption.
As the presence of residues in the final products (fruits and vegetables) after the use of this aqueous solution cannot be ruled out, the technology adjuvant is classified as an unauthorized substance in human food whose Admissible Daily Intake (ADI) is not established and whose use may lead to the presence of technically unavoidable waste.
The Scientific Committee concludes that, based on the information provided by the applicant and taking into account the proposed composition and conditions of use, the use of the technology adjuvant does not imply a risk to the health of the consumer.
The conclusions of this report refer exclusively to the solution under evaluation as a technological aid in the proposed conditions of use and its composition, and may not be extended to formulations or conditions other than those evaluated, including joint use with other substances.
This evaluation does not imply an authorization for use or affect uses other than use as a technological aid in the process of washing apples, peaches, bananas, tomatoes, peppers and citrus in the processing plants. This use involves a final rinsing with drinking water, following the application of the washing water with the technological adjuvant, so that the possible residues in the fruits and vegetables are eliminated.
FoodWorld 