Abstract
Effect of modified atmosphere packaging conditions on quality changes of dry jujube was investigated. Dry jujubes with moisture content of 26.7% were packaged in PET/Al/PE film pouches with modified atmospheres. The tested packages include those with normal air, vacuum, CO2 flushing, N2 flushing and O2 scavenger. Packages were stored at 25$^{\circ}C$ for 6 months, during which ascorbic acid concentration, browning level, titratable acidity and surface color were measured. Generally modified atmosphere packages could improve quality retention of dry jujubes except that vacuum package resulted in large surface color change. CO2-flushed package showed the best quality retention of high ascorbic acid content and low browning during 112 days, but caused high amounts of ascorbic acid destruction and browning in longer storage. In all the modified atmosphere packages titratable acidity reached a maximum followed by decline and subsequent rise, while it increased linearly with time in normal air package. Considering ascorbic acid retention browning level and surface color changes during 112 days, the packages of CO2 flushing and N2 flushing were better than others.
