Availability, nutritional quality, and ecological labeling of animal-based products and plant-based analogues in Brazil Eliana de Souza Marques dos Santos, Davy William Hildalgo Chávez, Ellen Mayra Menezes Ayres Semina Ciencias Agrarias, 2026 Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a disponibilidade, a qualidade nutricional e a relação custo-benefício de produtos de origem animal e seus análogos de origem vegetal com rótulos ecológicos. Trata-se de um estudo transversal com auditoria de 149 estabelecimentos varejistas no Rio de Janeiro (julho/2022 a junho/2023), estratificados pelo Índice de Progresso Social (IPS). Foram analisados 1.643 produtos proteicos com rotulagem ecológica (animal-based certificados e plant-based) quanto à disponibilidade, ao preço e à composição nutricional dos macronutrientes. Análises multivariadas (MFA e PCA) foram utilizadas e mostraram a distribuição espacial de produtos, regiões e IPS, enquanto os testes qui-quadrado e G compararam as categorias (p ≤ 0,05). Os resultados demonstraram que o IPS explica 86,8% da variância na disponibilidade, evidenciando que a segregação socioespacial é o principal determinante do acesso a proteínas sustentáveis. Os produtos plant-based apresentaram custo médio 71% superior ao dos produtos de origem animal. Entre os plant-based, o hambúrguer destacou-se como principal produto âncora do segmento; entre os produtos de origem animal, o frango foi o principal produto certificado da categoria. A composição nutricional dos plant-based revelou vantagens, como maior teor de fibras, ausência de colesterol e melhor perfil lipídico, mas também desvantagens, como menor densidade proteica e altos níveis de sódio. A concentração desigual de produtos proteicos com rotulagem ecológica reforça as desigualdades no acesso a alimentos inovadores e sustentáveis. A transição proteica sustentável no Brasil não ocorrerá espontaneamente por forças de mercado, sendo necessária intervenção pública diante de barreiras estruturais relacionadas a preço, distribuição e informação.
Improving the Overall Postharvest Quality and Safety of Fresh Apples Subjected to UV-C Light Mahyra da Paixão e Silva, Caroline Rodrigues de Azevedo, Caroline Corrêa de Souza Coelho, Davy William Hidalgo Chávez, Érika Fraga de Souza, et al. Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, 2026 Widely cultivated and consumed worldwide, the apple ( Malus domestica ) is notable for its taste and potential nutritional value. However, it experiences significant postharvest losses, mainly due to rot, which can account for up to 70% of discarded fruit. Therefore, there is a need for technologies that help extend shelf life after harvest. We evaluated the postharvest quality parameters and microbiological safety of fresh apples subjected to UV‐C radiation. The fruit was exposed to UV‐C for two predetermined periods (5 and 10 min) and then stored at 7°C for 14 days. The physicochemical parameters analyzed were color, texture, total titratable acidity (TTA), total soluble solids (TSS), phenolic content, and antioxidant capacity. In the microbiological evaluation ( Salmonella, Escherichia coli , mesophilic bacteria, molds, and yeasts), apples irradiated for 10 min showed microbial control during storage, as well as higher firmness, TTA, phenolic content, and preservation of red color. Exposure to UV‐C did not cause any changes in the quality parameters of the irradiated fruit.
Effect of Crosslinking on the Physical Properties and Antifungal Activity of Active Coatings Containing Cinnamon Essential Oil for Anthracnose Control in Mangoes Tamires Sousa de Oliveira, André Mesquita Magalhães Costa, Caroline Corrêa de Souza Coelho, Davy William Hidalgo Chávez, Lourdes Maria Corrêa Cabral, et al. Journal of Food Science, 2025 This study aimed to verify the stability of cinnamon essential oil (CEO) nanoemulsions after their incorporation into polymer‐based coatings for the control of anthracnose in mangoes. A 0.75% CEO emulsion with Tween 80 was produced via ultrasonication and incorporated into sodium alginate (1%) and carboxymethylcellulose (0.5%) solutions, with or without calcium‐induced crosslinking. Physical stability (droplet size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, pH, whiteness, turbidity, and antifungal activity) was monitored over 28 days. Furthermore, the rheological behavior and efficacy of the active coatings were evaluated on mangoes artificially inoculated with Colletotrichum gloeosporioides . Crosslinked formulation showed lower variations in droplet size and PDI over time, indicating greater protection of CEO droplets within the structured polymeric network. All coating‐forming solutions exhibited pseudoplastic behavior; however, the incorporation of the nanoemulsion reduced viscosity compared with the base coating while maintaining adequate flow behavior for brush application. Notably, the crosslinked coating achieved a substantial mitigation of the disease, reaching up to 70% reduction in anthracnose lesion progression of the mangoes. Therefore, calcium crosslinking resulted in better long‐term maintenance of physicochemical and functional properties, confirming the efficiency of this strategy in enhancing the performance of CEO‐based active coatings for sustainable postharvest disease management.
Impact of Whole Cereal–Pulse Flours on the Functionality and Antioxidant Properties of Gluten-Free Extruded Flours Franz J. Chuqui-Paulino, Davy W. Hidalgo Chávez, José L. Ramírez Ascheri, Caroline Grassi Mellinger, Jhony W. Vargas-Solorzano, et al. Foods, 2025 Extruded whole flours from blends of cereals and pulses have great potential to be key ingredients in the development of more innovative gluten-free products, both from a technological and nutritional perspective. The objective of this work was to obtain pre-cooked flours from four formulations based on blends of whole cereals (PR: parboiled brown rice; PM: pearl millet) and pulses (CP: chickpea; CB: common bean). CB was fixed at 10%, and the other components (PR-PM-CP) were set at 60-15-15 (F1), 15-60-15 (F2), 15-15-60 (F3), and 30-30-30 (F4), which were extruded at two combined conditions of feed moisture and screw speed: mild E1 (30% and 300 rpm) and severe E2 (18% and 600 rpm). The temperature profile was kept constant from 25 to 130 °C (from feed to output). The protein, dietary fiber, and ash contents in the raw formulations varied from 11.2 to 17.4%, 9.8 to 15.0%, and 2.2 to 3.3%, respectively, according to the low or high pulse content in the blend. As more mechanical energy was delivered to the raw formulations (W·h/kg, 63.7 for E1 and 179.4 for E2), the extruded particles had increased water absorption (g/g) from 1.7 to 4.5 (E1) or 3.8 (E2), increased water solubility due to E2 from 10.9 to 20.9%, and decreased oil absorption (g/g) from 1.5 to 0.9 (E1 and E2). The peak viscosity (PV, cP) was noticeable only in the raw formulation F2 (355), which decreased 10.3% due to E1. In the other formulations, PV appeared due to E1 in F1 (528), F3 (420), and F4 (371), while it disappeared due to E2 in all formulations. However, at the E2 condition, they did show cold viscosity in the initial stage (222 to 394 cP). The final viscosity (FV, cP) decreased from 795 to 390 (E1) or 123 (E2). In F2, the contents of phenolic compounds (285 µg GAE/g) and ABTS+ (13.2 μmol TE/g) were more than twice that in the other formulations, and their respective degradations were low due to E1 (4.2 and 12%) and high due to E2 (16 and 17%). Extrusion cooking did not cause significant changes in the luminosity (81) and redness (0.9) of particles, while yellowness increased from 15.7 to 18.2 (E1) or 18.7 (E2). Based on these findings, it is concluded that both extrusion conditions improved the technological and functional properties. Regarding the formulations, F2 stood out for being rich in antioxidant capacity, which poorly degraded under the conditions studied. Further work is needed to contribute to understanding the optimization of formulas and processes that would improve the nutritional, sensorial, and functional properties while still preserving the bioactive value of the final products.
Bread composite by wheat and novel Andean purple corn: dough rheology and physical and bioactive characteristics Raúl Comettant-Rabanal, Roxanna T Chávez-Llerena, Davy William Hidalgo Chavéz, Bárbara Amorim Silva, Ronald Rimari-Barzola, et al. International Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2025 The aim of this work was to evaluate the dough rheological properties along with the textural, physical, colorimetric, structural, total phenolics, anthocyanins and antioxidant properties of breads composed of wheat and Peruvian INIA 601 purple corn flour at three levels of substitution (5%, 15%, and 25%). Paste profiles describe the gelatinization, swelling, and decomposition phenomena of starch-based systems. These profiles were strongly affected at 15% and 25% replacement levels of purple corn INIA 601, attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds, which retarded starch gelatinization by increasing energy demands to reach paste temperature. Farinographic analysis evaluates key quality properties of the dough and provides insight into its rheological behaviour. In them, 5% purple corn flour substitution had a gluten-enhancing effect that increased the dough consistency, given the reducing capacity of the polyphenols that caused the aggregation of gluten proteins. But at levels of 15% and 25% it affected dough stability and tolerance properties (p < .05). In the rheometry properties, the addition of purple corn increased the elastic (G′) and viscous (G″) modulus. However, the hardness as the most important textural parameter of breadcrumbs was not affected up to 15% purple corn incorporation levels (p < .05). Multivariate, heatmap, and correlation analyses identify patterns and relationships, offering insights into variable interactions. Correlation studies showed interesting associations (0.90 > r > 0.99) between the bread responses. In conclusion, the incorporation of INIA 601 purple corn can generate anthocyanin-rich pigmented breads with higher concentration of phenolic compounds, anthocyanins and antioxidant capacity, which showed physical characteristics like wheat without drastically affecting crumb cell structure and bread volume.
Functionality of cassava genotypes for waxy starch Thaís Barbosa dos Santos, Carlos Wanderlei Piler de Carvalho, Luciana Alves de Oliveira, Eder Jorge de Oliveira, Flávia Villas-Boas, et al. Pesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira, 2021