EU Project to Provide Bacteria-Testing Systems for Fruit

Researchers are close to completing their EU-funded work on developing an appropriate sensor system to screen for lactic acid-producing bacteria (LAB) in fruit juices.

The bacteria are thought to contribute to fouling and spoilage of fruit during storage. They are often not detected for several days, by which time the number has increased dramatically and the fruit is spoiled.

Deterioration in the quality of the fruit during storage is the main cause of bacterial contamination. With the help of a biosensor, contamination can be quickly detected and the juice can be pasteurised if necessary.

Researchers for the Quali-Juice project have therefore spent three years testing sensor systems that can detect quality deterioration earlier and prevent wastage and extra costs.

The project is part of the EU's Sixth Framework Research Programme, which was adopted to strengthen the scientific and technological bases of industry and encourage international competitiveness while also promoting research activities.

Read the full FoodProductionDaily.com story here.