ARS | Publication request: Spoilage of fruit juices by filamentous fungi

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 26, 2009
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Contamination of molds in fruit juices has risen in recent years. Even though there are many critical control points in the processing protocols that are noted and maintained, there remains a problem with dairy and juices packed in paperboard cartons. This talk discusses the work involved in the discovery that the contamination was coming from the paperboard packaging. Residual fungi in the wood fibers comprising the paperboard grow out of pinholes and unskived sections of the carton and grow through the juice. Eventually these filamentous organisms sporulate at the air interface at the top of the carton (at the gable) and provide more inoculum for more growth. Also discussed are methods of evaluation of paperboard contamination and possible problems arising from mold contamination in the juice (e.g. mycotoxin production).