The effects of conventional heating (C) or ohmic heating (O) treatment on the degradation of sugar and
ascorbic acid (AA) were evaluated in chunky fruit desserts prepared with apple puree (Golden Delicious
var.) and chunky peach (Panavi var.) pieces. Concentrations of 5-HMF, furfural (F), 3-hydroxy-2-pyrone
(3H2P) and 2-furoic acid (FA) were determined to assess the importance of oxidative and/or thermal
reactions during processing. Depending on the thermal processing, 5-HMF and F levels in samples ranged
from not detected to 3260 and from not detected to 570 mg/100 g FW respectively. Production of 3H2P
and FA ranged from 480 to 2670 and from 84 to 420 mg/100 g FW respectively. Results showed that the
impact of final heating treatment on the formation of AA degradation products (3H2P and FA) was minor,
if any. Thus, AA degradation during apple products processing mainly depended on oxidative reactions
pathway. Likewise, ohmic heating processing had very little effect on the formation of 5-HMF and F, in
opposite to conventional heating.