3. Results and discussionThe proximate composition results of the mixed fruit leather produced from banana–apple–pineapple fruits are presented in Table 1. The result showed that sample 443 (20% banana: 40% pineapple : 40% apple) recorded the highest moisture content (4.14%) and was significantly different (p<0.05) from samples 314 (60% banana : 20% pineapple : 20% apple) and 819 (40% banana : 40% pineapple : 20% apple) which recorded (3.78, and 2.83%) respectively. The values of moisture content obtained fell within the range of (2.83–4.14%) which is safe for storage of dried products ( FSA, 2002). Fruit products with moisture content of 2.83–5% have water activity less than 0.8 (Jay, 1992). Below this value, most microbial growth, especially bacterial are impeded, with the exception of Europhilic molds and Osmophilic yeast which can thrive at water activity of 0.61 (Jay et al., 2005). This suggested that all the samples of the mixed fruit leather produced could be microbiologically stable. The spoilage of these leathers could most likely result from the action of Europhilic molds and Osmophillic yeasts (Raab and Oehler, 2000).
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