The additives tested prevented the growing of yeasts and Enterobacteriaceae and production
of gas during the storage resulting in an increase in the shelf life of olives. The lowest
sensory evaluation was attributed to olives preserved with benzoic, sorbic and lactic acids
and the highest sensory scores were obtained by olives packed in brines containing the
mixture of citric and lactic acid and acidified with hydrochloric acid. The acidification of the
brines with the mixture of citric and lactic acids resulted in an acceptable strategy to pack
cracked olives. The results obtained could help local industries introduce changes in the
existing methods of packing of this Mediterranean food to increase shelf life and prevent
economic losses.