5. Conclusions
For keeping quality of ‘Durinta’ tomato slices up to 10 days the best storage conditions were obtained at 0 °C independently of the kind of film used. After 7 days no differences in tomato quality between storage at 0 and 5 °C were observed. However, when storage was prolonged up to 10 days, quality attributes were better preserved in tomato slices at 0 °C. In order to assure a good quality of fresh cut tomato during 10 days at 5 °C an active MAP of 12 kPa O2 and 0 kPa CO2 combined with a low permeability film was needed. Due to the short storage period, use of a C2H4 absorbent within packages did not improve shelf-life of tomato slices. When storage temperature increased from 0 to 5 °C in air, yeast and moulds counts increased by more than 3 log U and thus lowering temperature was a more critical factor than MAP in reducing microbial counts. However, high CO2 and low O2 levels inhibit yeast and mold growth without off-flavor development.