Quality Changes in Dried Tomatoes Stored in Sealed Polythene and Open Storage Systems

Studies were conducted to quantify the changes in quality attributes of dried tomatoes during storage using High Density Polythene Film (HDPF) and normal (traditional) open storage systems. 300g of the dried tomato fruits were packaged in each of the six (6) high-density polythene film (HDPF) bags while similar quantities were in open bowls as practiced by the rural processors. Periodic assessment of some quality parameters, microbial loads, moisture content, color, vitamins A and C, and phosphorus were conducted for a period of three months to ascertain how these two storage systems influence the changes in these quality attributes. The results showed that the fungal load counts of the dried samples prior to storage were 3.6·103 cfu/g. After three months of storage, the counts were 5.4·103 cfu/g and 7.2·103 cfu/g for the samples stored in HDPF and open systems respectively. These were significantly different at 5 % level of confidence. Vitamin A of the samples changed from the initial value 134µg prior to storage to 98 µg and 103.4 µg after three months of storage in open and HDPF systems respectively. Vitamin C content changed from 5.21 mg / 100g prior to storage to 3.69 mg/100g and 4.24 mg/100g in the samples stored in open and HDPF systems respectively after three months. The moisture content of the dried sample prior to storage was 4.2%. After three months of storage, the values were 7.13 % and 3.93 % respectively for samples stored in open and HDPF systems