Biphenyl Control of Citrus Spoilage: Influence of Time, Temperature, and Carton Venting

Excerpts from the report Introduction: European--particularly West German--as well as domestic markets are concerned with additives to foods. One of the issues raised concerns the question of biphenyl residues on American-grown citrus fruit. This report supplements previous research in giving information on how control of decay can be accomplished effectively without excessive biphenyl accumulating in the fruit. This research is part of a broad continuing program by the Agricultural Marketing Service to maintain quality and to reduce spoilage losses in farm products. The effects of temperature, storage time, carton venting, and kind of fruit on the rate of loss of biphenyl from the biphenyl pads and on the concentration of biphenyl vapor in the carton atmosphere, and the relationship of these factors to decay, sporulation, and soilage (dusting of sound fruit with spores of fungi from decaying fruit) of the fruit were determined.