The influence of deck storage and initial processing on patulin levels in apple juice

摘要

Patulin, a secondary metabolite produced by Penicil- lium expansum and some other fungal species, is a common contaminant of ripened apples used for the production of apple juice concentrates. The limited availability of suitable storage facilities may result in fruit being subjected to storage in the open ('deck storage') for extended periods of time, prior to process- ing. A study was conducted to determine the influence that deck storage and subsequent initial processing practices had on patulin levels in freshly pressed juice.