Study of the Effect of Storage Temperature on Microbial Stored Dates under Vacuum

Abstract

This research study the effects of different storage temperatures on the microbial load of Khalas cv dates produced in Al Hassa, Saudi Arabia and packed under vacuum at room temperature (25 ºC) and under the refrigerator cooling temperature (5 ºC) for 12 months. The results showed a fast developed of microbial florae on dates as mixture of bacteria and yeasts and fungus while the aerobic bacteria in samples stored at 5 °C for 12 months significantly decreased, compared with dates stored at 25 °C which showed a small decline. Also, yeast and fungi significantly decreased in storage at 5 °C compared with those stored at 25 °C. It was observed that a more positive effect cooling to control the level of microbes, concludes that refrigeration is the best way to control microbes. Results showed that the cooling is the best way to control microbes in dates stored and bottled under vacuum and proved that the source of microbial development result mostly from bad post-harvest operation in the field and from washing dates lines in the factories.