ARS | Publication request: Effect of Processing on Lycopene-Isomer Content of Tangerine Tomato

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: March 13, 2005
Publication Date: March 13, 2005
Citation: Ishida, B.K., Bartley, G.E., Chapman, M.H. 2005. Effects of Processing on Lycopene-isomer Content of Tangerine Tomato. Meeting Abstract Paper AGFD #117, ACS Cornucopia, 3/15/05, San Diego, CA.

Technical Abstract: Field-grown tangerine tomatoes were processed into canned, sterilized tomato sauce at the pilot processing plant managed by the Food Science and Technology Department, University of California, Davis. Washed tomatoes were sliced, heated in a microwave oven, cooled, and passed through a screen to produce tomato juice. The juice was reduced in volume (by about 50%) by boiling down to 9.0-9.25 Brix. The resulting tomato sauce was then canned and sterilized. Carotenoids were extracted from tomatoes at each step of this process, then separated and analyzed using a reversed phase HPLC system with a C 30 column. Overall, processing decreased the total lycopene content per g FW to about 26% of the amount in fresh tomato fruit. The tetra-cis-lycopene content decreased similarly. Trans lycopene, however, increased by about 400%, and the percentage of other cis-lycopene isomers increased during processing. Losses in lycopene concentration are considerably higher than expected and will be discussed.