Guavas (Psidium guajava L.), var. "Paluma", minimally processed by mild osmotic dehydration, were packed in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) trays and stored at 5ºC, with the objective to evaluate the modified atmosphere package and osmotic dehydration influence on the shelf life of the product. Non-treated guavas, packed in PET trays and in atmospheric air, were used as control. Weight loss, microbial spoilage, physico-chemical characteristics of the product and oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations inside the packages were evaluated during the shelf life of the product. The guavas were submitted to a sensory analysis and the purchase intention was also evaluated. The combination of storage temperature, passive modified atmosphere package and osmotic dehydration process provided a 24-day shelf life to the minimally processed guavas, resulting in a microbiologically more stable product with better sensory attributes than the control samples, also showing better acceptance by the consumer.
guava; osmotic dehydration; minimal-processing; modified atmosphere packages
