Quantitative Assessment of the Shelf Life of Fruit Juices

Abstract This chapter deals with the quantitative assessment of the shelf life of fruit juices. It revisits the definitions related to the shelf life assessment and presents a number of indicators that are relevant for the quantification and modeling of the shelf life of fruit juices. Hereafter, these indicators are presented in relation to their limits of acceptability. This introductory information permits the presentation of the current modeling approaches for the shelf life quantification in subcategories and in relation to a number of chemical and microbial indicators. A list of some representative examples of these kinetic studies is presented in relation to current practices in fruit juice processing and postprocessing conditions. Although current quantitative modeling practices are based on kinetic assessments under static conditions, recent research developments in logistic regression analysis and dynamic kinetic modeling appear as alternative and informative methods. These will need to be further explored in the future.