A kinetic study of pectinmethylesterase (PME) inactivation in orange juice was conducted. Juice samples were subjected to combinations of high pressure (400, 500, 600 MPa) and thermal (25, 37.5, 50 8C) treatments for various time periods. PME inactivation followed a first-order kinetic model with a residual activity of pressureresistant enzyme remaining. Calculated D-values ranged from 4.6 min to 117.5 min at 600 MPa/50 8C and 400 MPa/25 8C, respectively. Pressures in excess of 500 MPa resulted in sufficiently fast inactivation rates for economic viability of the process.

Several process alternatives for the stabilization of fresh orange juice at pressures between 500 MPa and 800 MPa and temperatures between 25 and 50 8C were evaluated. Processing at 800 MPa and 25 8C for 1 min and use of thermally pasteurized pulp yielded the lowest level of residual pectinmethylesterase activity (3.9%) and good cloud stability at 4 and 37 8C over a period of more than 2 mo. Ascorbic acid loss was less than 20% after storage for 3 mo at 4 8C or 2 mo at 15 8C. Color values were stable during storage at 4, 15, and 26 8C.

Paprika oleoresin was fractionated by extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide (SCF-CO(2)). Higher extraction volumes, increasing extraction pressures, and similarly, the use of cosolvents such as 1% ethanol or acetone resulted in higher pigment yields. Within the 2000-7000 psi range, total oleoresin yield always approached 100%. Pigments isolated at lower pressures consisted almost exclusively of beta-carotene, while pigments obtained at higher pressures contained a greater proportion of red carotenoids (capsorubin, capsanthin, zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin) and small amounts of beta-carotene. The varying solubility of oil and pigments in SCF-CO(2) was optimized to obtain enriched and concentrated oleoresins through a two-stage extraction at 2000 and 6000 psi. This technique removes the paprika oil and beta-carotene during the first extraction step, allowing for second-stage oleoresin extracts with a high pigment concentration (200% relative to the reference) and a red:yellow pigment ratio of 1.8 (as compared to 1.3 in the reference).

High pressure processing was investigated for controlling Cheddar cheese ripening. One-month- or 4-month-old Cheddar cheeses were subjected to pressures ranging from 200 to 800 MPa for 5 min at 25 °C. The number of viable Lactococcus lactis (starter) and Lactobacillus (nonstarter) cells decreased as pressure increased. Subsequent storage of the control and pressure-treated cheeses at 10 °C caused viable cell counts to change in some cases. Free amino acid content was monitored as an indicator of proteolysis. Cheeses treated with pressures [ges ]400 MPa evolved free amino acids at significantly lower rates than the control. No acceleration in free amino acid development was observed at lower pressures. Pressure treatment did not accelerate the rate of textural breakdown compared with the non-pressure treated control. On the contrary, pressure treatment at 800 MPa reduced the time-dependent texture changes. Results indicate that high pressure may be useful in arresting Cheddar cheese ripening.