General introduction 21 d. Describe the kinetics of osmotic dehydration of mango to optimize water loss, sugar uptake, vitamin C retention and treatment time. This thesis comprises of six chapters in which four discuss the mentioned objectives. The four chapters are preceded by a general introduction addressing background, rationale and objectives (Chapter 1) and concluded by general discussion addressing key findings, implications and recommendations (Chapter 6) as shown in Fig 1.4. An interdisciplinary approach was used to transform in-depth insights in consumer perception of product and process characteristics toward dried mango and to apply it for product and process design (Fig 1.2). This interdisciplinary approach, involving participants of three countries, China, The Netherlands, and Indonesia, is described in Chapter 2. The results of this qualitative study-several key intrinsic quality attributes and their levels of dried mango-were tested in a quantitative setting, which is described in Chapter 3. A method to measure consumer preference using Adaptive Choice-Based Conjoint Analysis in the three countries is described. This analysis provided insights into the influence of the degree of familiarity and health consciousness toward the intrinsic quality attributes of dried mango. Chapter 4 describes the effect of vacuum impregnation, high pressure processing and adding pectin methylesterase (PME) with calcium on the sucrose gain, texture and color of mango during osmotic dehydration (OD). These quality changes are compared between two different ripeness of mango to gain insight into tailoring OD efficiency and achieve the desired quality of OD mango. Subsequently, Chapter 5 describes the fate of ascorbic acids (AAs) concentration during a long duration of osmotic dehydration of mango. The water/sucrose mass transfer and changes of AAs during OD are mathematically modelled to gain insight into the important mechanisms involved and to optimize sugar content, vitamin C retention and processing time of OD mango. In Chapter 6, the key findings are summarized and discussed. Along with methodological considerations of the study, the implications of the findings for product development are elaborated. Finally, recommendations for further research are given. Chapter 22 Fig 1.4. Schematic overview of the thesis chapters References A Joint WHO/FAOE Consultation. (2003). Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases.