POSTBIOTICS: A SOLUTION TO PROTECT TROPICAL FRUITS TOWARDS POSTHARVEST ADULTERATION

Food security is threatened by numerous pathogens that cause a variety of foodborne illnesses. The promotion of healthier lifestyles increases the consumption of fresh products such as tropical fruits. Their consumption can expose the consumer to a higher risk of diseases since the fruits do not undergo processing steps to ensure the effective elimination or inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms. Therefore, postharvest treatments are essential for the preservation of the fruit, by reducing the microbial load and lengthening the perch life. Unlike traditional means of postharvest protection, biopreservation of fruits offers the benefits of the natural ecosystems of the microbiome in fruits. The principle of biopreservation is the use of beneficial microorganisms, with the ability to control the growth of other microorganisms, through the production of metabolites known as bacteriocins, postbiotics, metabiotics, paraprobiotics, proteobiotics. These active molecules produced by probiotic bacteria may constitute a safe alternative capable to protect the fruits from deterioration or postharvest damage. The present review described the sources of contamination and deterioration of tropical fruits along with the use of bioactive compounds such as postbiotics as an alternative for fruit protection.

Automated summary

Food security is threatened by pathogens causing foodborne illnesses, especially in the consumption of fresh tropical fruits. Postharvest treatments are necessary for fruit preservation, and the use of bioactive compounds like postbiotics can offer a natural alternative for fruit protection.