Thermal Pasteurization Effects on Color of Red Grapefruit Juices

Abstract

ABSTRACT Changes in color due to thermal pasteurization of two cultivars of red grapefruit juice were studied. Juices were pasteurized at 91°C using a plate heat exchanger. Apparently, thermal pasteurization changed all three color parameters (CIE L*, a*, b*) in the juice, causing a slight color shift towards lighter and brighter. Thermal pasteurization especially affected CIE b* value and chroma in juice. The reflectance spectrum in the visible region (400 nm to 700 nm) clearly showed changes in spectral distribution of light reflected from juice after pasteurization. There were no changes (P>0.05) in major carotenoid pigments (β‐carotene and lycopene) in the juices after pasteurization.