Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on food prices: Evidence from storable and perishable commodities in India.

The supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak have led to changes in food prices globally. The impact of COVID-19 on the price of essential and perishable food items in developing and emerging economies has been lacking. Using a recent phone survey by the World Bank, this study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prices of the three essential food items in India. The results indicate that price of basic food items such as atta (wheat flour) and rice increased significantly during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period. In contrast, during the same period, the price of onions declined significantly. The findings may suggest panic-buying, hoarding, and storability of food items. The results further reveal that remittance income and cash transfers from the government negatively affected commodity prices. Thus, this study's findings suggest that families may have shifted the demand away from essential foods during the pandemic.

To culture or not to culture: careful assessment of metabarcoding data is necessary when evaluating the microbiota of a modified-atmosphere-packaged vegetarian meat alternative throughout its shelf-life period.

BACKGROUND: As the increased consumption of ready-to-eat meat alternatives is a fairly recent trend, little is known about the composition and dynamics of the microbiota present on such products. Such information is nonetheless valuable in view of spoilage and food safety prevention. Even though refrigeration and modified-atmosphere-packaging (MAP) can extend the shelf-life period, microbial spoilage can still occur in these products. In the present study, the microbiota of a vegetarian alternative to poultry-based charcuterie was investigated during storage, contrasting the use of a culture-dependent method to a culture-independent metagenetic method. RESULTS: The former revealed that lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were the most abundant microbial group, specifically at the end of the shelf-life period, whereby Latilactobacillus sakei was the most abundant species. Metabarcoding analysis, in contrast, revealed that DNA of Xanthomonas was most prominently present, which likely was an artifact due to the presence of xanthan gum as an ingredient, followed by Streptococcus and Weissella. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these results indicated that Lb. sakei was likely the most prominent specific spoilage organisms (SSO) and, additionally, that the use of metagenetic analysis needs to be interpreted with care in this specific type of product. In order to improve the performance of metagenetics in food samples with a high DNA matrix but a low bacterial DNA load, selective depletion techniques for matrix DNA could be explored.

Modelling the inhibitors of cold supply chain using fuzzy interpretive structural modeling and fuzzy MICMAC analysis.

The Cold Supply Chain (CSC) is an integral part of the supply chain of perishable products. The aim of this research is to examine the inhibitors that have a major impact on the performance of CSC operations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study provides a synthesis and suggests a hierarchical model among CSC inhibitors and their respective relevance. The hierarchical synthesis of twelve (12) primary CSC inhibitors is achieved through a comprehensive literature review and consultation with academics and CSC professionals. This study used semi-structured interviews, a fuzzy interpretive structural modeling (FISM) and a Fuzzy-MICMAC (FMICMAC) analysis to explore and establish the relationship between and among identified inhibitors. FISM is used to examine the interaction between inhibitors, while FMICMAC analysis is used to examine the nature of inhibitors on the basis of their dependence and driving power. The results of the FISM and FMICMAC analysis show the inter-relationships and relative dominance of identified inhibitors. The results show that some inhibitors are of high strategic importance due to their high driving power and low dependence. These inhibitors seek more management attention in order to improve their effectiveness. The result of a hierarchical model helps to understand the influence of a particular inhibitor on others. 'Higher capital and operating costs' occupy the highest level in the FISM model. The 'fragmented cold supply chains', 'lack of skilled labor', 'inadequate information system infrastructure' and 'lack of commitment by top level management' had strong driving power but weak dependence, which characterizes them as independent inhibitors. Management should be extra careful when dealing with these inhibitors as they influence the effects of other variables at the top of the FISM hierarchy in the overall management of the cold supply chain. The study also suggests a number of recommendations for addressing these inhibitors in cold supply chains operating in the UAE. With due attention and care for these inhibitors, the operation of the cold supply chains is likely to be even more successful.

Postharvest practices, challenges and opportunities for grain producers in Arequipa, Peru.

Little is known about the major issues leading to postharvest losses in Peru, which are estimated to be 15-27%. We surveyed 503 farmers from the lowlands and Andean regions of Arequipa to learn more about the major grains produced and issues encountered during drying and storage. Rice, common bean, and quinoa were the most grown crops in the lowlands while starchy maize was the most cultivated crop in the highlands. Most farmers (90%) dried their crops in-field directly on the ground, which exposes them to rodents, birds, and insect pests. The majority of farmers (92%) used subjective methods to assess grain moisture content. About 77% of farmers identified insects as a major challenge during storage but only 44% said they used preventive measures such as the application of insecticides. Among farmers who stored grain, the main reason was for household consumption (61%); while among those who did not store, the main reason was the need for immediate cash at harvest (75%). Farmers who experienced insect problems, who stored seed or grain for sale, who stored longer, or farmers from the lowlands were more likely to apply insecticides on their stored products. These findings provide an opportunity for researchers, development organizations, and government agencies to improve postharvest handling and storage in Arequipa by disseminating drying technologies, moisture assessment tools and hermetic storage solutions among farmers.

Fresh-Cut Bell Peppers in Modified Atmosphere Packaging: Improving Shelf Life to Answer Food Security Concerns.

The influence of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP, 10% O2 and 45% CO2) on the quality characteristics of fresh-cut green, red and yellow bell peppers (Capsicum annuum L. var annuum) was investigated. Packaging film bags (Krehalon MLF40-PA/PE) with fresh-cut bell peppers were stored for up to 17 days at 5 °C. The in-package O2 level ranged between 10 and 15%, respecting the current recommendations for fresh-cut vegetable products. Initial CO2 levels were higher than commonly used (from 5 to 10%), decreasing progressively over time due to the permeability of the selected polyethylene film. At the end of the storage period, they stabilized between 2 and 5%. A small variation in texture, moisture, titratable acidity, pH and microbial growth was observed during the storage period, as well as a good color retention and sensory properties maintenance. Negligible losses in the antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds (total phenol, flavonoid, anthocyanin and carotenoid content) were noted at the end of the study. Sensory analysis showed that panelists could not detect significant differences among sampling periods. A PCA with predictive biplots confirmed the existence of significant correlations. The products retain their initial characteristics without severe loss of quality until at least the 17th storage day. Given the current commercial shelf life of fresh-cut bell peppers, ranging from 9 to 14 days, the described treatment enabled an increase of at least 3 days (20%) of the products shelf life, reducing food waste and contributing to food security.

Effect of carbon dots in combination with aqueous chitosan solution on shelf life and stability of soy milk.

Use of carbon dots (CDs) in combination with aqueous chitosan solution to extend shelf life and improve stability of soy milk was investigated. Soy milk samples with chitosan solution (0.00%, 0.08%, 0.12%, 0.16% and 0.20%) and banana-based CDs (4%, 6% and 8%) were prepared and stored at room temperature (25-30 °C) for shelf life evaluation. Soy milk with 0.16% chitosan solution exhibited improved stability as evident by increased viscosity, stability coefficient, zeta potential and decreased centrifugation rate compared with soy milk without chitosan. The suitable amount of carbon dots could effectively inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. Soy milk with 0.16% chitosan and 8% CDs exhibited longer shelf life and significantly lower total bacterial count after storage at room temperature for up to 4 days. Electronic nose-based flavor characteristics of all treated soy milk samples were not far from that of the control sample.

Written Nutrition Guidelines, Client Choice Distribution, and Adequate Refrigerator Storage Are Positively Associated with Increased Offerings of Feeding America's Detailed Foods to Encourage (F2E) in a Large Sample of Arkansas Food Pantries.

BACKGROUND: Millions of food-insecure households in the United States obtain food from food pantries each year. These foods are often of insufficient nutritional quality. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to describe the frequency with which Arkansas food pantries offer foods included in Feeding America's Detailed Foods to Encourage (F2E) framework, and examine food pantry characteristics associated with increased frequency of offering F2E and other foods. DESIGN: This was a 27-item cross-sectional online survey that assessed food pantries' characteristics (eg, storage capacities, number of clients served) and typical food offerings. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: Partnering with five of Arkansas's six food banks, 764 e-mail invitations were sent to food agency managers across the state. A final sample of 357 food pantries was included in the analyses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes of interest were the frequencies of offering specific F2E and F2E in general. The F2E framework was developed by Feeding America to more accurately assess food banks' inventories, and its categories (Fruits and Vegetables; Protein; Dairy; and Grains) are generally consistent with MyPlate. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Descriptive statistics were computed for all food pantry characteristics and frequency of foods offered. Associations between food pantry characteristics and the frequency of offering F2E were examined via multiple linear regression and path analysis. RESULTS: Only 18.5% of food pantries had written nutrition guidelines, and only 19.3% offered client choice distribution. The F2E most commonly offered were meat/poultry/seafood without breading and not fried (59.6%) and peanut butter (58.2%). The least commonly offered F2E were nuts/seeds with nothing added (3.8%) and low-fat/1%/skim cheese (8.2%). Written nutrition guidelines (P<0.001), client choice distribution (P=0.003), and adequate refrigerator storage (P=0.010) were associated with more frequently offering F2E. CONCLUSIONS: This study fills a gap in knowledge by documenting food pantry characteristics that are associated with the frequencies of offering specific types of healthy foods.

Changes in the quality of eggs during storage depending on the housing system and the age of hens.

The objective of the study was to evaluate changes during storage time (0, 7, 14, and 21 D) in the weight, albumen quality and its functional properties, and protein content of eggs from enriched cage and free range at 26 and 51 wk of age. Egg weight was affected by a significant interaction between the housing system and the age of hens. Regarding individual factors, heavier eggs (P < 0.001) were obtained with the enriched cage (61.7 g) environment than with free range (59.6 g) environment at 51 wk (P < 0.001) (63.3 g vs. 58.0 g), and freshly laid eggs were heavier compared to eggs stored for 14 and 21 D (P < 0.001). The significant interaction of evaluated factors affecting egg weight loss included the Haugh unit score and pH. Albumen dry matter content was significantly higher in free-range eggs (14.70% vs. 14.0%), in eggs from younger hens (15.0% vs. 13.7%) and in eggs that were stored 21 D. Free-range eggs contained more lysozyme (P < 0.001), and younger hens produced eggs with higher ovotransferrin (P < 0.05) and ovalbumin content (P < 0.01). The data from the study show that the evaluated factors and their interactions significantly affected the physical parameters of the eggs, whereas albumen functional properties and lysozymes, ovalbumin, and ovotransferrin were negligibly affected.

Examining Colorectal Cancer Risk Awareness and Food Shelf Use Among Health Center Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To employ the Colorectal Cancer Risk Awareness for Public Health Prevention (CRC-PHP) survey to examine how food shelf use and other covariates predict awareness of colorectal cancer (CRC) risk factors among patients of a Federally Qualified Health Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Secondary aims included describing the demographic and chronic-disease characteristics of the patient population and assessing their general knowledge of additional CRC risk factors and intent to make healthy food selections in the near future. METHODS: Measures included CRC risk awareness, food shelf use, chronic-disease status, and intent to select healthy food options. Regression models and chi-square tests of independence were employed to examine differences among food shelf users and non-users. RESULTS: Among the 103 patients surveyed, 29% reported using a food shelf in the last 12 months. Forty-seven percent of food shelf users and 38% of non-users reported having at least 1 diet-related condition (e.g., type 2 diabetes mellitus). Food shelf users scored 1.2 points higher than non-users, on average, on the CRC risk-factor awareness scale. They also answered more survey questions correctly regarding fruit and vegetable intake and its effect on CRC risk (p = 0.035). Most participants reported being likely to purchase health-promoting foods in the future. In addition, participants reported being likely to select foods that were labeled as protective against CRC. CONCLUSIONS: Behavioral interventions exist that are focused on preventing and managing type II diabetes among food shelf users. Building off such interventions and incorporating behavioral economics components (such as nudges and product labels) has the potential to reduce food shelf customers' heightened risk and management of CRC.

Análise discriminante como ferramenta de identificação do tempo de produção e armazenamento da manteiga de garrafa / Discriminant analysis as tool to identification of the time then production and storage of ‘manteiga de garrafa’

A manteiga de garrafa é um produto de cunho regional e cultural do norte mineiro e nordeste do país, onde é ofertada em feiras de comércio livre, sem embalagem adequada e rotulagem, dado que é um produto lipídico, a sua exposição a luz, sujeita o produto a reação de oxidação, que reduz o tempo de vida útil. Em decorrência deste fato o presente trabalho utilizou a análise discriminante, como ferramenta para enquadrar dados físico-químicos de manteigas de garrafa, acerca dos tempos de 30, 60 e 90 dias corridos de armazenagem, objetivando predizer o prazo em que o produto foi obtido. O método estatístico apontou como variáveis de maior impacto, ao decorrer do tempo, sendo a turbidez e o ponto de fusão da amostra e mostrou-se eficaz na separação dos períodos de estocagem avaliados, permitindo predizer o tempo de armazenamento das amostras.

Effect of the use of chestnuts (Castanea sativa Miller) in the finishing diet of Celta pig breed on the shelf-life of meat refrigerated and frozen.

The effect of the use of commercial feed or chestnuts (Castanea sativa Miller) in the finishing diet of Celta pig on the microbiological counts, physicochemical parameters (pH and color), myoglobin state, lipid and protein oxidation, and sensory attributes of Longissimus dorsi muscle packaged in modified atmospheres during the refrigerated storage (28 days at 4 °C) was investigated. Also, the effect on the physicochemical parameters (pH and color), myoglobin state, lipid and protein oxidation, and sensory attributes of meat during frozen storage (180 days at -20 °C) was studied. The use of chestnuts in the finishing diet significantly increased the counts of the different microbial groups (total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, total aerobic psychrotrophic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, and Enterobacteriaceae) during refrigerated storage of meat. However the use of chestnuts did not affect significantly the values of pH, color parameters, percentages of the myoglobin forms, lipid and protein oxidation or sensory attributes of the meat during the refrigerated or frozen storage. The microbiological and oxidative parameters indicated an acceptable quality of meat after 28 days of refrigerated storage; however, judges found the sensory attributes modified after 12 or 20 days of storage.

Integrating predictive models and sensors to manage food stability in supply chains.

Food products move through complex supply chains, which require effective logistics to ensure food safety and to maximize shelf-life. Predictive models offer an efficient means to monitor and manage the safety and quality of perishable foods, however models require environmental data to estimate changes in microbial growth and sensory attributes. Currently, several companies produce Time-Temperature Indicators that react at rates that closely approximate predictive models; these devices are simple and cost-effective for food companies. However, even greater outcomes could be realized using sensors that transfer data to predictive models in real-time. This report describes developments in predictive models designed for supply chain management, as well as advances in environmental sensors. Important innovation can be realized in both supply chain logistics and food safety management by integrating these technologies.

Evaluation of gamma-irradiated aromatic herbs: Chemometric study of samples submitted to extended storage periods.

The preserving capacity of gamma radiation (10 kGy) on the chemical, nutritional and antioxidant components of Aloysia citrodora Paláu, Melissa officinalis L., Melittis melissophyllum L. and Mentha piperita L., stored for 12 and 18 months, was evaluated. Despite the maintenance of the main characteristics during the first 12 months of storage, the additional 6 months induced several significant changes in individual compounds. In general, the analyzed species reacted dissimilarly throughout time, but it was possible to verify that the fatty acids, tocopherols and antioxidant capacity presented the most significant changes after 18 months of storage, inclusively in samples submitted to gamma radiation. In fact, the applied treatment (10 kGy) did not seem to be effective to prevent the decrease of free sugars, organic acids and tocopherols, especially considering the 18 months period. On the other hand, the evolution in color parameters indicated a greener color (yet slightly more yellow) among irradiated samples. Likewise, gamma radiation had a positive effect on oleic acid, ß-carotene bleaching inhibition (in infusions), DPPH scavenging activity and reducing power (in methanolic extracts). Nevertheless, it might be generally concluded that gamma radiation is less suitable than electron-beam to maintain the characteristics of dried herbs during extended storage periods.

Development of a statistical model to detect quality and storage conditions of Atlantic salmon.

The ever-increasing demand for fish as a food, has led to the development of new handling and packaging technologies resulting in premium quality fish products. In order to avoid frauds reaching the market, fish quality assurance methods need to be developed. In this study, two statistical models of biochemical processes that occur in Atlantic salmon during two weeks of storage at 0 and 4 °C were developed. These models were further used to detect salmon quality and its storage conditions. The biochemical processes were monitored using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and principal component analysis (PCA). The Soft Independent Modeling of Class Analogy (SIMCA) approach was applied to develop and evaluate the models. The fraud detection potential of the models was tested using samples of various quality and storage parameters. It was shown that the developed models are able to discriminate quality, time and temperature of stored Atlantic salmon.

E-nose, e-tongue and e-eye for edible olive oil characterization and shelf life assessment: A powerful data fusion approach.

The aim of this work was to investigate the applicability of e-senses (electronic nose, electronic tongue and electronic eye) for the characterization of edible olive oils (extra virgin, olive and pomace) and for the assessment of extra virgin olive oil and olive oil quality decay during storage at different temperatures. In order to obtain a complete description of oil samples, physico-chemical analyses on quality and nutritional parameters were also performed. Data were processed by PCA and a targeted data processing flow-sheet has been applied to physico-chemical and e-senses dataset starting from data pre-processing introducing an innovative normalization method, called t0 centering. On e-senses data a powerful mid-level data fusion approach has been employed to extract relevant information from different analytical sources combining their individual contributions. On physico-chemical data, an alternative approach for grouping extra virgin olive oil and olive oil samples on the basis of their freshness was applied and two classes were identified: fresh and oxidized. A k-NN classification rule was developed to test the performance of e-senses to classify samples in the two classes of freshness and the average value of correctly classified samples was 94%. Results demonstrated that the combined application of e-senses and the innovative data processing strategy allows to characterize edible olive oils of different categories on the basis of their sensorial properties and also to follow the evolution during storage of extra-virgin olive oil and olive oil sensorial properties thus assessing the quality decay of oils.

Radon and Thoron In-air Occupational Exposure Study within Selected Wine Cellars of the Western Cape (South Africa) and Associated Annual Effective Doses.

This is the first known study of exposure of Rn (radon) and secondarily Rn (thoron) in-air activity concentrations assessed within nine selected wine cellars in four wine districts of the Western Cape (South Africa) and the associated annual occupational effective doses. E-PERM electret ion chambers (EIC) and RAD-7 α-detectors were used to perform these measurements. The radon in-air levels ranged from 12 ± 4 Bq m to 770 ± 40 Bq m within the nine selected wine cellars. Eight of the nine wine cellars (excluding results from cellar w-6) had a median radon in-air activity concentration of 48 ± 8 Bq m. Continuous thoron in-air activity concentration levels were also measured near an internal granite wall of the wine cellar w-6 (barrel room), where peak levels of up to 1,520 ± 190 Bq m and an average of 680 ± 30 Bq m were observed. The occupational annual effective dose due to radon and decay progeny exposure in-air within the selected wine cellars ranged from 0.08 ± 0.03 mSv to 4.9 ± 0.3 mSv with a median of 0.32 ± 0.04 mSv (Tmax = 2,000 h). The annual effective dose within the wine cellar (w-6) ranged up to a maximum of 2.5 ± 0.4 mSv (Tmax = 2000 h) due to exposure to thoron and decay progeny. In general, most of the wines cellars pose negligible associated health risk to personnel due to ionizing radiation exposure from the inhalation of radon and progeny. Under certain conditions (proximity and exposure time), caution should be exercised at wine cellar w-6 because of elevated thoron in-air levels.

Protective practices against zoonotic infections among rural and slum communities from South Central Chile.

BACKGROUND: Despite well-recognized recommendations to reduce human exposure to zoonotic pathogens, the use of personal and herd-level protective practices is inconsistent in communities where human interactions with animals are common. This study assessed household-level participation in rodent- (extermination, proper food storage, trash disposal), occupational- (preventive veterinary care, boot-wearing, glove-wearing), and garden-associated (restricting animal access, boot-wearing, glove-wearing) protective practices in farms, villages, and slums in the Los Rios region, Chile, where zoonotic pathogens are endemic. METHODS: Questionnaires administered at 422 households across 12 communities recorded household-level socio-demographic characteristics and participation in nine protective practices. Household inclusion in the analysis of occupational practices required having livestock and a household member with occupational exposure to livestock (n = 127), and inclusion in analysis of garden practices required having a garden and at least one animal (n = 233). The proportion of households participating in each protective practice was compared across community types through chi-square analyses. Mixed effects logistic regression assessed household-level associations between socio-demographic characteristics and participation in each protective practice. RESULTS: Most households (95.3 %) reported participation in rodent control, and a positive association between the number of rodent signs in a household and rodent extermination was observed (OR: 1.75, 95 % CI: 1.41, 2.16). Occupational protective practices were reported in 61.8 % of eligible households; household size (OR: 1.63, 95 % CI: 1.17, 5.84) and having children (OR: 0.22, 95 % CI: 0.06, 0.78) were associated with preventive veterinary care. Among eligible households, 73.8 % engaged in protective practices when gardening, and species diversity was positively associated with wearing boots (OR: 1.27, 95 % CI: 1.03, 1.56). Household-level participation in all three protective practices within any exposure category was limited (<10.4 %) and participation in any individual protective practice varied considerably within and across community types. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of participation in protective practices reported in this study are consistent with descriptions in the literature of imperfect use of methods that reduce human exposure to zoonotic pathogens. The wide differences across communities in the proportion of households participating in protective practices against human exposure to zoonotic pathogens, suggests that future research should identify community-level characteristics that influence household participation in such practices.

The effect of adopting new storage methods for extending product validity periods on manufacturers expected inventory costs.

The validness of the expiration dates (validity period) that manufacturers provide on food product labels is a crucial food safety problem. Governments must study how to use their authority by implementing fair awards and punishments to prompt manufacturers into adopting rigorous considerations, such as the effect of adopting new storage methods for extending product validity periods on expected costs. Assuming that a manufacturer sells fresh food or drugs, this manufacturer must respond to current stochastic demands at each unit of time to determine the purchase amount of products for sale. If this decision maker is capable and an opportunity arises, new packaging methods (e.g., aluminum foil packaging, vacuum packaging, high-temperature sterilization after glass packaging, or packaging with various degrees of dryness) or storage methods (i.e., adding desiccants or various antioxidants) can be chosen to extend the validity periods of products. To minimize expected costs, this decision maker must be aware of the processing costs of new storage methods, inventory standards, inventory cycle lengths, and changes in relationships between factors such as stochastic demand functions in a cycle. Based on these changes in relationships, this study established a mathematical model as a basis for discussing the aforementioned topics.

Storage insects on yam chips and their traditional management in Northern Benin.

Twenty-five villages of Northern Benin were surveyed to identify the constraints of yam chips production, assess the diversity of storage insects on yam chips, and document farmers' perception of their impacts on the stocks and their traditional management practices. Damages due to storage insects (63.9% of responses) and insufficiency of insect-resistant varieties (16.7% of responses) were the major constraints of yam chips production. Twelve insect pest species were identified among which Dinoderus porcellus Lesne (Coleoptera, Bostrichidae) was by far the most important and the most distributed (97.44% of the samples). Three predators (Teretrius nigrescens Lewis, Xylocoris flavipes Reuter, and Alloeocranum biannulipes Montrouzier & Signoret) and one parasitoid (Dinarmus basalis Rondani) all Coleoptera, Bostrichidae were also identified. The most important traditional practices used to control or prevent insect attack in yam chips were documented and the producers' preference criteria for yam cultivars used to produce chips were identified and prioritized. To further promote the production of yam chips, diversification of insect-resistant yam varieties, conception, and use of health-protective natural insecticides and popularization of modern storage structures were proposed.

Effect of storage conditions on quality of prebiotic dark chocolate.

INTRODUCTION: A prebiotic such as inulin is a well-known functional plant food ingredient. It is capable of stimulating growth of beneficial bifidobacteria in the intestine thus protecting against intestinal infections, preventing constipation, increasing mineral absorption, reducing the incidence of colon cancer, and producing B vitamins. Inulin added to food therefore has to be stable during food processing especially against heat treatment, low pH and Maillard reaction. METHODS: Newly developed dark chocolate, DC-1, containing inulin (replacing sugar component) as an added value, was stored at 18 degrees C, 60% relative humidity and 25 degrees C, 80% relative humidity (RH) to determine shelf life stability compared to control dark chocolate, DC-0 (with high content of sugar). Sensory evaluation (quantitative descriptive analysis), water activity (a(w)), microbiological content and presence of inulin after storage of the prebiotic chocolate under both conditions were evaluated to determine shelf life. RESULTS: The DC-1 chocolate had at least 12 months of shelf life at 18 degrees C, 60% RH with better acceptance than DC-0; moreover, it did not experience microbiological and inulin content changes. At 25 degrees C, 80% RH, the growth of Aspergillus sp. was observed on the surface of both DC-0 and DC-1 with a(w) > 0.50 after a 2-month storage. CONCLUSION: Shelf life stability of DC-1 is almost similar to DC-0.