Forecasting the safety of confectionery products based on microbiological studies

Abstract

Ensuring safety during the entire shelf life of confectionery imposes special requirements on the used raw materials, semi-finished products, and the sanitary state of production. One of the most eff ective ways to enrich confectionery products with biologically active substances is the development of recipes using fruit or vegetable powders, which leads to a change not only in organoleptic, but also in rheological, physicochemical, and microbiological parameters. Mold levels can increase due to the complexity of the sanitary environment, which can be caused by inventory, sanitary clothing, the presence of manual operations, and the place of air intake. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure the initial low level of microbiological contamination in the product. It is essential to take this into account in the production of confectionery products, including in small industries, since the use of raw materials without prior verifi cation of indicators can lead to deterioration in the microbiological parameters of the product, which will negatively aff ect the safety of confectionery products and lead to organoleptic spoilage.