Research of Quality and Competitiveness of Tomato Juices

The paper considers the results of the complex quality estimation and competitiveness determination of tomato juices of different producers, exported in European countries.The complex estimation of tomato juices quality was realized according to the results of studying organoleptic (color, taste, smell, consistence) and physical-chemical (content of dry substances, β-carotene, flesh, mass share of titrated acids) parameters of 4 samples. According to the results of the complex qualimetric estimation, the highest value of the integral quality parameter was reached by tomato juice of ТМ «Galiciа» (Ukraine) (0,86). The lowest value of this parameter was established for experimental samples of tomato juices of ТМ «Rich» (Ukraine) (0,65) and ТМ «Sandora» (Ukraine) (0,61). The lower value of the integral quality parameter was inherent to juice of TM «Sadochok» (Ukraine) (0,40), explained, first of all, by insufficiently saturated and homogenous red color with inclusions, watery and liquid consistence, content of side admixtures, signs of stratification.The competitiveness of tomato juices was estimated, taking into account functional, esthetical and economic quality parameters. The basic commodity was determined as tomato juice of ТМ «Galiciа» by the results of the complex quality estimation. According to the obtained results, tomato juice of ТМ «Rich» was found competitive by the ratio of functional, esthetical and economic parameters (1,19) that is conditioned by high esthetical and functional indices and also moderate price of realization. The relatively high (but less one unit) competitiveness level was inherent to juice of ТМ «Sandora» (0,97) by the expanse of a high realization price at rather high esthetical and functional indices. It has been determined, that juice of ТМ «Sadochok» is least competitive because of worst esthetical indices, despite a low realization price.Thus, the main factor that influences the competitiveness of juices is a “price-quality” ratio. The obtained research results of the tomato juices quality and the used methodology of their competitiveness estimation may be useful for retail representatives (categorical managers) for the effective realization of products under conditions of competitiveness

Defining a Criteria for the Identification of a Technique for Producing Tomato Juice

The basis of modern analysis of the quality of juice products is a matrix approach. The essence of the matrix approach is to define a series of parameters, which comprehensively characterize the composition of juices. In this regard, it is important to study the content of individual biologically active components in addition to general quality parameters in evaluation of juices. The content of individual biologically active components depends on the origin of raw materials and technology of processing.Analysis of the chemical composition of tomatoes showed that carotenoids are characteristic nutrients inherent to this particular kind of vegetables. In this regard, we propose the content of β-carotene as the most acceptable criterion for identification.We studied quality of tomato juices by organoleptic and physical-and-chemical parameters (soluble solids content, total acidity, mass fraction of pulp and β-carotene content) in order to confirm a method of production of tomato juices, namely, the method of recovery or direct pressing.The profile analysis showed that the most positive parameters were in the juices of «EosBio» TM and «Galicia» TM, which makes us assert that their production technique was direct pressing. We established that the mass fraction of soluble solids, titratable acids and pulp met the requirements in all samples. The largest mass fraction of pulp was in the juices of «Galicia» TM – 30.80 and «EosBio» TM – 24.23. This data confirms that the method of production of these juices was direct pressing.We established that the content of β-carotene in the juices of «Sandora» TM, «Rich» TM and «Sadochok» TM produced by the method of recovery was in the range of 0.24–0.32 mg/100 g. At the same time, these values were significantly higher in the juices of «Galicia» TM and «EosBio» TM produced by the method of direct pressing, they were 0.589 and 0.591 mg/100 g, respectively. Thus, we confirmed the assumption about the connection between a production method and the content of β-carotene in tomato juices. We proposed using this parameter as a marker criterion for the identification of a technique for producing tomato juice