Effects of 2-phenyl ethanol from Mohammadi flower on quality of mazafat dates packed in flexible laminated packages

Date is one of the most important and strategic products of the country and has a very important role in exporting the country. This product has a lot of waste due to its high humidity and inadequate storage, handling and inappropriate packaging. In this project, in order to reduce contamination and extend the shelf life of dates, Mazafati cultivar was sprayed with 0.5% phenyl ethanol in two types of packages, polystyrene and polyamide, and then stored in a refrigerator for 60 days. The control sample was compared to the treated samples for comparison. Chemical (pH and acidity) and microbial tests (total count of microorganisms) and sensory evaluation were performed on the samples. Analysis of variance showed that the type of packaging, storage temperature and storage time had a significant effect on the evaluated characteristics (p˂0.05). According to the results, spraying of Diphenyl Ethanol after 15 days controlled the pH of Mazafati dates and prevented its decrease over time. Polyamide packaging was better known than polystyrene packaging. The changes in chemical properties (acidity and pH) in the samples kept at 25 ° C were significantly higher than those at 4 ° C. It also effectively prevented the growth of microbial growth. In general, the use of this compound and its polyamide retention at 4 ° C is recommended because of its effect on reducing microbial growth and preserving the chemical and quality properties of dates.