The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effects of vanillin as an antimicrobial agent, as well as the relationship between the injury degree and initial contamination in fresh-cut pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Meer) cv. Pérola. Slices and cubes were obtained from whole fruits that were mechanically peeled and sliced after sanitization. Both kinds of cutting were dipped in pure water (control) or vanillin solutions 3000 or 5000mg.L-1, for 30 seconds. After that, the liquid was drained, slices and cubes were placed in polyethylene terephtalate packages and stored at 4 ± 1°C during 12 days. Microbiological analyses were carried out every 3 days and involved mesophile aerobic counts, molds and yeasts and total and fecal coliforms determination. The use of vanillin was inefficient for the control of mesophile aerobic and molds and yeasts growth on fresh-cut 'Pérola' pineapple. It seems that, the greater degree of injuries made in the cubes had favored the initial contamination of the product.
Ananas comosus; fresh-cut; natural antimicrobial; cold storage
