Analytical methods for determination of sugars and sweetness of horticultural products—A review

• This review of literature shows that refractometer is the most used tool for sweetness analysis.
• HPLC is the common technique for laboratory identification and quantification of individual sugars.
• BrimA has a close relationship with taste properties of fruit compared to SSC or SSC:TA ratio.
• Vis/NIRS is commonly used as a non-destructive tool to determine sugars of horticultural produce.
• Hyperspectral imaging has a potential to evaluate sugar composition of fresh produce.

The determination and quantification of sugars is important for quality control and assurance of horticultural produce. This review discusses analytical methods for determination of sugars and sweetness of fresh and processed fruit and vegetables, including the use of destructive and non-destructive instrumental techniques to evaluate sugar composition and characterize taste profile or sweetness. From the standard hand-held refractometer to the hydrometer, electronic tongue and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with different detectors, a wide range of devices have been used to determine sugar composition and sweetness of many fruit and vegetable products. Although chromatographic techniques are very accurate and useful, they require extensive sample preparation based on solvent extraction and hence are generally time-consuming and expensive. Visible to near infrared spectroscopy (vis/NIRS) has been proposed as an interesting alternative to traditional methods due to its rapidity, simplicity, cost effectiveness and potential for routine analysis if proper calibration and validation steps were developed. Current trends favour analytical methods that are simple to use, quick and non-destructive. The prospects for using emerging technologies such as hyperspectral imaging and nuclear magnetic resonance for non-destructive assessment of sugar content and sweetness of fresh and processed horticultural food products are also discussed.

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