Shelf life of refrigerated food products in metallic containers

Present study was undertaken to ascertain shelf life of selected food products stored in stainless steel containers in refrigerator and to suggest safe refrigerated food storage practices for consumer safety. Six food items (milk, paneer, fresh mint, cooked dal, cooked meat, wheat flour dough) were selected. Food items were stored for 2–5 days in refrigeration. Methylene blue reduction test of milk indicated that boiled milk can be stored in refrigerated conditions up to 96 hrs. However, seepage of chromium content from stainless steel containers in stored food items resulted in maximum seepage of 966.7% in milk (after 48 hrs) followed by presence of chromium in paneer (569.56%), cooked meat (164.86%) and wheat flour dough (151.04%). Permissible limit were 0.05 - 0.20 mg/day but all food items contained chromium content much above this limit which varied from 3.59, 2.28, 1.54, 1.02 0.98 and 0.32 mg in case of samples of wheat flour dough, cooked dal, paneer, mint, cooked meat and milk respectively.