of quality decay) the effect of different quality limits on the obtained
keeping quality is a logarithmic one. This signifies that the change in
keeping quality for a change in quality limit Qlis lower at higher lim-
its. It also signifies that the same effect can be obtained by increasing
the initial quality by, e.g., 10%, as by decreasing the quality limit by
10% and with increasing the confidence of the consumer in your prod-
uct instead of losing it.
In Figure 7.7 an example is given of the effect of (nationally) chang-
ing quality limits during international transport of cauliflower. Each time
a border is crossed, the quality limit changes to lower a level with an
apparent increase in remaining keeping quality as a consequence. The
quality of the product itself is not affected by this process. It takes only
longer to reach the newly applied quality limit.
Temperature Effects
The effect of temperature can again, as for the model on potted plants,
be (at least) twofold (N2 in Equation (7.5)). Most products of mod-
erate origin are only susceptible to deterioration at higher temperatures.
However, most products of tropical or subtropical origin are also highly
136 ACCEPTABILITY
FIGURE 7.7Effect of discrete changes in quality limits on the keeping quality of cau-
liflower at five constant temperatures (exponential decay).