Development of natural pizza pasta sauce and its quality evaluation

This study focuses on the development of a natural pizza pasta sauce and its comprehensive quality evaluation to meet the growing consumer demand for clean-label, safe, and convenient food products. The sauce was formulated using natural ingredients such as tomato paste, onion, garlic, herbs, spices, oil, and acidulants, without reliance on synthetic preservatives. The preparation process was standardized at pilot scale, followed by detailed physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory analyses.
The developed product was evaluated over a storage period of 60 days under both ambient and accelerated conditions to assess its stability and shelf life. Physicochemical parameters such as pH, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity, moisture content, water activity, sugar profile, and ash content were analyzed. The sauce exhibited a consistently low pH (below 4.5), confirming its acidic nature and inherent microbial safety. TSS stabilized after an initial decrease, indicating equilibrium in the product matrix, while titratable acidity showed controlled variations depending on storage conditions.
Nutritional analysis revealed the presence of carbohydrates (23.90%), along with measurable amounts of protein and fat, contributing to the overall nutritional value of the product. Microbiological evaluation confirmed the absence of pathogenic organisms, including E. coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus, and showed negligible total plate count, ensuring compliance with food safety standards.
Sensory evaluation using a hedonic scale demonstrated good acceptability in terms of color, flavor, texture, and overall quality. The optimized formulation showed desirable organoleptic properties comparable to commercial products.
Overall, the study successfully established that a natural pizza pasta sauce with good sensory quality, nutritional value, and microbial safety can be developed and maintained stable over storage, making it a promising product for both household and commercial applications