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Improved Antimicrobial Wash Treatments for Decontamination of Apples
Author(s) -
Sapers G.M.,
Miller R.L.,
Annous B.A.,
Burke A.M.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of food science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1750-3841
pISSN - 0022-1147
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2621.2002.tb08741.x
Subject(s) - hydrogen peroxide , human decontamination , calyx , inoculation , antimicrobial , population , chemistry , bacteria , food science , microbiology and biotechnology , horticulture , biology , medicine , biochemistry , genetics , environmental health , pathology
We investigated means of improving efficacy of hydrogen peroxide washes in reducing Escherichia coli populations on inoculated apples by increasing contact between attached bacteria and the wash solution. Golden Delicious apples were inoculated with E. coli and treated with heated 5% H 2 O 2 with or without agitation, by spraying and simultaneous brushing or abrading calyx and stem areas, or by vacuum infiltration. Samples were homogenized, diluted, and plated to enumerate surviving bacteria. Population reductions were greater when apples were treated with agitation, by targeted spraying with abrasion, by vacuum infiltration with stem removal, and by application of treatments at 80 °C. However, discoloration occurred at temperatures above 60 °C.