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Vapor‐phase Decontamination of Apples Inoculated with Escherichia coli
Author(s) -
Sapers G.M.,
Walker P.N.,
Sites J.E.,
Annous B.A.,
Eblen D.R.
Publication year - 2003
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.1365-2621.2003.tb08278.x
Subject(s) - human decontamination , chlorine dioxide , chemistry , antimicrobial , hydrogen peroxide , chlorine , acetic acid , inoculation , food science , log reduction , microbiology and biotechnology , waste management , horticulture , inorganic chemistry , biology , organic chemistry , engineering
Improved methods of decontaminating apples containing human pathogens are required. In this study, application of gaseous antimicrobial agents was investigated. An apparatus, which transfers vapor from hot antimicrobial solutions to a treatment vessel, was evaluated with Golden Delicious apples inoculated with E. coli. Vapor from glacial acetic acid at 60°C provided population reductions exceeding 3.5 log 10 CFU/g but induced discoloration. Vapor from heated hydrogen peroxide and chlorine dioxide solutions gave reductions ≤ 2 logs. However, chlorine dioxide gas, applied at 20°C in an airtight container, achieved a 4.5 log reduction, with minimal quality loss. Reductions achieved with this treatment greatly exceed those obtained by other decontamination methods for raw commodities.