Inactivation of Desiccation-Resistant Salmonella on Apple Slices Following Treatment with ε-Polylysine, Sodium Bisulfate, or Peracetic Acid and Subsequent Dehydration.

Salmonella is capable of surviving dehydration within various foods, such as dried fruit. Dried fruit, including apple slices, have been the subject of product recalls due to contamination with Salmonella. A study was conducted to determine the fate of Salmonella on apple slices, following immersion in three antimicrobial solutions (viz., ε-polylysine [epsilon-polylysine or EP], sodium bisulfate [SBS], or peracetic acid [PAA]), and subsequent hot air dehydration. Gala apples were aseptically cored and sliced into 0.4 cm thick rings, bisected, and inoculated with a five-strain composite of desiccation-resistant Salmonella, to a population of 8.28 log CFU/slice. Slices were then immersed for 2 min in various concentrations of antimicrobial solutions, including EP (0.005, 0.02, 0.05, and 0.1%), SBS (0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3%), PAA (18 or 42 ppm), or varying concentrations of PAA + EP, and then dehydrated at 60°C for 5 h. Salmonella populations in positive control samples (inoculated apple slices washed in sterile water) declined by 2.64 log after drying. In the present study, the inactivation of Salmonella, following EP and SBS treatments, increased with increasing concentrations, with maximum reductions of 3.87 and 6.20 log (with 0.1 and 0.3% of the two compounds, respectively). Based on preliminary studies, EP concentrations greater than 0.1% did not result in lower populations of Salmonella. Pretreatment washes with either 18 or 42 ppm of PAA inactivated Salmonella populations by 4.62 and 5.63 log, respectively, following desiccation. Combining PAA with up to 0.1% EP induced no greater population reductions of Salmonella than washing with PAA alone. The addition of EP to PAA solutions appeared to destabilize PAA concentrations, reducing its biocidal efficacy. These results may provide antimicrobial predrying treatment alternatives to promote the reduction of Salmonella during commercial or consumer hot air drying of apple slices.

Application of yellow mustard mucilage and starch in nanoencapsulation of thymol and carvacrol by emulsion electrospray.

Starch/water soluble yellow mustard mucilage nanocapsules loaded with thymol and carvacrol (TC) were developed using electrospray atomization. Emulsions were electrosprayed, aiming to generate nanocapsules with a controlled release behavior of TC for antimicrobial packaging applications. To understand the effect of water soluble yellow mustard mucilage (WSM) on the nanocapsules, the emulsion viscosity, morphology, encapsulation efficiency, molecular interactions, and release kinetics were evaluated. Surface and internal morphological analysis revealed that nanocapsules were non-porous with minimal surface shrinkages and had inner multicore spheres within a solid wall layer. Encapsulation efficiency ranged from 61.17 to 84.10 %, increasing at higher TC contents. Fourier transform spectroscopy confirmed the molecular interaction between wall materials. The release kinetics of encapsulated TC (30 % w/w) followed a Fickian diffusion mechanism and a controlled release pattern up to 120 h. Results indicated that the addition of WSM can modulate the release kinetics of bioactives and achieve a controlled release pattern.

Antimicrobial coating with organic acids and essential oil for the enhancement of safety and shelf life of grape tomatoes.

This study investigated the antimicrobial efficacy of two coatings against populations of nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and native microorganisms on whole grape tomatoes. Tomatoes were surface-coated in two chitosan-acid coating solutions. Solution 1 (Chitosan) consisted of 1 % chitosan and 2 % acetic, lactic and levulinic acids. Solution 2 (Chitosan+AIT) consisted of Solution 1 plus 2 % allyl isothiocyanate (AIT). After the treatments, tomatoes were placed in PET containers and stored at 10 °C for 21 days. Chitosan and Chitosan+AIT treatments reduced Salmonella populations from 3.65 to 1.28 and <0.70 log CFU/tomato on day 1, respectively. Both treatments reduced Salmonella populations to undetectable levels (<0.70 log CFU/tomato) from Day 2 through Day 21. Similarly, Chitosan+AIT treatments caused a greater reduction in Listeria populations than Chitosan treatment on day 1, but there were no significant differences between the two treatments after day 2. Chitosan and Chitosan+AIT reduced native bacteria populations to an undetectable level after 2 days and reduced the population of native yeasts & molds to an undetectable level after 1 day. The presence of mold was only observed on control sample after 21 days. Quality analyses showed that samples which were subject to coating treatment maintained their texture and color for 21 days at 10 °C with less water loss compared to the controls. This study suggests that chitosan-acid coating is applicable for extending the shelf-life and enhancing the safety of grape tomatoes.

Emerging chitosan-essential oil films and coatings for food preservation - A review of advances and applications.

With the rising demand for fresh and ready-to-eat foods, antimicrobial packaging has been developed to control or prevent microbial growth as well as maintain food quality and safety. Chitosan is an advanced biomaterial for antimicrobial packaging to meet the growing needs of safe and biodegradable packaging. The application of natural essential oils as antimicrobial agents effectively controls the growth of spoilage and pathogenic microbes. Thus, chitosan edible coatings and films incorporated with essential oils have expanded the general applications of antimicrobial packaging in food products. This review summarized the effect of essential oils on modifying the physicochemical characteristics of chitosan-based films. Notably, the antimicrobial efficacy of the developed composite films or coatings was highlighted. The advances in the preparation methods and application of chitosan films were also discussed. Broadly, this review will promote the potential applications of chitosan-essential oils composite films or coatings in antimicrobial packaging for food preservation.

Electrohydrodynamic processing of natural polymers for active food packaging: A comprehensive review.

The active packaging materials fabricated using natural polymers is increasing in recent years. Electrohydrodynamic processing has drawn attention in active food packaging due to its potential in fabricating materials with advanced structural and functional properties. These materials have the significant capability in enhancing food's quality, safety, and shelf-life. Through electrospinning and electrospray, fibers and particles are encapsulated with bioactive compounds for active packaging applications. Understanding the principle behind electrohydrodynamics provides fundamentals in modulating the material's physicochemical properties based on the operating parameters. This review provides a deep understanding of electrospray and electrospinning, along with their advantages and recent innovations, from food packaging perspectives. The natural polymers suitable for developing active packaging films and coatings through electrohydrodynamics are intensely focused. The critical properties of the packaging system are discussed with characterization techniques. Furthermore, the limitations and prospects for natural polymers and electrohydrodynamic processing in active packaging are summarized.

Informative and corrective responsive packaging: Advances in farm-to-fork monitoring and remediation of food quality and safety.

Microbial growth and fluctuations in environmental conditions have been shown to cause microbial contamination and deterioration of food. Thus, it is paramount to develop reliable strategies to effectively prevent the sale and consumption of contaminated or spoiled food. Responsive packaging systems are designed to react to specific stimuli in the food or environment, such as microorganisms or temperature, then implement an informational or corrective response. Informative responsive packaging is aimed at continuously monitoring the changes in food or environmental conditions and conveys this information to the users in real time. Meanwhile, packaging systems with the capacity to control contamination or deterioration are also of great interest. Encouragingly, corrective responsive packaging attempting to mitigate the adverse effects of condition fluctuations on food has been investigated. This packaging exerts its effects through the triggered release of active agents by environmental stimuli. In this review, informative and corrective responsive packaging is conceptualized clearly and concisely. The mechanism and characteristics of each type of packaging are discussed in depth. This review also summarized the latest research progress of responsive packaging and objectively appraised their advantages. Evidently, the mechanism through which packaging systems respond to microbial contamination and associated environmental factors was also highlighted. Moreover, risk concerns, related legislation, and consumer perspective in the application of responsive packaging are discussed as well. Broadly, this comprehensive review covering the latest information on responsive packaging aims to provide a timely reference for scientific research and offer guidance for presenting their applications in food industry.

Apple Juice Preservation Using Combined Nonthermal Processing and Antimicrobial Packaging.

ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of pulsed electric fields (PEFs), pulsed UV light (PL), and antimicrobial packaging (AP), either individually or combined, for inactivating bacteria and maintaining the quality of fruit juices. Apple juice samples were inoculated with Escherichia coli K-12 or native molds and yeasts (M&Y), treated with bench-scale PEF and/or PL processing systems, and stored in glass jars with antimicrobial caps containing 10 µL of carvacrol. The reductions in microbial populations and the physicochemical properties of juice samples were determined after treatments and during storage at 10°C. The treatments were PL (5 to 50 s at 1.04 J/cm2/s), PEF (19, 23, and 30 kV/cm), PEF followed by PL (PEF+PL), PL followed by PEF (PL+PEF), and PEF+PL+AP. PEF treatments at 19 to 30 kV/cm (PEF19, PEF23, and PEF30) resulted in 2.0-, 2.6-, and 4.0-log reductions of E. coli, respectively, and PL treatments for 10 to 50 s (PL10, PL20, PL30, PL40, and PL50) resulted in 0.45-, 0.67-, 0.76-, 2.3-, and 4.0-log reductions, respectively. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were found between the combined PL20+PEF19 and PEF19+PL20 treatments; both treatments reduced E. coli K-12 populations to nondetectable levels (>5-log reductions) after 7 days. Both PEF+PL and PEF+PL+AP treatments achieved >5-log reductions of M&Y; however, juice samples subjected to PEF+PL+AP treatment had lower M&Y counts (2.9 log units) than did samples subjected to PEF+PL treatment (3.9 log units) after 7 days. No significant differences (P > 0.05) in pH, acidity, and total soluble solids were found among all samples after treatments. Increased PL treatment times reduced color a* and b* values, total phenolics, and carotenoids. This study provides information valuable to juice processors for consideration and design of nonthermal pasteurization of juice products.

Antibacterial mechanism of ultrasound against Escherichia coli: Alterations in membrane microstructures and properties.

This study was aimed at providing new insights on the response of bacterial cell membranes to ultrasound exposure. Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 cells were exposed to different ultrasound treatments (power intensities of 64, 191, 372, and 573 W/cm2, frequency of 20 kHz, pulsed mode of 2 sec: 2 sec) and the dynamic changes in cell viability within 27 min were assessed. With an increase in ultrasonic intensity and prolonged duration, a 0.76-3.52 log CFU/mL reduction in E. coli populations was attained. The alterations in the sensitivity of ultrasound-treated cells to antimicrobial compounds were evaluated by exposure to thyme essential oil nanoemulsion (TEON). The treatment reduced the E. coli population by 2.16-7.10 log CFU/mL, indicating the effects of ultrasonic field on facilitating the antibacterial efficacy of TEON. Ultrasonic-treated E. coli cells also displayed remarkable morphological and ultrastructural damages with destroyed membrane integrity and misshaped cell structures, which was observed by electron microscopy analysis. Significant increase in outer and inner membrane permeability, along with the cytoplasmic leakage and membrane depolarization were assessed utilizing spectrophotometry. For the first time, significant reduction in the membrane fluidity in response to ultrasound exposure were investigated. Additional efforts in exploring the effect of ultrasonic field on some bacterial membrane compositions were performed with infrared spectroscopy. In this study, multiple lines of evidence effectively served to elucidate the alterations on cellular membrane structure and property during exposure to sonication that could extend our understanding of the antimicrobial molecular mechanisms of ultrasound.

Extension of shelf life of semi-dry longan pulp with gaseous chlorine dioxide generating film.

A packaging system using gaseous chlorine dioxide generating film (CDGF) in a sealed container was developed to extend the shelf life of semi-dry longan pulp (moisture content 38.8 wt%; aw0.8). The antimicrobial properties, formation of chloroxyanion residues and effects of CDGF on the quality of semi-dry longan pulp were investigated. CDGF was triggered by the moisture vapor from semi-dry longan pulp in the sealed container and released gaseous ClO2 into the headspace of the container. The antifungal test showed that CDGF significantly inactivated artificially inoculated molds in semi-dry longan pulp and achieved reductions of over 3 log CFU/g after 28 days storage at room temperature (25 °C). CDGF reduced total aerobic bacterial populations by over 6.4 log CFU/g and maintained these population levels at around 2.0 log CFU/g throughout the 180-day storage period at room temperature. The residual concentrations of chloride, chlorate and perchlorate in longan pulp increased and then decreased during the 180-day storage. Residual chloride levels were maintained at 1.5 mg/g after Day 120 and residual chlorate and perchlorate levels were not detected after Day 120 and Day 180, respectively, in CDGF-treated samples. CDGF treatments reduced total polyphenol content but didn't have any significant impact on the levels of polysaccharides in samples. There were no significant differences between CDGF-treated and control samples in color changes during storage. The content of 5-hydroymethylfurfural (5-HMF) in both samples increased during storage, suggesting that the Maillard reaction occurred. This study demonstrated an effective approach to develop a new antimicrobial packaging system for semi-dry longan pulp.

Ultrasound improves the decontamination effect of thyme essential oil nanoemulsions against Escherichia coli O157: H7 on cherry tomatoes.

Development of novel and effective decontamination technologies to ensure the microbiological safety of fresh produce has gained considerable attention, mainly driven by numerous outbreaks. This work presented the first approach regarding to the application of the previously reported hurdle technologies on the sanitization of artificially contaminated cherry tomatoes. Thyme (Thymus daenensis) essential oil nanoemulsion (TEON, 8.28 nm in diameter with a narrow size distribution) was formulated via ultrasonic nanoemulsification, showing remarkably improved antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7, compared to the coarse emulsion. The antimicrobial effect of ultrasound (US), thyme essential oil nanoemulsion (TEON) and the combination of both treatments was assessed against E. coli O157:H7. The remarkable synergistic effects of the combined treatments were achieved, which decontaminated the E. coli populations by 4.49-6.72 log CFU/g on the surface of cherry tomatoes, and led to a reduction of 4.48-6.94 log CFU/sample of the total inactivation. TEON combined with US were effective in reducing the presence of bacteria in wastewater, which averted the potential detrimental effect of cross-contamination resulted from washing wastewater in fresh produce industry. Moreover, the treatments did not noticeably alter the surface color and firmness of cherry tomatoes. Therefore, ultrasound combined with TEON is a promising and feasible alternative for the reduction of microbiological contaminants, as well as retaining the quality characteristics of cherry tomatoes.

Inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella and Native Microbiota on Fresh Strawberries by Antimicrobial Washing and Coating.

Antimicrobial washing (AW), antimicrobial coating (AC), and a combination of washing followed by coating (AW+AC) were evaluated for their ability to inactivate artificially inoculated foodborne pathogens and native microbiota on strawberries stored at 4°C. Strawberries were inoculated with a six-strain composite of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella; treated by AW, AC, or AW+AC; and stored at 4°C for 3 weeks. The washing solution contained 90 ppm of peracetic acid, and the coating solution consisted of chitosan (1%, w/v), allyl isothiocyanate (1%, v/v), and corn-bio fiber gum (5%, w/v). The effectiveness of the antimicrobial treatments against E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella pathogens and native microflora on strawberries and their impact on fruit quality (appearance, weight loss, color, and firmness) were determined. By the end of storage, pathogen populations on strawberries were 2.5 (AW+AC), 2.9 (AC), 3.8 (AW), and 4.2 log CFU for the positive (untreated) control. AW+AC treatments also inactivated the greatest population of native microflora, followed by the AC treatment alone. AW+AC treatments showed additional antimicrobial effectiveness against these two pathogens and native microflora. Both AW+AC and AC treatments preserved the color, texture, and appearance of strawberries throughout storage. The coating treatments (AW+AC and AC alone) further reduced the loss of moisture throughout storage. The AW treatment was the least effective in reducing populations of pathogens and native microflora and in maintaining the quality of strawberries throughout storage. This study demonstrates a method to improve the microbiological safety, shelf life, and quality of strawberries.

In-package atmospheric cold plasma treatment of bulk grape tomatoes for microbiological safety and preservation.

Effects of dielectric barrier discharge atmospheric cold plasma (DACP) treatment on the inactivation of Salmonella and the storability of grape tomato were investigated. Grape tomatoes, with or without inoculation with Salmonella, were packaged in a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) commercial clamshell container and cold plasma-treated at 35 kV at 1.1 A for 3 min using a DACP system equipped with a pin-type high-voltage electrode. DACP treatment inactivated Salmonella (p < 0.05) without altering the color or firmness of the grape tomatoes (p > 0.05). DACP treatment inactivated Salmonella uniformly in both layers of the double-layer configuration of the grape tomatoes regardless of the position of the tomatoes in each layer. Salmonella was most efficiently inactivated when the headspace to tomato volume ratio of the container was highest. Integration of rolling of tomatoes during treatment significantly increased the Salmonella reduction rates from 0.9 ±â€¯0.2 log CFU/tomato to 3.3 ±â€¯0.5 log CFU/tomato in the double-layer configuration of the tomato samples. Rolling-integrated DACP also initially reduced the number of total mesophilic aerobic bacteria and yeast and molds in the double-layer configuration of tomato samples by 1.3 ±â€¯0.3 and 1.5 ±â€¯0.2 log CFU/tomato, respectively. DACP treatment effectively reduced the growth of Salmonella and indigenous microorganisms at 10 and 25 °C, and did not influence the surface color, firmness, weight loss, lycopene concentration and residual ascorbic acid of grape tomatoes during storage at 10 and 25 °C. DACP treatment holds promise as a post-packaging process for improving microbial safety against Salmonella and storability of fresh grape tomatoes.

Biochemical degradation and physical migration of polyphenolic compounds in osmotic dehydrated blueberries with pulsed electric field and thermal pretreatments.

Fresh blueberries were pretreated by pulsed electric fields (PEF) or thermal pretreatment and then were subject to osmotic dehydration. The changes in contents of anthocyanins, predominantly phenolic acids and flavonols, total phenolics, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity and antioxidant activity in the blueberry samples during pretreatment and osmotic dehydration were investigated. Biochemical degradation and physical migration of these nutritive compounds from fruits to osmotic solutions were observed during the pretreatments and osmotic dehydration. PEF pretreated samples had the least degradation loss but the most migration loss of these compounds compared to thermally pretreated and control samples. Higher rates of water loss and solid gain during osmotic dehydration were also obtained by PEF pretreatment, reducing the dehydration time from 130 to 48h. PEF pretreated and dehydrated fruits showed superior appearance to thermally pretreated and control samples. Therefore, PEF pretreatment is a preferred technology that balances nutritive quality, appearance, and dehydration rate.

Antimicrobial edible coatings and films from micro-emulsions and their food applications.

This study focused on the use of antimicrobial edible coatings and films from micro-emulsions to reduce populations of foodborne pathogens in foods. Corn-Bio-fiber gum (C-BFG) was used as an emulsifier with chitosan. Allyl isothiocyanate (AIT) and lauric arginate ester (LAE) served as antimicrobials. Micro-emulsions were obtained from a solution consisting of 1% chitosan, 0.5% C-BFG, and 1-4% AIT or LAE which was subject to high pressure homogenization (HPH) processing at 138MPa for 3cycles. Coatings and films produced from the micro-emulsions had micro-pores with sizes ranging from 100 to 300nm and micro-channels that hold antimicrobials effectively and facilitate the release of antimicrobials from the center to the surface of the films or coatings, thus enhancing their antimicrobial efficacy. The coatings and films with 1% AIT reduced populations of Listeria innocua by over 5, 2, and 3 log CFU in culture medium (Tryptic soy broth, TSB), ready-to-eat meat, and strawberries, respectively. The coatings and films with 1% LAE reduced populations of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella spp. by over 5 and 2 log CFU in TSB and strawberries, respectively. This study provides an innovative approach for the development of effective antimicrobial materials to reduce food borne pathogenic contaminants on ready-to-eat meat, strawberries, or other food.

Effect of alternatives to chlorine washing for sanitizing fresh coriander.

Fresh coriander leaves are highly perishable in nature and their sensory quality and nutritional value decreases without proper processing or preservation. In the present study, three aqueous solutions of sodium hypochlorite (SH, 100 mg/L), chlorine dioxide (CD, 10 mg/L), and sodium butyl p-hydroxybenzoate (SBPH, 12 mg/L), and tap water, were used to treat fresh coriander for 15 min. The treated samples were packed in PVC boxes with ambient air under packaged under passive modified atmosphere packaging conditions and stored at 4 °C for 10 days. Effects of washing treatments on color, total chlorophyll contents, ascorbic acid contents, total contents of phenolic compounds, and total aerobic bacterial counts (APC) were investigated. CD treatment has the least detrimental effects on color, total chlorophyll contents and ascorbic acid contents of fresh coriander, followed by SH treatment. In addition, CD treatment showed a greater reduction in APC and maintained the microbial load at lower levels than other treatments during the 10-day storage period.

Application of a novel antimicrobial coating on roast beef for inactivation and inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes during storage.

The antilisterial efficacy of novel coating solutions made with organic acids, lauric arginate ester, and chitosan was evaluated in a three-stage study on inoculated roast beef for the first time. Ready-to-eat roast beef was specially ordered from the manufacturer. The meat surface was inoculated with five-strain Listeria monocytogenes cocktail inoculums at two different levels, ~3 and 6 Log CFU/cm(2) and treated with the stock solution (HAMS), the 1:5 diluted solution (MAMS), and the 1:10 diluted solution (LAMS) (stage 1). During the 20 min contact time, the antimicrobial coatings reduced the Listeria populations by approximately 0.9-0.3 Log CFU/cm(2). The higher the concentrations of the antimicrobial solution, the better the antilisterial effects were. The treated inoculated beef samples were then stored at 4 °C for 30 days. During storage, Listeria growth inhibition effects were seen. While no growth was seen from the HAMS-treated samples, a 1.6 Log CFU/cm(2) increase was seen for MAMS-treated samples, a 4.6 Log CFU/cm(2) increase was seen for LAMS-treated samples, and a 5.7 Log CFU/cm(2) increase was seen for NoAMS-treated samples on Day 30 (~3 Log CFU/cm(2) inoculation level). In the second stage, the impact of the roast beef storage time on solution's antilisterial effect was evaluated. Results showed that the effect of the antimicrobial solution was dependent on both the initial inoculation levels and storage times. In stage 3, the effect of the antimicrobial solution on roast beef quality was studied with both instrument measurement and sensory evaluation. Minor changes in color, pH, and water activity were found. However, only limited sensory differences were seen between the treated and untreated samples. When panels were able to accurately find color differences between samples, they preferred the treated samples. The findings of this research proved the antilisterial efficacy of the novel antimicrobial solution and showed its potential for being used as a roast beef cut surface coating to control Listeria contamination and for color protection.

Antimicrobial property and microstructure of micro-emulsion edible composite films against Listeria.

Edible antimicrobial composite films from micro-emulsions containing all natural compounds were developed and their antimicrobial properties and microstructures were investigated. Chitosan, allyl isothiocyanate (AIT), barley straw arabinoxylan (BSAX), and organic acids (acetic, lactic and levulinic acids) were used as film-forming agent, antimicrobial agent, emulsifier, and solvent, respectively. Micro-emulsions were obtained using high pressure homogenization (HPH) processing at 138MPa for 3cycles. The composite films made from the micro-emulsions significantly (p<0.05) inactivated Listeria innocua in tryptic soy broth (TSB) and on the surface of ready-to-eat (RTE) meat samples, achieving microbial reductions of over 4logCFU/ml in TSB after 2days at 22°C and on meat samples after 35days at 10°C. AIT was a major contributor to the antimicrobial property of the films and HPH processing further enhanced its antimicrobial efficacy, while the increase of chitosan from 1.5% to 3%, or addition of acetic acid to the formulations didn't result in additional antimicrobial effects. This study demonstrated an effective approach to developing new edible antimicrobial films and coatings used for food applications.

Salmonella isolated from ready-to-eat pasteurized liquid egg products: Thermal resistance, biochemical profile, and fatty acid analysis.

The Egg Products Inspection Act of 1970 requires that egg products in the U.S. must be pasteurized prior to release into commerce. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is responsible for regulating egg products. Salmonellae are infrequently isolated from pasteurized egg products by food manufacturers or the FSIS and may be present as a result of either pasteurization-resistant bacteria or post-processing contamination. In this study, seventeen strains of Salmonella isolated from pasteurized egg products and three heat-resistant control strains were compared for the following attributes: thermal resistance in liquid whole egg (LWE) at 60 °C, enzymatic profiles, and serotyping and phage typing, antibiotic susceptibility, fatty acid analysis and strain morphological variation evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Isolates were serotyped as Heidelberg (4 isolates), Widemarsh, Mbandaka, Cerro, Thompson, 4,12:i:-, and Enteritidis (8 isolates). All 20 isolates were sensitive to all 14 antibiotics tested for. The D60 values in LWE ranged from 0.34 to 0.58 min. All 20 strains were recovered from LWE inoculated with 8.5 logCFU/mL of Salmonella and pasteurized at 60 °C for 3.5 min; however, some isolates were not recovered from pasteurized LWE that had been inoculated with only 4.5 logCFU/mL Salmonella and treated at 60 °C for 3.5 min. Although some strains exhibited atypical enzymatic activity (e.g., reduction of adonitol, hydrolysis of proline nitroanilide or p-n-p-beta-glucuronide, and nonreduction of melibiose), differences in biochemical reactions could not be correlated with differences in thermal resistance. Furthermore, fatty acid analysis revealed that differences insaturate/unsaturated profiles may be correlated with differences in heat resistance, in two instances. One heat resistant strain (#13, Enteritidis) had the statistically lowest unsaturated/saturate ratio at 39%. However, one heat sensitive strain (#3, serovar 4,12:i:-) had the highest unsaturated/saturate ratio at 81%, and also the lowest concentration of stearic acid. This data represents the first steps in determining whether Salmonella contamination in pasteurized egg products may be the result of either thermally-resistant isolates or post-processing contamination. Contamination of LWE by Salmonella strains with higher heat resistance, (e.g., isolate #'s 2, 6, 10 and 12) may indicate the ability of Salmonella to survive pasteurization, while contamination of LWE strains with lower heat resistance (e.g., isolate #'s 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, and 15) may indicate post-processing contamination of LWE by this foodborne pathogen.

Natural surface coating to inactivate Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and maintain quality of cherry tomatoes.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of zein-based coatings in reducing populations of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and preserving quality of cherry tomatoes. Tomatoes were inoculated with a cocktail of S. Typhimurium LT2 plus three attenuated strains on the smooth skin surface and stem scar area. The zein-based coatings with and without cinnamon (up to 20%) and mustard essential oil or a commercial wax formulation were applied onto tomatoes and the treated fruits were stored at 10 °C for up to 3 weeks. Populations of S. Typhimurium decreased with increased essential oil concentration and storage duration. S. Typhimurium populations on the smooth skin surface were reduced by 4.6 and 2.8 log colony forming units(CFU)/g by the zein coatings with 20% cinnamon and 20% mustard oil, respectively, 5h after coating. The same coating reduced populations of S. Typhimurium to levels below detection limit (1.0 log CFU/g) on the stem scar area of tomato during 7 days of storage at 10 °C. Salmonella populations were not reduced on fruit coated with the commercial wax. All of the coatings resulted in reduced weight loss compared with uncoated control. Compared with the control, loss of firmness and ascorbic acid during storage was prevented by all of the coatings except the zein coating with 20% mustard oil which enhanced softening. Color was not consistently affected by any of the coating treatments during 21 days of storage at 10°C. The results suggest that the zein-based coating containing cinnamon oil might be used to enhance microbial safety and quality of tomato.

Reduction of an E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella composite on fresh strawberries by varying antimicrobial washes and vacuum perfusion.

A 2011 outbreak of hemorrhagic colitis, which resulted in the death of two individuals, was associated with contaminated strawberries. A study was conducted to identify antimicrobial washes effective at reducing E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica from the surface of fresh whole strawberries during two-minute immersion washes. Twenty-seven antimicrobial treatments were tested. Vacuum perfusion was applied to strawberries during chlorine and peracetic acid treatments to promote infiltration of sanitizer into porous strawberry tissue. Strawberries were inoculated to 7.1logCFU/strawberry with a seven-strain bacterial composite, consisting of three strains of E. coli O157:H7 and four serovars of Salmonella enterica. Berries were air-dried for 2h and immersed in circulating antimicrobial solutions for 120s at 22°C. Four treatments reduced ≥3.0logCFU/strawberry, including (a) 1% acetic acid+1% H2O2, (b) 30% ethanol+1% H2O2, (c) 90ppm peracetic acid, and (d) 1% lactic acid+1% H2O2. Two additional treatments that reduced 2.8logCFU/strawberry were (a) 40% ethanol, and (b) 1% each of phosphoric+fumaric acids. Eight treatments reduced 2.0-2.6logCFU/strawberry. Five treatments reduced <1.45CFU/strawberry, including (a) 1% citric acid, (b) 1% lactic acid, (c) 1% acetic acid, (d) 0.5% each of acetic+citric acids and (e) 0.5% each of acetic+lactic acids. The use of vacuum perfusion with 200ppm chlorine or 90ppm peracetic acid did not reduce greater populations of pathogens than did the same treatments without vacuum perfusion. Fourteen treatments reduced no more pathogens (p<0.05) than did sterile deionized water. Results from this study provide some options for end-point decontamination of strawberries for retail operations just prior to serving to customers.