Sanitizers for fresh-cut fruits and vegetables

5 Sanitizers for fresh-cut fruits and vegetables Shruti Sethi, Swarajya Laxmi Nayak, Alka Joshi, Ram Roshan Sharma Division of Food Science and Postharvest Technology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India

1

Introduction

Modern consumers’ desire for healthy, natural food along with good sensory attributes has resulted in an upsurge in demand for and consumption of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. Supply expansion of fresh-cut industry has taken place in the last few decades as a result of the booming of fast food chains where such commodities are in demand. However, such products are prone to pathogen outbreak as during preparation injured cells release intracellular fluids that provide a conducive environment for microbial growth. Thus, preservation and shelf-life extension have been major concerns for fresh-cut produce since their introduction to market in the 1940s (Rico, Martı´n-Diana, Frı´as, Henehan, & Barry-Ryan, 2006). Contamination of food with microbes or their toxins can cause unpleasant symptoms, ranging from gastrointestinal disturbances to long term health issues or even death. Hence, proper sanitization and handling of the fresh-cut commodities is crucial to achieving a safe global supply of these products with the desired sensory attributes. Although simple washing with water removes the cellular components leached out during cutting and reduces the microbial load to some extent, use of sanitizing agents brings the microbial levels low enough so as to make the fresh-cut produce fit for consumption and as per the food safety guidelines. Thus, use of sanitizers plays a pivotal role in this regard. There are a growing number of sanitizing compounds used to reduce microbial load in fresh-cut produce, including chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide, organic acids, peroxyacetic acid, ozone, electrolyzed water, and radiation. The chemical disinfectants are mostly added in Fresh-cut Fruits and Vegetables. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-816184-5.00005-7 Copyright # 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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wash water, to provide a barrier to microorganisms that may contaminate the minimally processed produce (FDA, 2000). Ozone and electrolyzed water are produced by passing the electric current directly through wash water and exposing the produce directly to the sanitizer action. Although studies have revealed that none of the abovementioned sanitizers are able to completely eliminate pathogens from these minimally processed produce, the use of the sanitizing agents can bring down the microbial levels to acceptable limits.

2 Factors affecting efficacy of sanitizers Water used for fresh-cut fruits and vegetables should be ideally at a level of 5–10 L/kg of the product. Owing to the cost involved with the quantities of water used for washing the produce, sometimes the wash water is reused. This results in an increase in the soluble/organic matter of the wash water that results in reduction in the efficiency of the sanitizers added. However, other factors also determine the effectiveness of the sanitizers as discussed below.

2.1

Temperature

Temperature plays a pivotal role in the survival rate of pathogenic microflora (Gawande & Bhagwat, 2002). A cooler water temperature is more effective at sanitizing surfaces. Although water temperature of 0°C is ideal for getting better results, if water is at cooler temperature in comparison to the product temperature it may result in vacuum development and infiltration of bacteria along with the water into the interior of produce via open and damaged skin surface and stem tissue, thus causing contamination (Beuchat, 2000). In a study conducted by Zhuang, Beuchat, and Anjulo (1995), a temperature differential of 15°C resulted in suction of Salmonella montevideo into the core of tomatoes.

2.2

pH

The pH of wash water is an important factor for the reduction and inactivation of microorganisms. Each sanitizer has a particular pH range within which it is most effective. The lethal effects of chlorine (in the form of hypochlorous acid, HOCl) are much greater at pH range of 6.0–7.5 (Sapers, 2003). At pH below 6.0, chlorine gas maybe formed, which may be deleterious for

Chapter 5 Sanitizers for fresh-cut fruits and vegetables

personnel. On the other hand, at pH above 8.0, the hypochlorous acid splits to form hydrogen ions (H+) and hypochlorite (OCl ) ions. The hypochlorite ion formed has weak bactericidal effects. Ozone is generally not affected in pH range of 6–8, but its decomposition increases with high pH (>8.0). The pH of the solution may be adjusted by the addition of organic or inorganic acids.

2.3

Microbial load on food surface

The location of microorganisms on the produce surface affects their inactivation by disinfectants (Cherry, 1999). Seo and Frank (1999) reported that bacteria tend to concentrate in pores, indentations, or irregular surfaces. After cutting the fresh produce, the exposed surface increases the surface area for microbial attachment, which in turn enhances their survival. Moreover, the exposed cut surface area releases solubles into the wash water, thereby decreasing sanitizer effectiveness (Rodgers, Cash, Siddiq, & Ryser, 2004). According to Yu, Newman, Archbold, and Hamilton-Kemp (2001), the relative ineffectiveness of many sanitizers on strawberries is partially due to surface roughness, which provides an ideal site for bacteria to attach and form biofilms.

2.4

Oxidation-reduction potential

Oxidation reduction potential (ORP) is a measure of the oxidizing properties and chemical efficacy of the sanitizer in water, which is determined using a sensor. The value of this potential varies with the type of sanitizer. Suslow (2004) recommended a value of 600–650 mV for chlorine treatments. The ORP value provides the operator with a rapid and single value assessment of the wash water disinfection potential, which can prompt operators to better control the treatment by adjusting the pH of the sanitizer.

3

Sanitizing agents for minimally processed fruits and vegetables

As discussed previously, several sanitizing agents are employed for reducing the microbial population in fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. The following section discusses the various applications of these agents.

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3.1

Chemical treatments

3.1.1

Chlorine based

Amongst all, chlorine is the most widely used disinfectant for fresh fruits and vegetables. Chlorine may be used as liquid or in gaseous form. Liquid chlorine in the form of sodium (NaOCl) or calcium hypochlorites (Ca(OCl)2) is the most commonly used for disinfecting purposes. The recommended level of chlorine as disinfectant is 50–200 ppm at a pH below 8.0 (WHO, 1998). Chlorine is very reactive and combines with any oxidizable substrate to form secondary compounds, such as trihalomethanes (IFPA, 2001). For this reason, its use for treating fresh-cut fruits and vegetables is banned in several European countries, including
s & Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands (Arte Allende, 2005). The inhibitory action of chlorine depends on pH and temperature of the wash water, contact time, presence of organic matter in the wash water, and exposure to light, air, or metals. If the pH of the water falls below 4.0, then chlorine gas may be formed, which is a potential health hazard for humans (IFPA, 2001). Table 1 presents an overview of application of free chlorine in varied minimally processed fruits and vegetables. Chlorine dioxide (ClO2) is approved for use as a sanitizer on uncut produce followed by potable water rinse (CFR, 2005). It is a yellow to red gas, having 2.5 times more oxidizing potential than chlorine gas (Suslow, 1997). A maximum of 200 ppm ClO2 is allowed for sanitizing of processing equipment and 3 ppm is allowable for contact with whole produce. Treatment of produce with ClO2 must be followed by a potable water rinse or blanching, cooking, or canning. Chlorine dioxide works best at neutral pH and does not react with nitrogen-containing compounds or ammonia to form dangerous chloramines, as does chlorine (White, 1972; WHO, 1998). Table 2 describes the beneficial use of chlorine dioxide (ClO2) in various cut fruits and vegetables. Acidified sodium chlorite (a mixture of a GRAS acid and NaOCl2), another form in which foods can be exposed to chlorine is highly reactive and has lethal effect on a broad spectrum of microorganisms at pH range of 2.5–3.2. It has been approved for use on raw fruits and vegetables, as either a dip or a spray, in the range of 0.5–1.2 g/L followed by a potable water rinse (21CFR173.325). A commercial product of acidified sodium chlorite known as Sanova (Ecolab) is available that is a combination of citric acid and sodium chlorite and has about 2.5 times greater oxidizing capacity than hypochlorous acid (HOCl) (Inatsu, Bari, Kawasaki, Isshiki, & Kawamoto, 2005).

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Table 1 Application of chlorine in minimally processed fruits and vegetables Disinfecting treatment

Product

Effect

Reference

200 ppm of free chlorine for 40 min

Fresh-cut cantaloupes

Absence of Salmonella after 21 days of storage

Free chlorine of different concentrations 25 ppm of free chlorine Free chlorine concentration varying from 1 to 3 mg/L 200 mg/L free chlorine for 60 s

Fresh cut romaine lettuce, iceberg lettuce and cabbage Fresh-cut romaine lettuce Spinach

No surviving aerobic bacteria above 20 mg/L chlorine

Alicea, Annous, Mendez, Burke, and Orellana (2018) Luo et al. (2018)

200 ppm free chlorine

Shredded iceberg lettuce

200 ppm of free chlorine for 5 min 200 ppm of free chlorine for 5 min

Iceberg lettuce leaves

100 ppm chlorine solution for 5 min

Ready-to-use vegetables (lettuce, dry coleslaw) Lettuce

Chlorination at 200 mg/mL

Iceberg lettuce

Shredded lettuce

1 log PFU/g reduction of coliphage MS2 Minimum residual level of chlorine effectively controlled E. coli O157:H7 under industrial conditions Lower initial count of total aerobic bacteria (Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonades) 2 log reduction of microbial load

Wengert, Aw, Ryser, and Rose (2017) Go´mez-Lo´pez, Lannoo, Gil, and Allende (2014)

Significant lowering of L. innocua and E. coli populations

Baur, Klaiber, Wei, Hammes, and Carle (2005) Baur, Klaiber, Hammes, and Carle (2004) Lang, Harris, and Beuchat (2004) Burnett, Iturriaga, Escartin, Pettigrew, and Beuchat (2004) Francis and O’Beirne (2002)

5.4 log reduction in E. coli 0157:H7

Foley et al. (2002)

1.75 log reduction in E. coli O157:H7 populations 1.06 log reduction of Listeria monocytogenes

Use of electrolyzed water (EW) is a relatively new concept for food sanitation. EW is produced by passing a diluted salt solution—mostly sodium chloride—through an electrolytic cell, within which the anode and cathode are separated by a septum. Hypochlorous acid (HClO) is present in the range of 10–60 ppm in

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Table 2 Application of chlorine dioxide on minimally processed fruits and vegetables Disinfecting treatment

Product

Effect

Reference

3 mg/L for 1 min

Fresh-cut lollo rossa lettuce

Absence of E. coli

3.5 ppm

Grape tomatoes

60 mg/L for 10 min

Fresh-cut coriander Fresh-cut asparagus lettuce Fresh-cut lotus root (FLR)

3.08 log cfu/g reduction of Escherichia coli and 2.85 log cfu/g Alternaria alternata populations after 14 days of storage Reduction of Staphylococcus, Brevibacterium, Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter Extension of shelf-life to 14 days and reduced activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) enzymes Inhibition of PPO activity and maintenance of high OVQ scores during 10 day storage

Banach, Overbeek, Groot, Zouwen, and Fels-Klerx (2018) Sun et al. (2017)

Aqueous chlorine dioxide 100 mg/L for 20 min Aqueous chlorine dioxide 100 mg/L treatment for 10 min Gaseous chlorine dioxide 4.1 mg/L

5 ppm for 5 min

Fresh-cut lettuce, cabbage, and carrot Lettuce

1.24 ppm for 30 min at 22°C and 90%– 95% RH

Surface injured green peppers

1.53–1.58 log cfu/g reduction for fresh-cut lettuce, 3.13–4.42 log cfu/g reduction for freshcut cabbage and 5.15–5.88 log cfu/g reduction for fresh-cut carrots 5 log reduction of E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes 6.45 log reduction of E. coli O157:H7

Jiang et al. (2017) Chen, Zhu, Zhang, Niu, and Du (2010) Du, Fu, and Wang (2009) Sy, Murray, Harrison, and Beuchat (2005) Rodgers et al. (2004) Han, Sherman, Linton, Nielson, and Nelson (2000)

electrolyzed acidic water, which is generated from the reaction of Cl2 (from NaCl) and H2O in anode site. This results in acid water with pH 2–3 (strong electrolyzed water). Electrolyzed weak acidic water at pH 5–6.5 is generated by electrolysis of NaCl solution without a separating membrane. It has a high oxidation potential between 1000 and 1150mV (Sapers, 2003). EW shows antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of microorganisms and eliminates most common types of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and spores in a short time (usually within 5–20 s) in food products and food processing surfaces (Ding et al., 2015; Hao, Li, Wan, & Liu, 2015). Various factors such as current, water flow rate, electrolyte,

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salt concentration, electrode materials, storage conditions, water hardness, and water temperature have been reported to affect the physicochemical properties of EW and have been thought to be responsible for the sanitization effect of EW. The application of EW is a sustainable and green concept and has several advantages over traditional sanitizing systems including cost effectiveness, ease of application, effective disinfection, on-the-spot production, and safety for human beings and the environment. The EPA has approved EO water (CFR, 2005) for washing raw foods that are to be consumed without processing. It is environment friendly, as it only uses water mixed with sodium chloride. Since, the solution rapidly loses its antimicrobial activity, it is produced in-situ and utilized simultaneously. Table 3 summarizes the application of EW on fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. Disadvantages associated with EW include the high initial investment, rapid loss of antimicrobial effect of EW due to reduction in chlorine concentration, and breathing discomfort and irritation of hands of the working personnel during chlorine gas production.

Table 3 Application of EO on minimally processed foods Sanitizing treatment

Used on

Effect

Reference

Acidic electrolyzed water (AEW) Neutral electrolyzed water containing 4000 mg/L of free chlorine EW containing 120 ppm free chlorine

Fresh-cut red cabbage Fresh-cut chicory and lettuce leaves

3.67 log cfu/g reduction of artificially inoculated S. typhimurium DT104 Reduction of microbial loads of mesophilic bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae

Chen et al. (2018) Pinto, Ippolito, and Baruzzi (2015)

Minimally processed lettuce Cut lettuce

Reduced microbial load

Rico et al. (2008)

1.8 log reduction of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella

Cabbage

1.5, 1.5, 1.5, and 1.0 log reduction of total aerobic bacteria, coliform bacteria, B. cereus, and psychrotrophic bacteria, respectively

Koseki, Yoshida, Isobe, and Itoh (2004) Koseki and Itoh (2001)

Alkaline EW followed by acidic EW for 5 min at 20°C Alkaline EW followed by acidic EW for 1 min

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3.1.2

Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a well-known oxidizing agent, directly toxic to pathogens. It is a strong oxidizer, having 1.8 oxidizing potential—just below that of ozone. It is both bacteriostatic and bactericidal owing to its ability to generate cytotoxic hydroxyl radicals (Olmez & Kretzschmar, 2009; Parish et al., 2003). Commercially available 3% hydrogen peroxide is a stable and effective disinfectant when used on inanimate surfaces (Simons & Sanguansri, 1997). It is GRAS for some food applications (21CFR184.1366) but has not yet been approved as an antimicrobial wash-agent for produce. The sporicidal activity of H2O2 coupled with rapid disintegration makes it a desirable sterilant for use on food contact surfaces and packaging materials in aseptic filling operations. However, it requires repeated washing to remove the residual effects after processing. It is still preferred by processors due to its beneficial effects, as listed in Table 4. The activity of H2O2 is best under pH 1–4. The recommended level of H2O2 is 2 ppm, while levels above 5 ppm are considered fatal.

Table 4 Application of H2O2 as a sanitizing agent Sanitizer type 20 g/L solution for 1 min 2% solution for 2 min 3% H2O2 at 22°C

10% vaporized H2O2 treatment for 10 min 1% and 5% solutions 2.5% and 5% solutions

Used on

Effect

Reference

Table grapes

Negligible total aerobic microbial and fungal count till the end of the storage Reduced microbial load

Ergun and Dogan (2018) Waghmare and Annapure (2017) Ukuku, Mukhopadhyay, Geveke, Olanya, and Niemira (2016) Back, Ha, and Kang (2014)

Fresh-cut cluster beans Fresh-cut cantaloupes

Organic lettuce Red bell peppers and watercress Cantaloupe and honeydew melon

4-log reduction of bacterial pathogens

3.15, 3.12 and 2.95 log10 cfu/g reduction of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes 5% H2O2 provide highest reductions of microbial load

4.65 and 3.13 log10 cfu/g reduced microbial load on cantaloupe and honeydew melon, respectively

Alexandre, Brandao, and Silva (2012) Ukuku (2004)

Chapter 5 Sanitizers for fresh-cut fruits and vegetables

Another technology, known as lactoperoxidase (LPS) technology, combines H2O2 with sodium thiocyanate, which generates hypothiocyanite (OSCN ) in the presence of peroxidase. The commercially available product, Catallix has been approved for use on fresh-cuts (Allende, Selma, Lo´pez-Ga´lvez, Villaescusa, & Gil, 2008) for reducing viable populations.

3.1.3

Organic acids

Organic acids are naturally present in foods and are commonly used as preservatives in the food industry (Lianou, Koutsoumanis, & Sofos, 2012). Many organic acids have GRAS status and are FDA and EC (European Commission) approved. They do not produce toxic or carcinogenic compounds after interaction with organic molecules (Lianou et al., 2012). Their mode of action towards reduction of microbial load is based on the acidification, osmotic stress, disruption of proton motive force, and inhibition of synthetic processes (Carpenter & Broadbent, 2009). Their use is majorly in those commodities that have pH >4.5 since, below this pH, most microbes are not viable. Commercial formulations such as Citrox (Citrox Limited, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom) and Purac (PURAC Bioquı´mica, Spain) containing phenolic compounds and lactic acid, respectively, as the active ingredient are available for sanitizing treatments. As per manufacturer’s recommendations, application of 5 mL/L for 5 min in the case of Citrox and 20 mL/L for 3 min for Purac is sufficient for achieving desirable results. Peroxyacetic acid (CH3CO3H), an organic acid formulation, is approved for addition to wash water (21CFR173.315) for disinfection purposes followed by a mandatory water rinse of the produce. It is a colorless mixture of a peroxy compound, hydrogen peroxide, and acetic acid that readily decomposes into acetic acid, water, and oxygen when mixed in water. It is a strong oxidizing agent and is active in a broad pH range. The organic acids are used largely on fresh-cut fruits and vegetables as microbial retardant, as summarized in Table 5.

3.2

Physical treatments

The safety of fresh-cut produce is a concern because of foodborne illness arising from consumption of these commodities that might have been contaminated with enteric pathogens. To attenuate such problems, a number of sanitizing methods are adopted by people. Since chemical methods may result in residues in the

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Table 5 Organic acids as a sanitizer on minimally processed fruits and vegetables Disinfecting treatment Aqueous solutions of ethanol (25%) and ascorbic acid (1%) Citric (5 g/L) and lactic (5 mL/L) acid solutions 80 ppm of peroxyacetic acid at 3–4°C for 15 s 2% acetic acid for 15 min

Product

Microbial reduction

Reference

Fresh-cut Chinese yam

Inhibition of microbial growth and delay in browning

Gao, Zhu, and Luo (2018)

Fresh-cut iceberg lettuce Shredded lettuce and romaine lettuce pieces Lettuce leaves

Effectively reduced Enterobacteriaceae population 2.2 log10 cfu/g 1 log reduction of L. monocytogenes

Akbas and € Olmez (2007) Beuchat, Adler, and Lang (2004)

3.37 and >2.25 log reduction in aerobic mesophilic and total coliform populations, respectively

Nascimento, Catanozi, and Silva (2003)

treated commodity, some physical treatments such as ozone, irradiation, and UV treatment may alternatively be used to disinfect the produce.

3.2.1

Ozone

Ozone (O3) forms by the rearrangement of atoms when oxygen molecules are subjected to high-voltage electric discharge (Khadre, Yousef, & Kim, 2001). Ozone has 1.5 times the oxidizing potential of chlorine and 3000 times the potential of hypochlorous acid (EPRI, 1997). It is a blue colored gas at ambient temperature and decomposes to oxygen within a few seconds (Khadre et al., 2001). Ozone can react with contaminants directly as molecular ozone (O3) or indirectly as ozone-derived free radicals such as OH– and H2O2, that cause inactivation of microorganisms. Alternation of proteins, unsaturated lipids and respiratory enzymes and nucleic acids in the cytoplasm and/or proteins and peptidoglycan are the modes of action of O3 (Koseki, Yoshida, Isobe, & Itoh, 2001). In 2001, the FDA approved the use of ozone on as an antimicrobial agent for the treatment, storage, and processing of foods in gas and aqueous phase in direct contact with foods, including raw and minimally processed fruits and vegetables (FDA, 2000). This gave a boost to the application of ozone in the industry, although it has the negative effect of causing

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Table 6 Use of ozone on fresh-cut fruits and vegetables Disinfecting treatment

Used on

Effect

Reference

2 mg/L of gaseous ozone

Minimally processed rocket

Inhibition of the spoilage bacteria and yeasts and extension of shelf-life

0.5 mg/L aqueous ozone

Fresh cut lettuce and green bell pepper Fresh-cut cantaloupe

2 log reduction of microbial load in the first 15 min and 3.5 log reduction after 30 min of exposure 4.2 and 2.8 log cfu/rind-disk (12.6 cm2), reduction of Salmonella counts in mature nonripe and ripe melons, respectively

Guti
errez, Chaves, and Rodrı´guez (2018) Alexopoulos et al. (2013)

Shredded lettuce

Reduction of S. sonnei counts by 1.8 log units

Apples, lettuce, strawberries and cantaloupe Iceberg lettuce

4–5 log reduction of mesophilic bacteria

0.6–0.8 log reduction in aerobic plate count

Lettuce

1.5 log reduction of microbial load

10,000 ppm of gaseous ozone for 30 min under vacuum Ozone flow of 150 L/h dissolved in deionized water 3 ppm for 5 min (bubbling) 2.5 ppm of ozone, stirred for 10 min 5 ppm of ozone for 10 min

deterioration and corrosion on metal and other types of surfaces. Table 6 elucidates the usefulness of ozone on fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. Ozone may be applied in both aqueous phase and gaseous phase to be used as a sanitizer. Ozone is most effective in a pH range of 6–8. An exposure of 1 ppm for 8 h is supposed to be toxic (OSHA, 1988). Recently, generation of micro bubbles of O3 in the wash water has helped in increasing the effectiveness of O3 with greater log reductions in microbial populations (Lee, Song, Manna, & Ha, 2008).

3.2.2

Irradiation

Ionizing irradiation, such as gamma-rays, produce electrically charged ions by splitting water molecules (Ramos, Pilawa, & Stroka, 2013). Irradiation using gamma rays is a well-established

Selma, Iba´n˜ez, Cantwell, and Suslow (2008) Selma, Beltra´n, Allende, Chaco´nVera, and Gil (2007) Rodgers et al. (2004) Garcia, Mount, and Davidson (2003) Koseki and Itoh (2001)

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Table 7 Application of gamma radiation as sanitizing agent on minimally processed foods Dose (kGy)

Product

Microbial reduction

Reference

0.2–1

Sliced fresh cucumber

2

Fresh-cut watercress

Joshi, Moreira, Omac, and Castell-Perez (2018) Pinela et al. (2016)

1

Fresh-cut lettuce

1

Broccoli, mung beans, cabbage, and tomato Cut romaine lettuce

Elimination of Salmonella poona in sliced cucumber Better preservation of overall quality of freshcut watercress with 2 kGy dose Total coliform group were lowered to less than 30 MPN/100 g 4.14–5.25 log reduction of L. monocytogenes 1.5 log reduction of aerobic plate count

Prakash, Guner, Caporaso, and Foley (2000)

0.35

Zhang, Lu, Lu, and Bie (2006) Bari et al. (2005)

process, its activity is not limited to the surface, it can penetrate into the product and eliminate microorganisms that are present in crevices and creases of fruits and vegetables (Husman et al., 2004). Collisions between the ionizing radiation and food particles at the atomic and molecular level results in the production of ion pairs and free radicals, which inactivate the microorganisms (Ramos et al., 2013). A maximum dose of 1 kGy has been approved by FDA to decontaminate fruits and vegetables. The main advantages of using ionizing radiations are the good disinfecting ability of the produce under very low energy requirement and temperature (Ramos et al., 2013). At higher concentration though, irradiation may affect the flavor of the produce (Goodburn & Wallace, 2013). Table 7 summarizes a few reports of use of radiations as a sanitizing treatment.

3.2.3

Ultraviolet light

Ultraviolet (UV) light is an electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths ranging between 100 and 400 nm. Within this range, the wavelength of 190–280 nm (UV-C light) is used for antimicrobial application as it damages DNA that causes cell death (Birmpa, Sfika, & Vantarakis, 2013). UV-C radiation is produced through UV lamps that consist of a tube with xenon or krypton gas, a mercury lamp, and an electrode at each side of the tube. When an electrical current is passed through, the mercury atoms

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Table 8 Use of UV on minimally processed fruits and vegetables Disinfecting treatment 2

UV-C (2.5 kJ/m )

3.2 kJ/m2 UV-C 1.2 kJ/m2 UV-C 1.4–13.7 kJ m2 UV-C

Product

Microbial reduction

Reference

Minimally processed mango Fresh-cut dragon fruit Fresh-cut endive Fresh-cut watermelon

2.4–2.6 log cfu/g reduction of C. sakazakii

Santo, Grac¸a, Nunes, and Quintas (2018)

Significantly lower total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, yeast and mold during storage Significantly improved microbiological and sensory quality during the entire storage period >1 log reduction in microbial populations at 4.1 kJ/m2

Nimitkeatkai and Kulthip (2016) H€agele et al. (2016)

become excited. UV light is produced when the atoms return to their ground state (Gray, 2014). UV light is highly effective for surface applications and also reduces process time (Birmpa et al., 2013). UV technology has been FDA approved (21CFR179.39) for use as a disinfectant to treat food as long as the proper wavelength of energy is maintained (200–300 nm). However, its prolonged use can alter the organoleptic properties of the food (Gadgil, 1997). Table 8 summarizes the application of UV light in few fresh-cut products.

4

Synergistic effects of disinfectants

The concept of using multiple methods is analogous to hurdle technology, where two or more preservation technologies are used to prevent growth of microorganisms in or on foods (Leistner, 1994a, 1994b). To combat the ill-effects of a particular sanitizing agent at a higher level, the combination of two interventions is much more useful and effective than each used alone. It is a multitargeted approach to kill the microbes since different approaches target different cell systems, e.g., cell membrane, enzyme systems, DNA, pH, Eh, aw, within the microbial cell and contribute to disturbing the homeostasis of the microorganisms (Leistner, 1994a, 1994b). Since different hurdles have different spectra of antimicrobial action, the combined hurdles could attack microorganisms in different ways and may increase the effectiveness of preservation

Fonseca and Rushing (2006)

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Table 9 Sanitizers used in combination on minimally processed fruits and vegetables Disinfecting treatment 2

0.3 kJ/m of UV-C + pulsed light 15 kJ/m2 0.3 kJ/m2 UV-C + 50 mg/L peracetic acid 7.5 ppm ozone + 150 ppm of chlorine 0.5% citric acid + 0.5–20 kJ/m2 UV-C 20 kJ/m2 UV-C radiation + 5 ppm gaseous ozone Acidic electrolyzed water (AEW) + aqueous ozone Chlorination + 0.55 kGy irradiation 1.5% lactic acid + 1.5% H2O2

Product

Effect on microbes

References

Fresh-cut broccoli Fresh-cut broccoli

2.4 log reduction of L. innocua

Collazo et al. (2019)

Reduced mesophile by 2 log10 in broccoli

Collazo et al. (2018)

Shredded lettuce Fresh-cut apples Fresh-cut rocket

1.4 log reduction in APC compared to untreated Reduction in bacterial count of fresh-cut apples by 2.6 log cfu/g Reduced microbial load during 8 days of storage at 5°C

Garcia et al. (2003)

Fresh-cut cilantro

Reduced initial total aerobic plate count and maintenance of low microbial count during storage 5.4 log reduction of E. coli O157:H7

Wang, Feng, and Luo (2004)

Shredded iceberg lettuce Apples, oranges, and tomatoes

>5 log reduction of Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7

Chen, Hu, He, Jiang, and Zhang (2016) Guti
errez, Chaves, and Rodrı´guez (2016)

Foley et al. (2002) Venkitanaraynana, Lin, Bailey, and Doyle (2002)

synergistically. Many studies have demonstrated drastic reduction in microbial populations in fresh-cut products when treated with two or more sanitizing agents simultaneously (Table 9).

5 Safety concerns Any sanitizing treatment applied must not only be effective, but also must be compatible with commercial packing and processing practices and technical capabilities. The treatment must be affordable and safe to carry out, have no adverse effect on quality, and be approved by applicable regulatory agencies. All sanitizers must have Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance (FDA, 2000) or Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status for

Chapter 5 Sanitizers for fresh-cut fruits and vegetables

use in washing produce. Only food grade, EPA registered sanitizers should be used during produce washing or equipment sanitizing. The recommended levels for usage should be taken into consideration during application, along with the conditions in which the maximum potential of the sanitizer can be extracted.

6

Conclusions

The market for minimally processed foods has grown rapidly in recent years due to the fresh-like characteristics and convenience associated with these foods. Its growth has increased the awareness regarding microbiological and physiological aspects associated with the quality. The advances in alternative, cost-efficient, and environmentally friendly sanitizers has improved the quality and safety of minimally fresh processed fruits and vegetables. Washing and disinfection are the most important stages of the production chain where a reduction in the microbial load can be obtained. Since, the activity of the disinfecting agents depends on various physico-chemical process parameters, their application should be done under conditions that are most favorable to get the best sanitizing effect. The combined application of multiple sanitizing agents has shown advantages over individual treatments resulting in better microbial reduction, enhanced shelf-life, and food quality maintenance.

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Further reading Bari, M. L., Sabina, Y., Isobe, S., Uemura, T., & Isshiki, K. (2003). Effectiveness of electrolyzed acidic water in killing Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella enteridis, and Listeria monocytogenes on the surfaces of tomatoes. Journal of Food Protection, 66, 542–548.

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