Masoumeh Bahreini; Mohammad Bagher Habibi Najafi; Mohammad Reza Bassami; Eisa Jahed
Abstract
Ozone is a strong oxidant and a potent disinfecting agent. There are numerous application areas of ozone in food industry. While there are many investigations on the application of ozone in food industry, relatively little information is available on the potential of ozone to reduce microbial populations ...
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Ozone is a strong oxidant and a potent disinfecting agent. There are numerous application areas of ozone in food industry. While there are many investigations on the application of ozone in food industry, relatively little information is available on the potential of ozone to reduce microbial populations in fresh-cut fruits and vegetables and the visual quality of lettuce. In this study, ozone water was applied at five concentrations (0.6, 0.8, 1.2, 1.6 and 2 ppm) for four exposure times (1, 3, 5 and 10 min) on natural microflora and E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella inoculated of lettuce. The reduction in the total bacterial count, yeast and mold, total coliform, as well as lactic acid bacteria counts were examined. The promising results indicated the efficacy of ozone water to reduce the microbial populations on lettuce. In the best condition, the inoculated samples of E. coli O157:H7 (ATCC 35150, NCTC 12900), Salmonella typhi morium ( ATCC 14028, NCTC 12023) and Salmonella enterica subsp, enterica (PTCC 1709) on lettuce were decreased further than 2 log10 cfu/g. The results showed the population of aerobic mesophilic bacteria, yeast/ moulds, total coliforms and lactic acid bacteria were decreased to 1.54, 0.94, 1.94 and 1.35 log10 cfu/g respectively. The method of ozone generation, type of application, as well as the optimal exposure time and concentration of ozone as an antimicrobial agent on lettuce is mentioned in detail.
Masoumeh Bahreini; Mohammad Bagher Habibi Najafi; Mohammad Reza Bassami; Morteza Abbaszadegan
Abstract
We investigated the microbiological quality of raw vegetables in Mashhad, Iran. In order to document the incidence of indicator and pathogenic microorganisms in this area. ninety eghit raw vegetable samples collected during 7 months were analyzed. All samples were examined for the presence of aerobic ...
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We investigated the microbiological quality of raw vegetables in Mashhad, Iran. In order to document the incidence of indicator and pathogenic microorganisms in this area. ninety eghit raw vegetable samples collected during 7 months were analyzed. All samples were examined for the presence of aerobic mesophilic bacteria, coliforms, Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, yeast and mould. Our data showed that the incidence levels of aerobic mesophilic bacteria was less than 107 cfu/g on 83% raw vegetables and 100% of raw vegetables were contained Entrobacteriace and total coliforms, and their range varied from 1 log to 6 log cfu/g. The mean counts of Lactic acid bacteria and yeasts and moulds were 4.1 log cfu/g and 4.5 log cfu/g, respectively, and the incidence levels of yeasts and moulds in 83% of raw vegetables was less than 5 log cfu/g. Our results were similar with other studies that determined microbial levels on raw vegetables. 12.7% of samples raw vegetables contained E.coli, but only 4.1% were higher than ≥ 2 log cfu/g. The incidence levels for E.coli O157:H7 and Salmonella on raw vegetables were 6% and 12.7% respectively. 94.9% of raw vegetables were contaminated with S. aureus and 7.8% of them were coagulase positive.
Masoumeh Bahreini; Mohammad Bagher Habibi Najafi; Mohammad Reza Bassami; Morteza Abbaszadegan; Ahmad Reza Bahrami; Hamidreza Ejtehadi
Abstract
The number of vegetable processing plants has been increased during recent years in Iran as many other countries. On the other hand, fresh vegetable products are susceptible to microbial contamination after harvest, processing, handling, packing and distribution. The aim of this study was to determine ...
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The number of vegetable processing plants has been increased during recent years in Iran as many other countries. On the other hand, fresh vegetable products are susceptible to microbial contamination after harvest, processing, handling, packing and distribution. The aim of this study was to determine and evaluate the level of microbial load of vegetables during different cleaning steps in a fresh-cut vegetable processing plant and to identify the critical points in the process lines and operating areas. Samples were taken from the plant before and after washing, disinfection, cutter, drying and packaging and kept in ice pack and delivered to the laboratory. The samples were analyzed for mesophilic aerobic count, yeasts and moulds, lactic acid bacteria, total coliforms, Enterobacteriaceae, E. coli and Staphylococcus aureous as well as for the presence of Salmonella, according to the standard guideline. The amounts of total aerobic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, E. coli, yeasts and moulds on surfaces and air were also determined. Results showed that bacteria as well as yeasts and moulds levels were decreased after washing and disinfectation up to 1 and 1.5 log10, respectively, but after that, the microbial load was increased due to secondary contamination. During all steps, salmonella was not detected, but E. coli detected in some of the steps and S. aureous was detected at all steps. The highest levels of total aerobic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, E. coli, yeasts and moulds were detected on the equipments (cutters, peeling, centrifuge machines, etc.). Different Hygienic areas should be separated enough to allow maintenance of good hygiene in cleaner areas in primary washing steps. Despite this, the results showed that there is a vital need to improve cleaning and hygienic practices in vegetable processing plants. Several practical recommendations were given for cleaning, design of production lines, training of employees and surface hygiene.
Keywords: Ready to eat vegetables, Microbial evaluation, Microbial quality, Minimal processing, Hygienic level
