Influence of washing treatment on native microflora and Escherichia coli population of inoculated cantaloupes
2001
Ukuku, D.O. | Pilizota, V. | Sapers, G.M.
The influence of chlorine or hydrogen peroxide treatment on populations of Escherichia coli 25922 on the external surface of inoculated cantaloupe was investigated. Surface treatment with 70% EtOH, followed by immersion in 10(8) CFU/mL E. coli inoculum deposited an average of 4.4 log10 CFU/cm2 cell population on the cantaloupe surface. The efficacy of washing inoculated cantaloupe was dependent on storage interval between inoculation and treatment. Dipping the cantaloupes in solutions containing 1000 mg/L chlorine or 5% peroxide for 5 min, within 24 h of inoculation, caused a 2 log10 CFU/cm2 reduction of the indigenous surface microflora and a 3-4.0 log10 CFU/cm2 reduction in E. coli. The efficacy was less when the interval between inoculation and treatment exceeded 24 h. Chlorine appeared to be a better antimicrobial agent than hydrogen peroxide against E. coli ATCC 25922 inoculated on cantaloupe surfaces while hydrogen peroxide was better in reducing surface microflora of cantaloupe.
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