Berríos Rodriguez, Armarynette

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    Effect of non-thermal treatments on the survival of S. enterica Typhimurium, E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes on produce surfaces at post-harvest
    (2019-12-10) Berríos Rodriguez, Armarynette; Orellana-Feliciano, Lynette E.; College of Agricultural Sciences; Olanya, Ocen M.; Linares, Angela; Plaza, María; Department of Food Science and Technology; Ríos, Luis
    Foodborne pathogens have cause numerous outbreaks worldwide which affected humans with hospitalizations, diseases/illnesses, and in some cases death. New methods for pathogen control have been proposed against pathogens when applied directly on food such as radiation, biological solutions, antimicrobials or novel sanitizers. The aim of this project was to determine the effect of non-thermal treatments such as irradiation, biocontrol using Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Lovit sanitizer on the survival of Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Listeria monocytogenes on produce surfaces at post-harvest. Ten grams of baby carrots and grape tomatoes were inoculated with foodborne pathogens (S. enterica, E. coli O157:H7 or L. monocytogenes) and were treated with a combination of hurdles: gamma irradiation at 0.50 kGy, biocontrol agent inoculation and Lovit sanitizer application (U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14/685,980). Samples were analyzed on day 0 and 7 of storage time at 5 ºC & 20 ºC. The ATP Bioluminescence Assay Method showed statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) in bacterial populations from total plate count (TSA, CFU/g) for all pathogen studied. The combinations of hurdle approaches with the greatest reductions for L. monocytogenes was radiation, Lovit sanitizer, and biocontrol microbe. For S. enterica it was lovit sanitizer + radiation, and for E. coli O157:H7 it was the application of Lovit sanitizer that showed the greatest reduction. Storage at 5 ºC was the best option to maintain low pathogen levels after 7 days of storage, except in Salmonella which populations were not significantly different (p > 0.05) at room temperature storage. The produce surfaces didn’t reflect any difference in L. monocytogenes or E. coli O157:H7 growth. However, S. enterica had higher populations levels on baby carrot surfaces than grape tomatoes. The biocontrol seems to be competing against L. monocytogenes and S. enterica resulting in low to moderate reductions of pathogen populations, but with E. coli O157:H7 there was no effect.