Efficacy of Power Ultrasound-Based Hurdle Technology on the Reduction of Bacterial Pathogens on Fresh Produce

Abstract

Minimally processed produce is frequently contaminated with foodborne bacterial pathogens. Power ultrasound is a non-thermal and cost-effective technology that can be combined with other chemical sanitization methods. This study investigated the reduction of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Newport on grape tomato, romaine lettuce, and spinach washed with water, chlorine, or peroxyacetic acid alone or in combination with 25 or 40 kHz power ultrasound for 1, 2, or 5 min. Produce items were inoculated with either pathogen at 10 log CFU/g, dried for 2 h, and treated. Combined treatment of ultrasound and sanitizers resulted in 1.44-3.99 log CFU/g reduction of L. monocytogenes and 1.35-3.62 log CFU/g reduction of S. Newport, with significantly higher reductions observed on grape tomato. Synergistic effects were achieved with the hurdle treatment of power ultrasound coupled with the chemical sanitizers when compared to the single treatments; an additional 0.48-1.40 log CFU/g reduction of S. Newport was obtained with the addition of power ultrasound on grape tomato. In general, no significant differences were observed in pathogen reductions between the ultrasound frequencies, the sanitizers, or the treatment lengths. Results from this study suggest that incorporation of power ultrasound into the current washing procedure may be beneficial for the reduction, but not elimination, of bacterial pathogens on certain produce items, including tomatoes.

Keywords: L. monocytogenes; S. Newport; chemical sanitizers; fresh produce; hurdle technology; power ultrasound.

Figure 1

Population dynamics of Salmonella enterica Newport 36796 on grape tomato treated with water (W), water with 25/40 kHz ultrasound (W25/40U), chlorine (C), chlorine with 25/40 kHz ultrasound (C25/40U), peroxyacetic acid (P), and peroxyacetic acid with 25/40 kHz ultrasound (P25/40U) for 1, 2, and 5 min. Data are represented as mean and standard deviation (n = 8). Selected statistical analysis results on the figure depict significant differences between population reductions on grape tomatoes treated with the same washing solution with and without ultrasound; * indicates significant differences in populations. All other significant differences are indicated in the text.

Figure 2

Population dynamics of Salmonella enterica Newport 36796 on spinach treated with water (W), water with 25/40 kHz ultrasound (W25/40U), chlorine (C), chlorine with 25/40 kHz ultrasound (C25/40U), peroxyacetic acid (P), or peroxyacetic acid with 25/40 kHz ultrasound (P25/40U) for 1, 2, or 5 min. Data are represented as mean and standard deviation (n = 8). Selected statistical analysis results on the figure depict significant differences between population reductions on spinach treated with the same washing solution with and without ultrasound; * indicates significant differences in populations. All other significant differences are indicated in the text.

Figure 3

Population dynamics of Salmonella enterica Newport 36796 on iceberg lettuce treated with water (W), water with 25/40 kHz ultrasound (W25/40U), chlorine (C), chlorine with 25/40 kHz ultrasound (C25/40U), peroxyacetic acid (P), or peroxyacetic acid with 25/40 kHz ultrasound (P25/40U) for 1, 2, or 5 min. Data are represented as mean and standard deviation (n = 8). Selected statistical analysis results on the figure depict significant differences between population reductions on iceberg lettuce treated with the same washing solution with and without ultrasound; * indicates significant differences in populations. All other significant differences are indicated in the text.

Figure 4

Population dynamics of Listeria monocytogenes LS810 on grape tomato treated with water (W), water with 25/40 kHz ultrasound (W25/40U), chlorine (C), chlorine with 25/40 kHz ultrasound (C25/40U), peroxyacetic acid (P), or peroxyacetic acid with 25/40 kHz ultrasound (P25/40U) for 1, 2, or 5 min. Data are represented as mean and standard deviation (n = 8). Selected statistical analysis results on the figure depict significant differences between population reductions on grape tomato treated with the same washing solution with and without ultrasound; * indicates significant differences in populations. All other significant differences are indicated in the text.

Figure 5

Population dynamics of Listeria monocytogenes LS810 on spinach treated with water (W), water with 25/40 kHz ultrasound (W25/40U), chlorine (C), chlorine with 25/40 kHz ultrasound (C25/40U), peroxyacetic acid (P), or peroxyacetic acid with 25/40 kHz ultrasound (P25/40U) for 1, 2, or 5 min. Data are represented as mean and standard deviation (n = 8). Selected statistical analysis results on the figure depict significant differences between population reductions on spinach treated with the same washing solution with and without ultrasound; * indicates significant differences in populations. All other significant differences are indicated in the text.

Figure 6

Population dynamics of Listeria monocytogenes LS810 on iceberg lettuce treated with water (W), water with 25/40 kHz ultrasound (W25/40U), chlorine (C), chlorine with 25/40 kHz ultrasound (C25/40U), peroxyacetic acid (P), or peroxyacetic acid with 25/40 kHz ultrasound (P25/40U) for 1, 2, or 5 min. Data are represented as mean and standard deviation (n = 8). Selected statistical analysis results on the figure depict significant differences between population reductions on iceberg lettuce treated with the same washing solution with and without ultrasound; * indicates significant differences in populations. All other significant differences are indicated in the text.