
pmid: 23035726
This work is a part of systematic studies of the effect of X-ray treatments on fresh produce. The main objective of this investigation was to study the effects of X-ray treatments in reducing the concentration of artificially inoculated Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes , Salmonella enterica, and Shigella flexneri , and inherent microbiota on parsley leaves. The secondary objective was to study the effects of X-ray treatments on color and texture parameters on treated parsley leaves. The Dip-inoculated method was used to inoculate parsley leaves with a mixture of two or three strains of each tested organism at 10 8 to 10 9 colony-forming unit (CFU)/mL; the inoculated parsley leaves were then air-dried and followed by treatment with different doses of X-ray (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 kGy) at 22°C and 55–60% relative humidity. Surviving bacterial populations on parsley leaves were evaluated using a nonselective medium (tryptic soy agar) with a selective medium overlay for each bacterium: E. coli O157:H7 (CT-SMAC agar), L. monocytogenes (MOA), and S. enterica and S. flexneri (XLD). Approximately 5.8, 3.1, 5.7, and 5.2 log CFU reductions of E. coli O157:H7, L. monocytogenes , S. enterica, and Shigella flexneri were achieved by treatment with 1.0 kGy X-ray, respectively. Furthermore, the populations of E. coli O157:H7, L. monocytogenes , S. enterica, and Shigella flexneri were reduced to less than the detectable limit (1.0 log CFU/g) by treatment with 1.5 kGy X-ray. Treatment with 1.5 kGy X-ray significantly reduced the initial inherent microbiota on parsley leaves, and inherent levels were significantly ( p <0.05) lower than the control sample throughout refrigerated storage for 30 days. No significant differences ( p >0.05) in color or texture of control and treated samples with 0.1–1.5 X-ray were observed. The results of investigation indicated that X-ray is an effective technology to eliminate E. coli O157:H7, L. monocytogenes , S. enterica, and Shigella flexneri, and to extend the shelf life of parsley leaves.
Food Handling, Stem Cells, X-Rays, Colony Count, Microbial, Color, Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli O157, Listeria monocytogenes, Shigella flexneri, Cold Temperature, Plant Leaves, Food Storage, Consumer Product Safety, Food Irradiation, Food Microbiology, Metagenome, Petroselinum
Food Handling, Stem Cells, X-Rays, Colony Count, Microbial, Color, Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli O157, Listeria monocytogenes, Shigella flexneri, Cold Temperature, Plant Leaves, Food Storage, Consumer Product Safety, Food Irradiation, Food Microbiology, Metagenome, Petroselinum
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