Files
Abstract
Tree fruits have been linked with the outbreaks associated with foodborne illnesses, with recent associations with Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella. These organisms spread through environmental, animal, or human sources, which can occur at any point of the farm-to-fork chain. This study evaluated commercially available sanitizers in reducing Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, and Escherichia coli, in nylon harvest bags as well as wood and plastic bins commonly used in the apple industry. Bacterial inoculated surfaces of nylon, plastic, and wood were treated with peracetic acid (500 ppm), chlorine (500 ppm), silver dihydrogen citrate, for contact times of 1 and 2 min, steam (80-90 psi) for 0.5 and 1 min and chlorine dioxide (70 ppm maximum concentration) for 24 h. Log reduction was compared to the control using analysis of variance with post hoc analysis for significant factors using Tukey’s HSD (p<0.05). Peracetic acid outperformed all sanitizers for L. monocytogenes, while chlorine dioxide showed maximum efficacy for Salmonella and STEC.