Antimicrobial coatings, gamma radiation and negative air ionization with ozone control Listeria innocua, Escherichia coli and mesophilic bacteria on ready-to-eat cauliflower florets

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a bioactive edible coating combined with a low ?-radiation dose or negative air ionization (NAI) with ozone on the microbiological quality of ready-to-eat cauliflowers. Results showed that each treatment alone was effective on Listeria innocua, Escherichia coli and mesophilic bacteria. After 7 d, treatment with ?-radiation reduced L. innocua and E. coli of 1.8 and 3.6 log CFU g?1 respectively while NAI + ozone reduced L. innocua and E. coli of 2.0 and 2.8 log CFU g?1 respectively. Mesophilic bacteria were reduced of 1.8 log CFU g?1 after ?-radiation and 1.4 log CFU g?1 after NAI + ozone. This study demonstrated that the bioactive coating acts in synergy with ?-radiation, inducing no bacterial growth of L. innocua and E. coli, as well as a control of the growth of mesophilic bacteria during 7 d. The combination of bioactive coating and NAI + ozone induced an additive effect on L. innocua, E. coli and mesophilic bacteria, and suggests potential antioxidant properties of the coating.SourcesCombined effect of antimicrobial coatings, gamma radiation and negative air ionization with ozone on Listeria innocua, Escherichia coli and mesophilic bacteria on ready-to-eat cauliflower floretsAfia Boumail, Stephane Salmieri & Monique Lacroix INRS-Institute Armand-Frappier, Research Laboratories in Sciences Applied to Food, Canadian Irradiation Center, 531 Blvd. des Prairies, Laval, Quebec H7V 1B7, CanadaPostharvest Biology and Technology, Volume 118, August 2016, Pages 134?140 Picture by www.unperiodico.unal.edu.co