To increase vegetables consumption, minimally processed products such as carrots, lettuce and watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.) are an alternative offered in several food markets. However, throughout agronomic practices, minimal processing and storage periods before consumption the vegetables could be exposed to contamination with pathogenic and spoilage bacteria. UV-C light can be effective in controlling bacterial growth, but limited information is available for watercress
To increase vegetables consumption, minimally processed products such as carrots, lettuce and watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.) are an alternative offered in several food markets. However, throughout agronomic practices, minimal processing and storage periods before consumption the vegetables could be exposed to contamination with pathogenic and spoilage bacteria. UV-C light can be effective in controlling bacterial growth, but limited information is available for watercress sanitation and storability. This study reports the effect of UV-C light (0-25 kJ m-2) on the sensorial, microbial and functional quality of minimally processed watercress. Watercress leaves were inoculated with a nonpathogenic Escherichia coli (ATCC 35218), and stored under active modified atmosphere (5%O2 - 10%CO2) during 12 days. The application of high UV-C doses caused a reduction in E. coli counts (? 8.0 log CFU g-1). Moreover, the application of 15-25 kJ m-2 increased the total polyphenol content and caused slight changes in the visual appearance, turgency and color of watercress leaves. Therefore, high UV-C doses could be an effective tool to decrease bacterial growth and to extend shelf-life of minimally processed watercress. SourcesEffect of the combined treatment of UV-C light and modified atmosphere packaging on microbiological and sensory quality of minimally processed watercressA. Hinojosa1, I. Gatica1, A. Bustamante1, D. C?rdenas1,2, V. Escalona1,21Centro de Estudios Postcosecha. Facultad de Ciencias Agron?micas. Universidad de Chile, Santa Rosa 11315, La Pintana, P.O. Box 1004, Santiago, Chile2Departamento de Producci?n Agr?cola. Facultad de Ciencias Agron?micas. Universidad de Chile, Santa Rosa 11315, La Pintana, P.O. Box 1004, Santiago, ChileV Postharvest Unlimited, ISHS International Conference, 10-13 June 2014, Cyprus, http://web.cut.ac.cy/postharvest/ Picture kindly sent by V?ctor Escalona, different presentations of watercress in a supermarket.