Effectiveness of chlorine and nisin-edta treatments of whole melons and fresh-cut pieces for reducing native microflora and extending shelf-life

Efficacy of nisin-EDTA treatments as a sanitizing treatment for reducing native microflora of whole melons and extending shelf-life of fresh-cut pieces was compared to chlorine treatments. Whole cantaloupe and honeydew melons were washed with water, nisin (10 μg/mL)-EDTA (0.02 M), or 200 ppm chlorine for 5 min at ∼ 20C before fresh-cut preparation and storage at 5C for 15 days with periodic microbiological sampling. In addition, some fresh-cut pieces were washed with 10 μg/mL nisin-EDTA or 50 ppm chlorine for 1 min before storage. Changes in appearance, odor, overall acceptability and the shelf-life of the minimally processed fresh-cut melons were investigated. Preliminary studies indicated that water washes, EDTA (0.002 to 0.2 M) or nisin (5 to 10 μg/mL) were not effective in reducing the microflora of whole melon when used individually. Nisin-EDTA and chlorine treatments were significantly (P 0.05) different from each other throughout the storage period (15 to 21 days). However, both treatments led to significantly (P < 0.05) improved ratings compared to the controls for the fresh-cut pieces at 9 to 12 days of storage and thereafter. The results of this study suggest that treatments with nisin-EDTA before and after fresh-cut processing would improve the quality and extend the shelf-life of fresh-cut melon.

[1]  G. M. Sapers,et al.  INFLUENCE OF WASHING TREATMENT ON NATIVE MICROFLORA AND ESCHERICHIA COLI POPULATION OF INOCULATED CANTALOUPES , 2001 .

[2]  A. King,et al.  Microbial Studies on Shelf Life of Cabbage and Coleslaw , 1976, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[3]  Z. Ayhan,et al.  THE SHELF‐LIFE OF MINIMALLY PROCESSED FRESH CUT MELONS , 1998 .

[4]  L. Shelef,et al.  Sensitivity of Six Strains of Listeria monocytogenes to Nisin. , 1997, Journal of food protection.

[5]  A. King,et al.  Microflora of partially processed lettuce , 1990, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[6]  William C Hurst,et al.  Fresh Produce Processing -- an Industry Perspective. , 1992, Journal of food protection.

[7]  S. Mannino,et al.  Determination of mercury in fish muscle by square wave voltammetry. , 1990 .

[8]  R. Brackett,et al.  Shelf Stability and Safety of Fresh Produce as Influenced by Sanitation and Disinfection. , 1992, Journal of food protection.

[9]  W. Sandine,et al.  Inhibitory action of nisin against Listeria monocytogenes. , 1988, Journal of dairy science.

[10]  G. Reuter.  Elective and selective media for lactic acid bacteria , 1985 .

[11]  H. Sahl,et al.  Mode of action of the peptide antibiotic nisin and influence on the membrane potential of whole cells and on cytoplasmic and artificial membrane vesicles , 1985, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

[12]  C. Willemot,et al.  Microbial Changes in Shredded Iceberg Lettuce Stored under Controlled Atmospheres , 1991 .

[13]  T. Montville,et al.  Nisin dissipates the proton motive force of the obligate anaerobe Clostridium sporogenes PA 3679 , 1992, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[14]  K. Seo,et al.  Attachment of Escherichia coli O157:H7 to lettuce leaf surface and bacterial viability in response to chlorine treatment as demonstrated by using confocal scanning laser microscopy. , 1999, Journal of food protection.

[15]  J. M. Madden,et al.  Microbial Pathogens in Fresh Produce -- the Regulatory Perspective. , 1992, Journal of food protection.

[16]  D. E. Green,et al.  The Mode of Action of Chlorine , 1946 .

[17]  J. Austin,et al.  Development of bacterial biofilms in dairy processing lines , 1995, Journal of Dairy Research.

[18]  B. Sheldon,et al.  Effect of Treatment Conditions on Nisin Inactivation of Gram-negative Bacteria. , 1992, Journal of food protection.

[19]  C. Nguyen-the,et al.  The microbiology of minimally processed fresh fruits and vegetables. , 1994, Critical reviews in food science and nutrition.

[20]  B. Sheldon,et al.  Nisin treatment for inactivation of Salmonella species and other gram-negative bacteria , 1991, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[21]  Benjamin W. Lykins,et al.  Chemical by-products of chlorine and alternative disinfectants , 1998 .

[22]  J. Crouse,et al.  Effects of nisin on growth of bacteria attached to meat , 1989, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[23]  R. L. Shewfelt,et al.  Changes in appearance and natural microflora on iceberg lettuce treated in warm, chlorinated water and then stored at refrigeration temperature , 2001 .

[24]  Jeffrey K. Brecht,et al.  PHYSIOLOGY OF LIGHTLY PROCESSED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES , 1993, HortScience.

[25]  L. Beuchat,et al.  Microbiological and Sensory Quality Changes in Unwrapped and Wrapped Sliced Watermelon. , 1988, Journal of food protection.

[26]  A. L. Ford,et al.  Shelf Life of Minimally Processed Honeydew, Kiwifruit, Papaya, Pineapple and Cantaloupe , 1994 .

[27]  Yijun Chen,et al.  Mechanistic action of pediocin and nisin: recent progress and unresolved questions , 1998, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology.

[28]  M. Boyette,et al.  Chlorination and Postharvest Disease Control , 1993 .

[29]  J. Wells,et al.  In vitro Inhibition of Soft-Rotting Bacteria by EDTA and Nisin and in vivo Response on Inoculated Fresh Cut Carrots. , 1998, Plant disease.

[30]  C. Cutter,et al.  Population Reductions of Gram-Negative Pathogens Following Treatments with Nisin and Chelators under Various Conditions. , 1995, Journal of food protection.

[31]  J. Frank,et al.  Surface-adherent Growth of Listeria monocytogenes is Associated with Increased Resistance to Surfactant Sanitizers and Heat. , 1990, Journal of food protection.

[32]  Martin R. Adams,et al.  Factors affecting the efficacy of washing procedures used in the production of prepared salads , 1989 .

[33]  Neelima Garg,et al.  Effect of Processing Conditions on the Microflora of Fresh-Cut Vegetables. , 1990, Journal of food protection.

[34]  G. Jung.  Lantibiotics—Ribosomally Synthesized Biologically Active Polypeptides containing Sulfide Bridges and α,β‐Didehydroamino Acids , 1991 .

[35]  B. Sheldon,et al.  Antimicrobial action of nisin against Salmonella typhimurium lipopolysaccharide mutants , 1992, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[36]  E. Gross,et al.  The structure of nisin. , 1971, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[37]  C. Nguyen-the,et al.  Factors affecting the growth of Listeria monocytogenes on minimally processed fresh endive. , 1995, The Journal of applied bacteriology.

[38]  T. Montville,et al.  Depletion of proton motive force by nisin in Listeria monocytogenes cells , 1992, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[39]  Larry R. Beuchat,et al.  Pathogenic Microorganisms Associated with Fresh Produce. , 1996, Journal of food protection.

[40]  H. P. Fleming,et al.  Sensitivity and Resistance of Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19115, Scott A, and UAL500 to Nisin. , 1991, Journal of food protection.

[41]  P. M. Manvell,et al.  Rapid detection of microbial growth in vegetable salads at chill and abuse temperatures , 1986 .