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The effectiveness of basil oil on the nutritional properties of Cavendish banana and chemical composition of basil oil and oil residue levels of treated banana fruits were evaluated in this study. Cavendish banana hands were treated with 1% alum (w/v), 1% alum (w/v) + 0.4% Ocimum basilicum (basil) oil, distilled water (control) and packaged in Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) bags and stored at a cold room at 12-14ºC. After

Eff ect of alum in combination with vacuum packaging was investigated in controlling crown

Fresh cut (minimally processed) cooking banana variety Alukesel was subjected to different pretreatments, packed in polystyrene packages and stored at 5-7 °C for a week. Effect of several identified pre-treatments on Total Plate Count (TPC) and Total Yeast and Mould counts (TYM) were evaluated. Bacteria isolated from plates were identified using biochemical tests and molecular tools. In pre-treated samples, microbial counts were within safe-to-consume limits. Bacillus cereus, Enterobacter ludwigii and Bacillus thuringiensis were identified from fresh cut samples using molecular tools. Citric acid at 3% w/v effectively controlled bacteria, yeasts and moulds and this observation was significantly different from the control (p<0.05). The present study has shown that 3% citric acid was the most effective pretreatment for minimal processing of Alukesel which controlled bacteria, yeasts & moulds completely. Alukesel pretreated with 3% citric acid was free from food borne pathogens such as Salmonella, Clostridium, Yersinia, and Listeria.