Combining sanitizers and nonthermal processing technologies to improve fresh-cut produce safety

Battling microbes: disinfecting water during fresh-cut lettuce processing

“…Similar to our study, the ability for E. coli to persist on the lettuce after PAA use has been reported (Al-Nabulsi, Osaili, Obaidat, Shaker, Awaisheh and Holley, 2014; Rodgers, Cash, Siddiq and Ryser, 2004;. The microbial load can be reduced about 1-2 logs with washing and disinfection (Doona, Feeherry, Feng, Grove, Krishnamurthy, Lee, Kustin, Pillai and Shayanfar, 2015;Fatica and Schneider, 2009); however, the notion that disinfectants such as PAA can be used to decontaminate lettuce to ensure end-product safety is misleading. Instead, the need to disinfect the wash water with, e.g., a PAA solution, is to prevent potential crosscontamination during washing.…”

The Portable Chemical Sterilizer (PCS), D-FENS, and D-FEND ALL: Novel Chlorine Dioxide Decontamination Technologies for the Military

“…The PCS technology proceeds from where no commercial device existed previously and generates the disinfectant chlorine dioxide (ClO 2 ) that has a proven ability to kill vegetative pathogens on fresh produce 3,6,[9][10][11][12][13]15 or to decontaminate bacterial spores. 6,14,15,17 The PCS has been laboratory validated specifically to effectuate sterilization against live cultures of Geobacillus stearothermophilus (GS) spores (see related reference 8 ) and spore bio-indicators of G. stearothermophilus and Bacillus atrophaeus (BA) 6,15,16 .…”

“…6,14,15,17 The PCS has been laboratory validated specifically to effectuate sterilization against live cultures of Geobacillus stearothermophilus (GS) spores (see related reference 8 ) and spore bio-indicators of G. stearothermophilus and Bacillus atrophaeus (BA) 6,15,16 . The PCS has also been adapted to operate with less stringent conditions to ensure Food Safety by inactivating the vegetative pathogens Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli on fresh produce, such as whole tomatoes, and to extend the shelf-life of fresh-cut produce, for example, by inactivating the polyphenoloxidase browning enzyme in sliced apples 6,15 . To generate chlorine dioxide, the PCS uses novel effector chemistry that proceeds via oxidation-reduction reactions at near-neutral pH, thus eliminating the use of acids and the inherent difficulties of shipping, storing, handling, and disposing acidic wastes in far-forward military deployments 1,2,4,17 .…”

“…post-reaction dilution) to generate aqueous chlorine dioxide, primarily in a collapsible spray bottle for decontaminating surfaces of Army materiel, food handling equipment and field feeding equipment in Army field kitchens and sanitation centers and Navy Galleys, medical units, showers, and latrines anywhere large numbers of deployed personnel co-exist in close proximity 5,6 . Validation testing showed that D-FENS eliminates the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, a common foodborne pathogen, on porous surfaces 1.…”

“…The following ensemble of novel, 'clean and green' chlorine dioxide technologies are versatile and flexible to adapt to meet a number of critical military needs for decontamination 6,15 . Specifically, the Portable Chemical Sterilizer (PCS) was invented to meet urgent battlefield needs and close critical capability gaps for energy-independence, lightweight portability, rapid mobility, and rugged durability in high intensity forward deployments 3 .…”