Survival and Growth of Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Ready-to-Eat Iceberg Lettuce Washed in Warm Chlorinated Water

2002 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 459-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
PASCAL DELAQUIS ◽  
SANDRA STEWART ◽  
SANDRA CAZAUX ◽  
PETER TOIVONEN

Cut iceberg lettuce inoculated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes before and after washing for 3 min in cold (4°C) and warm (47°C) water containing 100 mg/liter total chlorine was stored at 1 and 10°C in oxygen-permeable film packages (6,000 to 8,000 cc/m2/24 h). Cold chlorinated water was detrimental to the survival of E. coli O157: H7 and L. monocytogenes at both storage temperatures. In contrast, washing in warm chlorinated water favored the growth of both pathogens in lettuce stored at 10°C. There was no evidence of a relationship between the magnitude of spoilage microflora and the fate of either bacterium.

2000 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHIA-MIN LIN ◽  
JEONGMOK KIM ◽  
WEN-XIAN DU ◽  
CHENG-I WEI

The bactericidal activity of allyl and methyl isothiocyanate (AITC and MITC) was tested with a rifampicin-resistant strain of Salmonella Montevideo and streptomycin-resistant strains of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes Scott A. Iceberg lettuce inoculated with high (107 to 108 CFU/g) and low (103 to 104 CFU/g) concentrations of bacterial pathogens was treated with AITC and MITC in sealed containers at 4°C for 4 days. AITC showed stronger bactericidal activity than MITC against E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Montevideo, whereas MITC showed stronger activity against L. monocytogenes than E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Montevideo. Up to 8-log reduction occurred with E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Montevideo on lettuce following treatment with vapor generated from 400 μl of AITC for 2 and 4 days, respectively. AITC was used to treat tomatoes inoculated with Salmonella Montevideo on stem scars and skin and apples inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 on stem scars. The bactericidal effect of AITC varied with bacteria species and exposure time. Salmonella Montevideo inoculated on tomato skin was more sensitive to AITC than that on stem scars. Treatment with vapor generated from 500 μl of AITC caused an 8-log reduction in bacteria on tomato skin but only a 5-log reduction on tomato stem scars. The bactericidal activity of AITC was weaker for E. coli O157:H7 on apple stem scars; only a 3-log reduction in bacteria occurred when 600 μl of AITC was used.


2015 ◽  
Vol 78 (7) ◽  
pp. 1288-1295 ◽  
Author(s):  
DIKE O. UKUKU ◽  
LIHAN HUANG ◽  
CHRISTOPHER SOMMERS

For health reasons, people are consuming fresh-cut fruits with or without minimal processing and, thereby, exposing themselves to the risk of foodborne illness if such fruits are contaminated with bacterial pathogens. This study investigated survival and growth parameters of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and aerobic mesophilic bacteria transferred from cantaloupe rind surfaces to fresh-cut pieces during fresh-cut preparation. All human bacterial pathogens inoculated on cantaloupe rind surfaces averaged ~4.8 log CFU/cm2, and the populations transferred to fresh-cut pieces before washing treatments ranged from 3 to 3.5 log CFU/g for all pathogens. A nisin-based sanitizer developed in our laboratory and chlorinated water at 1,000 mg/liter were evaluated for effectiveness in minimizing transfer of bacterial populations from cantaloupe rind surface to fresh-cut pieces. Inoculated and uninoculated cantaloupes were washed for 5 min before fresh-cut preparation and storage of fresh-cut pieces at 5 and 10°C for 15 days and at 22°C for 24 h. In fresh-cut pieces from cantaloupe washed with chlorinated water, only Salmonella was found (0.9 log CFU/g), whereas E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes were positive only by enrichment. The nisin-based sanitizer prevented transfer of human bacteria from melon rind surfaces to fresh-cut pieces, and the populations in fresh-cut pieces were below detection even by enrichment. Storage temperature affected survival and the growth rate for each type of bacteria on fresh-cut cantaloupe. Specific growth rates of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and L. monocytogenes in fresh-cut pieces were similar, whereas the aerobic mesophilic bacteria grew 60 to 80% faster and had shorter lag phases.


2004 ◽  
Vol 67 (6) ◽  
pp. 1092-1103 ◽  
Author(s):  
MEGAN M. LANG ◽  
LINDA J. HARRIS ◽  
LARRY R. BEUCHAT

The effects of method for applying inoculum and of drying time after inoculation on survival and recovery of foodborne pathogens on iceberg lettuce and parsley were studied. Five-strain mixtures of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella, or Listeria monocytogenes were applied to lettuce and parsley by dip, spot, or spray inoculation methods. Inocula were dried for 2 h at 22°C or for 2 h at 22°C and then 22 h at 4°C before being treated with water (control) or chlorine (200 μg/ml). Significantly higher populations (CFU per lettuce or parsley sample) of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella (α = 0.05) were recovered from dip-inoculated produce than from spot- or spray-inoculated produce. This difference was attributed to larger numbers of cells adhering to lettuce and parsley subjected to dip inoculation. Populations of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella recovered from lettuce inoculated by spot and spray methods were not significantly different, but populations recovered from spot-inoculated parsley were significantly higher than those recovered from spray-inoculated parsley, even though the number of cells applied was the same. Significantly different numbers of L. monocytogenes were recovered from inoculated lettuce (dip > spray > spot); populations recovered from dip-inoculated parsley were significantly higher than those recovered from spot- or spray-inoculated parsley, which were not significantly different from each other. Populations of pathogens recovered from lettuce and parsley after drying inoculum for 2 h at 22°C were significantly higher than or equal to populations recovered after drying for 2 h at 22°C and then for 22 h at 4°C. Significant differences (water > chlorine) were observed in populations of all pathogens recovered from treated lettuce and parsley, regardless of inoculation method and drying time. It is recommended that spot inoculation with a drying time of 2 h at 22°C followed by 22 h at 4°C be used to determine the efficacy of chlorine and other sanitizers in killing foodborne pathogens on lettuce and parsley.


2001 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 305-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
YUE LI ◽  
ROBERT E. BRACKETT ◽  
JINRU CHEN ◽  
LARRY R. BEUCHAT

This study determined the effects of mild heat and chlorine treatment followed by storage for up to 18 days at 5°C or 7 days at 15°C on the survival and growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7 inoculated onto fresh-cut iceberg lettuce. The efficacy of treatment with 20 ppm chlorine in killing the pathogen on lettuce at 50°C was determined. Treatment of lettuce with 20 ppm chlorine at either 20 or 50°C did not result in significantly greater reductions in populations of E. coli O157:H7 compared to respective treatments in water without chlorine. The pathogen steadily decreased in viability on treated lettuce throughout subsequent storage at 5°C for 18 days. The population increased by 2.3 to 3.2 log10 CFU/g within 2 days, then continued to increase at a slower rate through 7 days of storage at 15°C. At 4 and 7 days, significantly (α = 0.05) higher populations were reached on lettuce that had been treated at 50°C, compared to respective samples that had been treated at 20°C, regardless of the presence of 20 ppm chlorine in the treatment water. Treatment of lettuce with 20 ppm chlorine at 50 or 20°C before or after inoculation with E. coli O157:H7 did not have a marked influence on behavior of the pathogen during subsequent storage at 5 or 15°C.


2004 ◽  
Vol 67 (11) ◽  
pp. 2443-2449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. HAN ◽  
R. H. LINTON

Survival and growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes in strawberry juice and acidified media at different pH levels (pH 3.4 to 6.8) and temperatures were studied. Sterile strawberry juice (pH 3.6) and acidified trypticase soy broth (TSB) media (pH 3.4 to 6.8) were inoculated with approximately 6.7 log CFU/ml E. coli O157:H7 or 7.3 log CFU/ml L. monocytogenes, incubated for 3 days at 4 and 37°C. Bacterial levels were determined after 2 h, 1 day, and 3 days using surface plating nonselectively on tryptic soy agar and selectively on sorbitol MacConkey agar for E. coli O157:H7 or modified Oxford agar for L. monocytogenes. A spectrophotometer (660 nm) was also used to study growth inhibition of L. monocytogenes in different TSB and strawberry juice media (pH 3.4 to 7.3). E. coli O157:H7 survived well at pH values of 3.4 to 6.8 at 4°C, but the number of injured cells increased as pH decreased and incubation time increased. At 37°C, E. coli O157:H7 was inactivated at pH of ≤3.6 but could grow at pH 4.7. L. monocytogenes was quickly injured at pH of ≤4.7 within 2 h of storage at 4°C and then was slightly and gradually inactivated as storage time increased. L. monocytogenes survived well at pH 6.8 at 4°C and grew well at 37°C. Growth of L. monocytogenes at 37°C was inhibited in TSB by 1% citric acid and 0.5% malic acids at pH 3.4 or by 50% strawberry juice at pH 4.7. Bacterial injury and inactivation appeared to be induced by the acids in strawberry juice. The acids, pH value, temperature, and time were important factors for bacterial survival, inactivation, and growth in the media tested.


2012 ◽  
Vol 75 (8) ◽  
pp. 1394-1403 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARTHA A. KIMBER ◽  
HARBIR KAUR ◽  
LUXIN WANG ◽  
MICHELLE D. DANYLUK ◽  
LINDA J. HARRIS

The survival of Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Listeria monocytogenes was determined on almonds and pistachios held at typical storage temperatures. Almond kernels and inshell pistachios were inoculated with four- to six-strain cocktails of nalidixic acid–resistant Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, or L. monocytogenes at 6 log CFU/g and then dried for 72 h. After drying, inoculated nuts were stored at −19, 4, or 24°C for up to 12 months. During the initial drying period after inoculation, levels of all pathogens declined by 1 to 2 log CFU/g on both almonds and pistachios. During storage, moisture content (4.8%) and water activity (0.4) of the almonds and pistachios were consistent at −19°C; increased slowly to 6% and 0.6, respectively, at 4°C; and fluctuated from 4 to 5% and 0.3 to 0.5 at 24°C, respectively. Every 1 or 2 months, levels of each pathogen were enumerated by plating; samples were enriched when levels fell below the limit of detection. No reduction in population level was observed at −19 or 4°C for either pathogen, with the exception of E. coli O157:H7–inoculated almonds stored at 4°C (decline of 0.09 log CFU/g/month). At 24°C, initial rates of decline were 0.20, 0.60, and 0.71 log CFU/g/month on almonds and 0.15, 0.35, and 0.86 log CFU/g/month on pistachios for Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, and L. monocytogenes, respectively, but distinct tailing of the survival curves was noted for both E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes.


2008 ◽  
Vol 71 (7) ◽  
pp. 1366-1371 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANTONIO BEVILACQUA ◽  
FRANCESCA CIBELLI ◽  
DANIELA CARDILLO ◽  
CLELIA ALTIERI ◽  
MILENA SINIGAGLIA

The metabiotic effects of Fusarium proliferatum, F. avenaceum, and F. oxysporum on Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes in fresh tomatoes were investigated. Tomatoes were preinoculated with the molds and incubated at 15°C for 7 days; then they were inoculated separately with the pathogens, packaged in air and modified atmosphere (5% O2, 30% CO2, and 65% N2), and stored at 4, 8, and 12°C for 9 days. The cell loads of pathogens and lactic acid bacteria and the pH were evaluated periodically. The data were modeled through some different mathematical models to assess the shoulder length, i.e., the time before the beginning of the exponential death phase, the 1-log reduction time (δ), and the pathogen death time (δstand). The preinoculation of tomatoes with the molds enhanced the survival of E. coli O157:H7 by prolonging shoulder length and δ parameters; this effect, however, was not observed for L. monocytogenes. pH values did not undergo significant changes within the storage time, and the lactic acid bacteria increased from 5 to 7 log CFU/g, without significant differences among the storage temperatures or the packaging atmospheres. The results of this research showed that the use of fresh tomatoes colonized by fusaria (even if the contamination is not visible) could increase significantly the risk of outbreaks due to some pathogens that could be on the surface of fruits and vegetables as a result of cross-contamination at home or incorrect postharvest operations.


2011 ◽  
Vol 74 (9) ◽  
pp. 1543-1546 ◽  
Author(s):  
SHIGENOBU KOSEKI ◽  
YASUKO MIZUNO ◽  
SUSUMU KAWASAKI ◽  
KAZUTAKA YAMAMOTO

No information has been available on the prevalence of pathogens in fresh produce in Japan. In the present study, information was collected on the occurrence of contamination by Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Listeria monocytogenes in iceberg lettuce in a Japanese retail store. A total of 419 samples of lettuce that had been harvested in different districts and/or by different producers from July 2008 to March 2009 were examined. A multiplex PCR method was used to simultaneously identify the three bacterial pathogens. No pathogenic bacteria, including Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, and L. monocytogenes, were detected from any of the samples with this highly sensitive and validated procedure. The aerobic bacteria plate counts and coliform bacteria counts in lettuce throughout the examination period did not show any seasonal trends, and the numbers were comparable to those reported by others from around the world. Based on the results of this study, we concluded that none of the three major pathogens were present in this limited survey of iceberg lettuce sold by a retailer in Japan.


2014 ◽  
Vol 77 (9) ◽  
pp. 1487-1494 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANNEMARIE L. BUCHHOLZ ◽  
GORDON R. DAVIDSON ◽  
BRADLEY P. MARKS ◽  
EWEN C. D. TODD ◽  
ELLIOT T. RYSER

Cross-contamination of fresh-cut leafy greens with residual Escherichia coli O157:H7–contaminated product during commercial processing was likely a contributing factor in several recent multistate outbreaks. Consequently, radicchio was used as a visual marker to track the spread of the contaminated product to iceberg lettuce in a pilot-scale processing line that included a commercial shredder, step conveyor, flume tank, shaker table, and centrifugal dryer. Uninoculated iceberg lettuce (45 kg) was processed, followed by 9.1 kg of radicchio (dip inoculated to contain a four-strain, green fluorescent protein–labeled nontoxigenic E. coli O157:H7 cocktail at 106 CFU/g) and 907 kg (2,000 lb) of uninoculated iceberg lettuce. After collecting the lettuce and radicchio in about 40 bags (~22.7 kg per bag) along with water and equipment surface samples, all visible shreds of radicchio were retrieved from the bags of shredded product, the equipment, and the floor. E. coli O157:H7 populations were quantified in the lettuce, water, and equipment samples by direct plating with or without prior membrane filtration on Trypticase soy agar containing 0.6% yeast extract and 100 ppm of ampicillin. Based on triplicate experiments, the weight of radicchio in the shredded lettuce averaged 614.9 g (93.6%), 6.9 g (1.3%), 5.0 g (0.8%), and 2.8 g (0.5%) for bags 1 to 10, 11 to 20, 21 to 30, and 31 to 40, respectively, with mean E. coli O157:H7 populations of 1.7, 1.2, 1.1, and 1.1 log CFU/g in radicchio-free lettuce. After processing, more radicchio remained on the conveyor (9.8 g; P < 0.05), compared with the shredder (8.3 g), flume tank (3.5 g), and shaker table (0.1 g), with similar E. coli O157:H7 populations (P > 0.05) recovered from all equipment surfaces after processing. These findings clearly demonstrate both the potential for the continuous spread of contaminated lettuce to multiple batches of product during processing and the need for improved equipment designs that minimize the buildup of residual product during processing.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Priscila Alves Dias ◽  
Daiani Teixeira Silva ◽  
Cláudio Dias Timm

Resumo Kefir é o produto da fermentação do leite pelos grãos de kefir. Esses grãos contêm uma mistura simbiótica de bactérias e leveduras imersas em uma matriz composta de polissacarídeos e proteínas. Muitos benefícios à saúde humana têm sido atribuídos ao kefir, incluindo atividade antimicrobiana contra bactérias Gram positivas e Gram negativas. A atividade antimicrobiana de 60 microrganismos isolados de grãos de kefir, frente à Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica sorotipos Typhimurium e Enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus e Listeria monocytogenes, foi estudada através do teste do antagonismo. A ação antimicrobiana dos sobrenadantes das bactérias ácido-lácticas que apresentaram atividade no teste do antagonismo foi testada. O experimento foi repetido usando sobrenadantes com pH neutralizado. Salmonella Typhimurium e Enteritidis sobreviveram por 24 horas no kefir em fermentação. E. coli O157:H7, S. aureus e L. monocytogenes foram recuperados até 72 horas após o início da fermentação. Todos os isolados apresentaram atividade antimicrobiana contra pelo menos um dos patógenos usados no teste do antagonismo. Sobrenadantes de 25 isolados apresentaram atividade inibitória e três mantiveram essa atividade com pH neutralizado. As bactérias patogênicas estudadas sobreviveram por tempo superior àquele normalmente utilizado para a fermentação do kefir artesanal, o que caracteriza perigo em potencial para o consumidor quando a matéria-prima não apresentar segurança sanitária. Lactobacillus isolados de grãos de kefir apresentam atividade antimicrobiana contra cepas de E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella sorotipos Typhimurium e Enteritidis, S. aureus e L. monocytogenes além daquela exercida pela diminuição do pH.


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