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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania » Eastern Regional Research Center » Food Safety and Intervention Technologies Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #296365
Title: Sterilant gas disinfection of fruits and vegetables

Author
item Annous, Bassam

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/28/2013
Publication Date: 7/28/2013
Citation: Annous, B.A. 2013. Sterilant gas disinfection of fruits and vegetables. Meeting Abstract., IAFP Annual meeting, Charlotte, NC., July 28-31, 2013., Volume 1, Page 1.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Numerous foodborne outbreaks have been associated with the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. Commercial aqueous wash treatments for fresh produce are limited in their ability to inactivate and/or remove human pathogen contaminants. Gases can penetrate into crevices and niches on produce where entrapped microbes could be missed by conventional wash sanitation treatment. Gaseous sanitation treatments hold some promise to penetrate and disinfect hard to reach areas on produce surfaces. This presentation will provide the latest on pros, cons, legalities, and the efficacy of emerging gas sanitation technologies to decontaminate fresh produce.