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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 #236190
Title: Sanitizer Solutions Containing Detergents for Inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on Romaine Lettuce

Author
item Keskinen, Lindsey
item Annous, Bassam

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/10/2009
Publication Date: 7/12/2009
Citation: Keskinen,L.,Annous,B. 2009.Sanitizer solutions containing detergents for inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on romaine lettuse [abstract].IFP.Grapevine,TX.p.1.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Introduction: Numerous Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreaks have been linked to consumption of fresh lettuce. The development of effective and easily implemented wash treatment could reduce such incidents. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the addition of food-grade detergents to sanitizer solutions for inactivation of E. coli O157:H7 on Romaine Lettuce. Methods: Freshly-cut leaves of Romaine lettuce were dip-inoculated to achieve a final cell concentration of 7.8 ± 0.2 log CFU/g, air-dried for 2 h, and stored overnight at 4C. Leaves were then washed for 2 min in an experimental short chain fatty acid formulation (2CL) or in one of the following solutions with or without 0.2% dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid or 0.2% sodium 2-ethyl hexyl sulfate: 1) deionized water; 2) 100 ppm chlorine dioxide; 3) 100 ppm chlorine; 4) 200 ppm chlorine. Following wash treatment, samples were blended in neutralizing buffer (1:3) and surface plated on the selective media CT-SMAC. Results: The efficacy of wash treatments, with or without the detergents, in inactivating E. coli O157:H7 cells on lettuce leaves were not significantly different. The most effective wash solution was 2CL, which was capable of reducing E. coli O157:H7 populations by more than 5 log CFU/g (none detected by direct plating). The rest of the wash treatments resulted in a population reduction of less than 1 log CFU/g. Significance: The effectiveness of 2CL surpasses that of other sanitizer treatments tested in this study and requires further research to optimize treatments to preserve lettuce quality. Conventional detergents did not enhance the efficacy of any of the wash treatments tested during this study. The addition of such detergents to a conventional commercial wash treatment might not be advantageous.