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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Environmental Microbial & Food Safety Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #270006
Title: Improving produce safety by stabilizing chlorine in washing solutions with high organic loads

Author
item Luo, Yaguang - Sunny
item Nou, Xiangwu
item Millner, Patricia
item Shelton, Daniel

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/27/2011
Publication Date: 6/28/2011
Citation: Luo, Y., Nou, X., Millner, P.D., Shelton, D.R. 2011. Improving produce safety by stabilizing chlorine in washing solutions with high organic loads. Meeting Abstract.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The need for technologies to protect our nation’s food supply and support sustained growth of the produce industry has never been more urgent. The produce industry currently faces a major potential food safety problem, since the chlorine needed to prevent pathogen survival is depleted during commercial wash operations. In this study, a novel chlorine stabilizer, T128, was comprehensively evaluated for its potntial for reducing chlorine degredation and maintaining chlorince efficacy on pathogen survival and cross-contamination during commercial wash operating conditions. Both laboratory and pilot plant studies demonstrated that T128 significantly increases the efficacy of chlorine wash against bacteria cross contamination while maintaining the quality of leafy green vegetables.