Minimization of water consumption in fresh-cut salad washing by UV-C light. (April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ignat, Alexandra; Manzocco, Lara; Bartolomeoli, Ingrid; Maifreni, Michela; Nicoli, Maria Cristina
• Is Part Of: Food control. Volume 50(2015:Apr.)
• Page Start: 491
• Page End: 496
• Publication Date: 2015-04
• Subjects: Sanitation -- Ultraviolet -- Recycling -- Penetration depth -- Lettuce; Food -- Quality -- Periodicals; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food handling -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Quality control -- Periodicals; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Qualité -- Contrôle -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Qualité -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Analyse -- Périodiques; Hygiène alimentaire -- Périodiques; Food -- Analysis; Food handling; Food -- Quality; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 664.07
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2014.09.036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0956-7135

Abstract

Abstract: The decontamination effect of UV-C light at increasing fluence up to 1.2 kJ/m 2 was studied with reference to natural microflora and inoculated pathogens in lamb's lettuce wash water. UV-C light dose of 0.4 kJ/m 2 allowed to inactivate most of the native microflora and to achieve more than 5- Log-reductions in inoculated microorganisms ( Salmonella enterica, Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli ). In multiple washing cycles up to 5, UV-C light treatment allowed to obtain more than 3-log reductions in native microflora in wash water. Spectral properties indicated that, independently on the number of recycling cycles, a considerable amount of UV-C light can penetrate wash water if its thickness is lower than circa 1 cm. Highlights: UV-C light allows decontamination of wastewater from salad washing. UV-C light at 0.4 kJ/m 2 promoted 5-Log reductions in inoculated pathogens. Wastewater spectral properties do not impair UV-C light decontamination efficacy. Decontaminated wastewater can be recycled for up to 5 washing cycles.