US EPA

4249764 

Journal Article 

Efficacy of gaseous ozone for reducing microflora and foodborne pathogens on button mushroom 

Akata, I; Torlak, E; Erci, F 

2015 

1 

Postharvest Biology and Technology
ISSN: 0925-5214
EISSN: 1873-2356 

109 

40-44 

10.1016/j.postharvbio.2015.06.008 

WOS:000361251200005 

During growth, mushrooms can be contaminated with both saprophytic and pathogenic microorganisms derived from various points of contamination. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of gaseous ozone for reduction of microbial load and elimination of Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia colt O157:H7 on white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus (J.E. Lange) Imbach). Whole mushroom samples were exposed to gaseous ozone up to 60 mm at concentrations of 2.8 and 5.3 mg L-1. The level of yeast and mold population naturally present on mushrooms was reduced more than 1.43 log after ozonation at 5.3 mg L-1 for 45 mm. Exposure to ozone at 2.8 and 5.3 mg L-1 for 60 min yielded 2.44 and 3.07 log reductions in aerobic plate counts, respectively. Initial levels of Salmonella, L monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7 populations on inoculated mushrooms reduced by ranging 2.10 and 2.76 log after 60 min of treatment performed at concentration of 2.8 mg L-1, respectively. Ozonation at 5.3 mg L-1 for 60 mm reduced the initial counts of Salmonella, L monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7 by 3.61, 2.80 and over 3.41 log, respectively. These results suggest that gaseous ozone treatment can improve the microbial safety and postharvest quality of mushrooms. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 

Button mushroom; Ozone; Microbial reduction; Salmonella; Listeria monocytogenes; Escherichia coli O157:H7