Effects of organic acids to prolong the shelf-life and improve the microbial quality of fresh cut broccoli florets

This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a combination of specific organic acids for disinfecting fresh cut broccoli floret samples contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes serotype 1/2b and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. In addition, the effects of organic acids on the microbial load of broccoli samples during storage at +4 °C were determined for 7 days. The organic acids tested were acetic, benzoic, sorbic, fumaric, malic, tartaric, lactic and succinic acids and the concentrations used were 1 and 2% (w/v and v/v). L. monocytogenes and S. Typhimurium were grown on the selective media before the contamination. The broccoli samples were dipped first into the pathogen solutions containing L. monocytogenes and S. Typhimurium, then into the organic acids and subsequently counted on Oxford agar and bismuth sulphite agar, respectively. The broccoli samples dipped into the organic acids without pathogen culture were also investigated in terms of total mesophilic aerobic microorganisms,...