title: Transfer of foodborne pathogens during mechanical slicing and their inactivation by levulinic acid-based sanitizer on slicers.
abstract: This study investigated the degree of cross-contamination between deli foods and slicers by Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, and Escherichia coli O157:H7, and their inactivation by levulinic acid (LA) plus sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on slicers. The transfer rate of pathogens at 5 locations on the contaminated slicers (scenario I) and on food slices (scenario II) was determined. The antimicrobial efficacy of the LA + SDS sanitizers applied either as a liquid or as foam at three concentrations (0.5% LA + 0.05% SDS, 1% LA + 0.1% SDS, and 2% LA + 0.5% SDS) was determined for decontamination of the pathogens on the slicers at 21 °C. After slicing 10 slices, the pathogens recovered from slicer blades were significantly (P < 0.05) less than the recovery from some other contact locations (scenario I). With an initial inoculum at approximately 8.5 log CFU/blade, the populations of the pathogens transferred from blades to slices decreased logarithmically (R(2) > 0.9, scenario II). Contaminated slicer surfaces sprayed with 1% LA plus 0.1% SDS as a foam (45-55 psi) reduced within 1 min 6.0 to 8.0 log CFU/blade of the pathogens. Results revealed that cross-contamination can occur between deli foods and slicers. Also, LA-based sanitizer applied as foam can be a useful treatment to remove microbial contamination on the slicers.
authors.affiliation: Center for Food Safety, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, 1109 Experiment Street, Griffin, GA 30223, USA.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Doyle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002611:Cheese / Q000382:microbiology; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D005511:Food Handling / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007982:Levulinic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D008461:Meat Products / Q000382:microbiology*; D012475:Salmonella / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants; D007982:Levulinic Acids; C032246:levulinic acid
keywords: Deli; Escherichia coli; Levulinic acid; Listeria; Salmonella; Slicer; Transfer