title: Evaluation of microbial quality and yeast diversity in fresh-cut apple.
abstract: The present work's aim was to study the microbial quality of minimally processed apples commercialized in Portugal. Sixty eight samples of fresh-cut apple were analyzed before their best-before date in 2011 and 2012 for aerobic mesophilic and psychrotrophic microorganisms, total coliforms, lactic-acid bacteria (LAB), coagulase-positive staphylococci and fungi. The parameters of food safety studied were Cronobacter sakazakii, Salmonella spp. and Listeria sp. Samples were analyzed according to standard methodologies and using Chromocult Agar for coliforms and Escherichia coli. The yeasts were identified by restriction analysis of the ITS-5.8S rDNA-region and 26S rDNA partial sequencing. The mesophilic and psychrotrophic microorganisms ranged from 3.3 to 8.9 and from 4.9 to 8.4 log CFU/g, respectively. Coliforms were detected in all the samples and staphylococci in 5.8% of them. LAB numbers varied from 2.8 to 8.7 and fungi (yeast and molds) from 3.6 to 7.1 log CFU/g. The most common yeasts were Candida sake and Pichia fermentans followed by Hanseniaspora spp., Candida spp., Meyerozyma guilliermondii, Metschnikowia pulcherrima, Cryptococcus spp. and the psychrotrophic Cystofilobasidium infirmominiatum. Foodborne bacteria and opportunistic pathogenic yeasts were not detected in the apples studied. The results obtained respected the European Commission regulation regarding criteria of food hygiene and safety.
authors.affiliation: Universidade do Algarve, Instituto Superior de Engenharia, Campus da Penha and Meditbio Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; Universidade do Algarve, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Campus de Gambelas and ICAAM, Universidade de Évora, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Graça
authors.affiliation: Universidade do Algarve, Instituto Superior de Engenharia, Campus da Penha and Meditbio Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Santo
authors.affiliation: Universidade do Algarve, Instituto Superior de Engenharia, Campus da Penha and Centro de Ciências do Mar da Algarve CCMAR-CIMAR Laboratório Associado, Edifício 7, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Esteves
authors.affiliation: Centro Empresarial Gambelas, Pav. F-16, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: IRTA, XaRTA-Postharvest, Edifici Fruitcentre, Parc Científic i Tecnològic Agroalimentari de Lleida, Parc de Gardeny, 25003 Lleida, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Maribel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abadias
authors.affiliation: Universidade do Algarve, Instituto Superior de Engenharia, Campus da Penha and Meditbio Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal. Electronic address: cquintas@ualg.pt.
authors.forename: Célia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Quintas
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005516:Food Microbiology; D059022:Food Safety; D005658:Fungi / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D027845:Malus / Q000382:microbiology*; D011174:Portugal; D066256:Raw Foods / Q000382:microbiology / Q000592:standards; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification
keywords: Coliforms; Fresh-cut apple; Microbial quality; Spoilage; Staphylococci; Yeasts