Inhibition of growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in fresh radish (Raphanus sativus L.) sprout production by calcinated calcium.

The inhibitory effect of calcinated calcium on the growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7 during fresh radish (Raphanus sativus L.) sprout production was studied. It was revealed that the addition of 0.4% (wt/vol) calcinated calcium into radish sprouting medium which was artificially contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 (3.0 to 3.2 log CFU/ml) completely inhibited the growth or inactivated the microorganism. When radish seed extract was used instead of radish sprout production, the same extent of growth inhibition or inactivation was observed with much lower amounts (0.07%) of calcinated calcium under similar experimental conditions. The findings suggested that calcinated calcium may be useful to control E. coli O157:H7 contamination during the production of radish sprouts.