Evaluation of JC9450 and Neutral Electrolyzed Water in Controlling on Fresh Apples and Preventing Cross-Contamination.

Recent multistate outbreaks and recalls of fresh apples due to contamination have increased consumer concerns regarding fresh and processed apple safety. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of two sanitizers, mineral oxychloride (JC9450) and neutral electrolyzed water (NEW), for inactivation of on fresh apples. A 2-min treatment of 0.125% (v/v) JC9450 with 100 ppm free available chlorine (FAC) or NEW with 110 ppm FAC caused 0.9-1.2 log CFU/apple reduction of on both Granny Smith and Fuji apples 24 h post-inoculation. Increasing JC9450 concentration to 0.25 and 0.50% significantly improved its bactericidal effect and reduced on Granny Smith apples by ~2.0 and 3.8 log CFU/apple, respectively, after a contact time of 2 min. At a shorter contact time of 30 sec, the inactivation efficacy of chlorine and 0.25-0.50% JC9450 against on apples was significantly reduced compared with the respective 2-min wash. Furthermore, no was recovered in deionized water prepared antimicrobial wash solution or on non-inoculated apples post-NEW with 110 ppm FAC or 0.125-0.5% JC9450 washes, indicating their ability to prevent cross-contamination. In addition, a 2-min exposure to NEW with 110 ppm FAC and 0.50% JC9450 reduced apple native microbiota including total plate count by 0.14 and 0.65 log CFU/apple, respectively, and yeast and mold counts by 0.55 and 1.63 log CFU/apple, respectively. In summary, attached on apples was difficult to eliminate. JC9450 and NEW demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in on apples and successfully prevented cross-contamination, indicating their application potential in post-harvest washes of apples.