Microbial decontamination of onion powder using microwave-powered cold plasma treatments.

Microbial decontamination of onion powder using microwave-powered cold plasma treatments. Food Microbiol. 2017 Apr;62:112-123 Authors: Kim JE, Oh YJ, Won MY, Lee KS, Min SC Abstract The effects of microwave-integrated cold plasma (CP) treatments against spores of Bacillus cereus and Aspergillus brasiliensis and Escherichia coli O157:H7 on onion powder were investigated. The growth of B. cereus, A. brasiliensis, and E. coli O157:H7 in the treated onion powder was assessed during storage at 4 and 25 °C, along with the physicochemical and sensory properties of the powder. Onion powder inoculated with B. cereus was treated with CP using helium as a plasma-forming gas, with simultaneous exposure to low microwave density at 170 mW m(-2) or high microwave density at 250 mW m(-2). High microwave density-CP treatment (HMCPT) was more effective than low microwave density-CP treatment (LMCPT) in inhibiting B. cereus spores, but induced the changes in the volatile profile of powder. Increase in treatment time in HMCPT yielded greater inhibition of B. cereus spores. Vacuum drying led to greater inhibition of spores of B. cereus and A. brasiliensis than hot-air drying. HMCPT at 400 W for 40 min, determined as the optimum conditions for B. cereus spore inhibition, initially reduced the numbers of B. cereus, A. brasiliensis, and E. coli O157:H7 by 2.1 log spores/cm(2), 1.6 log spores/cm(2), and 1.9 CFU/cm(2), respectively. The r...
Source: Food Microbiology - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: Food Microbiol Source Type: research