U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Citrus and Other Subtropical Products Research: Fort Pierce, FL
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    USDA Links
                        USDA Main Page
                                    ARS Main PageSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Southeast Area Fort Pierce, Florida U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory Citrus and Other Subtropical Products Research Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            SUN, XIUXIU - Wayne State Universityitem
                                            Bai, Jinheitem
                                            Ference, Christopheritem
                                            WANG, ZHE - Jilin Universityitem
                                            Narciso, Janitem
                                            ZHOU, KEQUAN - Wayne State University
  Submitted to: Journal of Food Protection
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 2/18/2014
                                    Publication  Date: 7/14/2014
                                    Citation: Sun, X., Bai, J., Ference, C.M., Wang, Z., Narciso, J.A., Zhou, K. 2014. Antimicrobial activity of controlled-release chlorine dioxide gas on fresh blueberries. Journal of Food Protection. 77:1127-1132.Interpretive Summary: Chlorine dioxide can be used as a sanitizer for controlling foodborne pathogens as well as yeasts and molds on blueberries. The findings in this study suggest that chlorine dioxide treatment in active packaging is useful in improving the microbial safety of blueberries and reducing decay during storage without impairing the fruit quality.
                                Technical Abstract: The effect of chlorine dioxide (ClO2) on the safety and quality of blueberries was studied. In vitro studies revealed that both ClO2 gas fumigation and ClO2 water direct contact killed food pathogen bacterium, Escherichia coli and fruit decay pathogen fungus, Colletotrichum acutatum. In vivo studies were conducted using non-inoculated berries and berries inoculated with postharvest decay and food pathogens. Berries were inoculated with either E. coli (5.2 log CFU/g) or C. acutatum (3.9 log CFU/g). Inoculated fruit were dried for 2 h at room temperature, and packed in perforated commercial clamshells, with or without ClO2 pad, and stored at 10°C for up to 9 days. The effect of ClO2 on microbial populations and fruit firmness was monitored during storage. In the inoculation experiment, treatment with ClO2 reduced population of E. coli and C. acutatum by 2.2 to 3.3, and 1.3 to 2.0 log CFU/g, respectively. For the non-inoculated blueberries, initial total aerobic bacteria count (TBC) and yeasts/molds count (YMC) was 4.2 and 4.1 log CFU/g, respectively. ClO2 treatment reduced TBC and YMC by 1.5 to 1.8, and 1.3 to 1.7 log CFU/g, respectively. The firmness of both inoculated and non-inoculated blueberries was maintained by ClO2 treatment. Thus, time-release ClO2 gas technology shows promise as an effective and practical antimicrobial agent in commercial clamshell packaging in blueberry and other fruits.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov