# Application of Electrolyzed Water in the Food Industry: A Review
## 2 Application of Electrolyzed Water in the Food Industry
### Antimicrobial Properties of Electrolyzed Water
(v) EW may start losing its antimicrobial activity if it is stored inappropriately or in case of the presence of organic matter in the EW [73]. (vi) While dealing with AEW, corrosiveness, skin irritation on the hands, and phytotoxicity are the major concerns posed due to the high ORP and high free chlorine content [73]. (vii) There is still a need to study ACC after electrolysis, and there no doubt that chlorine is regarded as an active agent of EW. Another obstacle is the generation rate of the EW solutions. Electrolyzed water is utilized to deactivate pathogenic microorganisms in freshly produced commodities. In 1999, electrolyzed water was used to clean freshly cut vegetables and fruits, particularly carrots, apples, oranges, bell peppers, peaches, spinach, cauliflower, radishes, potatoes, and tomatoes [84]. After thinly slicing the produce and their immersion, rinsing, or immersion/blowing with electrolyzed water (EO) (pH: 6.81, without 20.0 mg/L of Cl), the reduction of bacteria was between 0.5 and 2.8 log CFU/g. The electrolyzed water, constituting almost 50 mg/L Cl, strongly affects bacterial mortality, which is more effective than 15-30 mg/L Cl. This remedy will not cause the off-colouring of freshly produced commodities [85]. The rinsed freshly produced agricultural products are then re-treated with electrolyzed water (50 mg/L). Due to the cumulative effect of the sequential treatment, the use of purified water will not affect the reduction process of the bacteria. When rinsing with ER water (pH: 11.3, electrical conductivity: 870 mV) for 5 min and after a further dip in electrically oxidized water (pH: 2.6, electrical conductivity: 1130 mV, available Cl is 30.0 mg/L) for 5 min, the aerobic mesophilic bacteria are reduced. Compared with soaking in electrically oxidized water (30.0 mg/L available Cl), ozone (5.0 mg/L), or NaCl solution (150 mg/L available Cl) only, this method of treatment reduces each colony by at least 2 log CFU. Hence, the 10 min in the study of the sequential washing process also provides an inference that lettuce implemented with electrically oxidized water for a time span of 1 min, preceded by water for 1 min, and only acidic EO water for 10 min, reduced aerobic bacteria by 2 log CFU/g; however, after each trial, electrically oxidized water processing did not involve a considerable increment in bacterial reduction [71; 86]. According to a scientific study, salad was treated with moderately heated ER water (50 \({}^{\circ}\)C) for 5 min, followed by cooling at 4 \({}^{\circ}\)C for 5 min. The results inferred that this remedy can cause a reduction in the level of _Salmonella_ and _E. coli_ O157:H7 by 3.0-4.0 log CFU/g. During the study, freshly cut coriander washed with ozonized water for 5 min, followed by washing with electrically oxidized water (pH--2.45; electrical conductivity--1130 mV; available Cl--15.2 mg/L) for 5 min, effectively reduced the initial count of microbes and slowed down the growth of microbes during storage [87]. Eggshells can be used as a medium for the spread of human pathogens because eggshells may contain _E. coli_ O157: H7, _Yersinia enterocolitis_, _Listeria monocytogenes_, and _Salmonella_. Pathogenic bacteria in incubation plants are usually removed by using glutaraldehyde gases, formaldehyde, atomized hydrogen peroxide, or aldehyde. Hence, disinfecting agents can pose a health risk to chickens and human beings [87; 88]. Electrically oxidized water (pH--2.2; electrical conductivity--1150 mV; available Cl--8.0 mg/L) while using an electrostatically intensified spray system can thoroughly remove _Salmonella_, _Staphylococcus_, and _Listeria monocytogenes_. A study was conducted under conditions where a 15 s wash time with an electrically oxidized spray to sterilize the animal's stomach inducted with fecal material containing _Listeria_, _Salmonella_, and _Campylobacter_[89].