Efficiency of electrolyzed oxidizing water on reducing Listeria monocytogenes contamination on seafood processing gloves.

TitleEfficiency of electrolyzed oxidizing water on reducing Listeria monocytogenes contamination on seafood processing gloves.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2006
AuthorsLiu, C, Su, Y-C
JournalInt J Food Microbiol
Volume110
Issue2
Pagination149-54
Date Published2006 Jul 15
ISSN0168-1605
KeywordsColony Count, Microbial, Consumer Product Safety, Disinfection, Electrolysis, Food Contamination, Food Handling, Food Microbiology, Gloves, Protective, Listeria monocytogenes, Oxidation-Reduction, Seafood, Temperature, Time Factors, Water
Abstract

Food processing gloves are typically used to prevent cross-contamination during food preparation. However, gloves can be contaminated with microorganisms and become a source of contamination. This study investigated the survival of Listeria monocytogenes on gloves and determined the efficacy of electrolyzed oxidizing (EO) water for reducing L. monocytogenes contamination on seafood processing gloves. Three types of reusable gloves (natural rubber latex, natural latex, and nitrile) and two types of disposable gloves (latex and nitrile) were cut into small pieces (4 x 4 cm(2)) and inoculated with 5-strain L. monocytogenes cocktail (5.1 x 10(7) CFU/cm(2)) with and without shrimp meat residue attached to surfaces. L. monocytogenes did not survive well on clean reusable gloves and its populations decreased rapidly to non-detectable levels within 30 min at room temperature. However, high levels of Listeria cells were recovered from clean disposable gloves after 30 min of inoculation. Presence of shrimp meat residue on gloves enhanced the survival of L. monocytogenes. Cells of L. monocytogenes were detected on both reusable and disposal gloves even after 2 h at room temperature. Soaking inoculated gloves in EO water at room temperature for 5 min completely eliminated L. monocytogenes on clean gloves (>4.46 log CFU/cm(2) reductions) and significantly (p<0.05) reduced the contamination on soil-containing gloves when compared with tap water treatment. EO water could be used as a sanitizer to reduce L. monocytogenes contamination on gloves and reduce the possibility of transferring L. monocytogenes from gloves to RTE seafoods.

DOI10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2006.02.004
Alternate JournalInt. J. Food Microbiol.
PubMed ID16690154