Decontamination Effect of Electrolyzed Water Washing on Fruits and Vegetables

Abstract

Keywords: electrolyzed water, microbial reduction, fruits and vegetables

Effective pretreatment technologies for fresh foods aimed for use in central kitchen processing

“…In addition to removing these impurities, cleaning should also properly remove microorganisms on the surface of fresh foods. 1 Effective cleaning and decontamination processes are therefore an essential task of a central kitchen. With a reduced number of microorganisms, finished or semi-finished products can have extended shelf life and well-maintained nutritional quality.…”

“…Cl 2 and NaClO can generate toxic by-products, such as trihalomethanes, chloroform, chloramines, and chlorophenols. 1,5 Cl 2 -containing wastewater not only pollutes the environment, but also causes human skin and respiratory diseases and cancer. Chemical pretreatments also require a large amount of water.…”

“…Slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) is generated by passing diluted NaCl or HCl solution through an electrolytic cell without a membrane between the two electrodes, in which the main form of Cl is HClO. 1,[39][40][41] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of systems producing AEW, BEW, and SAEW. 39 Table 1 lists the pH and oxidation-reduction potential of these waters.…”

“…39 Table 1 lists the pH and oxidation-reduction potential of these waters. 1,41 Electrolyzed water can effectively reduce the number of microorganisms in foods and be used in lieu of NaClO and peroxyacetic acid. Electrolyzed water contains a low concentration of active Cl, which is converted into ordinary water when contacted with organic substances.…”

“…42 Electrolyzed water not only destroys the cell membranes of microorganisms, but HClO in the solution formed can also help destroy the electron respiratory transport chain of microorganisms. 1 Puligundla et al, 43 who washed broccoli sprouts with AEW and studied its cleaning effect, found that the best cleaning time was 20 s. AEW could effectively reduce the number of harmful microorganisms in broccoli sprouts, and their quality was not significantly altered after washing with the electrolyzed water. The cleaning effect can be even more effective when electrolyzed water and ultrasound are used together.…”