Effects of chlorine and peroxyacetic acid wash treatments on growth kinetics of Salmonella in fresh-cut lettuce.

Fresh-cut produces are often consumed uncooked, thus proper sanitation is essential for preventing cross contamination. The reduction and subsequent growth of Salmonella enterica sv Thompson were studied in pre-cut iceberg lettuce washed with simulated wash water (SWW), sodium hypochlorite (SH, free chlorine 25 mg/L), and peroxyacetic acid (PAA, 80 mg/L) and stored for 9 days under modified atmosphere at 9, 13, and 18 °C. Differences in reduction between SH and PAA were non-existent.

Lignocellulose Nanofibre Obtained from Agricultural Wastes of Tomato, Pepper and Eggplants Improves the Performance of Films of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) for Food Packaging.

Films formulated with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) (synthetic biopolymer) were reinforced with lignocellulose nanofibres (LCNF) from residues of vegetable production (natural biopolymer). The LCNF were obtained by mechanical and chemical pre-treatment by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO) and added to the polyvinyl alcohol (polymer matrix) with the aim of improving the properties of the film for use in food packaging. The mechanical properties, crystallinity, thermal resistance, chemical structure, antioxidant activity, water barrier properties and optical properties (transparency and UV barrier), were evaluated.

Cellulose Nanofibers from Olive Tree Pruning as Food Packaging Additive of a Biodegradable Film.

A biodegradable packaging film containing cellulose nanofibers from olive tree pruning, a by-product of olives production, was obtained using a solvent casting method. Nanocellulose was added to polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to enhance the technological properties of the composite film as food packaging material. Nanocellulose was obtained from unbleached and bleached pulp through a mechanical and TEMPO pretreatment.

Valorisation of L. Olive Leaves through the Evaluation of Their Extracts: Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity.

L. leaves constitute a source of bioactive compounds with recognized benefits for both human health and technological purposes. In the present work, different extracts from olive leaves were obtained by the application of two extraction methods, Soxhlet and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), and six solvents (distilled water, ethanolic and glycerol mixtures solvents).

Modelling of the Behaviour of Reading on Commercial Fresh-Cut Iceberg Lettuce Stored at Different Temperatures.

The aim of this study was to model the growth and survival behaviour of Reading and endogenous lactic acid bacteria on fresh pre-cut iceberg lettuce stored under modified atmosphere packaging for 10 days at different temperatures (4, 8 and 15 °C). The Baranyi and Weibull models were satisfactorily fitted to describe microbial growth and survival behaviour, respectively. Results indicated that lactic acid bacteria (LAB) could grow at all storage temperatures, while .

Horticultural Plant Residues as New Source for Lignocellulose Nanofibers Isolation: Application on the Recycling Paperboard Process.

Horticultural plant residues (tomato, pepper, and eggplant) were identified as new sources for lignocellulose nanofibers (LCNF). Cellulosic pulp was obtained from the different plant residues using an environmentally friendly process, energy-sustainable, simple, and with low-chemical reagent consumption. The chemical composition of the obtained pulps was analyzed in order to study its influence in the nanofibrillation process.

Study of the microbiological quality, prevalence of foodborne pathogens and product shelf-life of Gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) and Sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) from aquaculture in estuarine ecosystems of Andalusia (Spain).

This study was aimed at characterizing microbiologically Gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) and Sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) produced in two estuarine ecosystems in Andalusia (Spain): the estuary of the river Guadalquivir (La Puebla del Río, Sevilla) (A), and the estuary of the river Guadiana (Ayamonte, Huelva) (B). The collected fish individuals and water were analysed for hygiene indicator microorganisms and pathogens. The statistical analysis of results revealed that microbial counts for the different microbiological parameters were not statistically different for fish type.

Modelling the combined effect of chlorine, benzyl isothiocyanate, exposure time and cut size on the reduction of Salmonella in fresh-cut lettuce during washing process.

This work aimed to study the effect of the combination of Sodium hypochlorite, the most used disinfectant by the vegetable industry, with a natural antimicrobial, benzyl-isothiocyanate (BITC), considering cutting surface and contact time, on the reduction of Salmonella in fresh-cut produce in washing operations under typical industrial conditions. Overall, the combinations of disinfectant and process parameters resulted in a mean reduction of Salmonella of 2.5 log CFU/g.

PVA/(ligno)nanocellulose biocomposite films. Effect of residual lignin content on structural, mechanical, barrier and antioxidant properties.

Nanocelluloses with and without residual lignin were isolated from wheat straw. In addition, the effect of TEMPO-mediated oxidation on the production of lignin-containing nanocellulose was studied. The different nanocelluloses were used as reinforcing agent in Poly(vinyl alcohol) films.