Determination of Transfer Patterns of Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum Planktonic Cells and Biofilms During Mechanical Cutting of Kimchi Cabbage.

Cross-contamination of Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (PCC) from a stainless-steel surface to cabbage (Brassica rapa L. subsp. pekinensis) was evaluated. To investigate the PCC transfer pattern from mechanical knife surfaces to cabbage during 100 cuts, two mathematical models (power and logarithmic model) were fitted to the mean log detection data from cabbage. Overall, regression analysis determined that the best-fitting regression curves of planktonic cells and detached cells from biofilms transferred onto fresh cabbage were Y = 3.7X , RMSE = 0.371 and Y = 4.6X , RMSE = 0.254, respectively. For salted cabbage, the best-fit regression curves of planktonic cells and biofilm were Y = 5.8X , RMSE = 0.209 and Y = 5.4X , RMSE = 0.195, respectively. Our data provide a meaningful indication of the level of PCC cross-contamination.