This study was conducted to investigate the effect of cold plasma combined with UV-C irradiation against Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes on lettuce. E. coli O157:H7, S. Typhimurium, and L. monocytogenes, corresponding to approximately 5.82, 5.09, 5.65 log CFU/ g, were inoculated on lettuce, respectively. Then, the lettuce was treated with cold plasma, UV-C and combination (cold plasma + UV-C), respectively. The treated lettuce was stored for 9 days at 4oC for microbiological analysis and sensory evaluation. Cold plasma reduced the populations of E. coli O157:H7, S. Typhimurium, and L. monocytogenes by 0.26, 0.65, and 0.93 log CFU/g, respectively. Each microorganism were reduced by 0.87, 0.88, and 1.14 log CFU/ g after UV-C treatment. And, the combined treatment that was treated by cold plasma after UV-C treatment reduced the populations of inoculated microorganisms by 1.44, 2.70, 1.62 log CFU/g, respectively. The all treatment significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the populations of all inoculated bacteria compared to untreated lettuce. UV-C combined with cold plasma was the most effective for reducing the pathogenic bacteria on lettuce, by showing log-reductions of ≥ 2.0 log CFU/g. All treatment was not significantly different until 6 day storage compared to control group in terms of appearance, texture and overall acceptability. Therefore, the combined treatment will be an effective intervention method to control the bacteria on lettuce.

본 연구는 수확시기와 같은 수확 전 요인이 수확 후 신선편이 결구상추의 품질과 미생물 수에 미치는 영향을 구명하기 위하여 수행하였다. 신선편이 가공업체에서 사용하는 결구상추를 5, 6, 7, 10, 12월에 수확하여 관행적인 방법으로 가공한 뒤 필름에 포장하고 5℃에서 9일 동안 저장하면서 품질 조사를 하였다. 미생물 측정을 위한 샘플은 각 단계별(수확, 수송, 가공전, 절단, 1차-세척, 2차-세척, 저장 후 3, 6, 9일)로 수집되었다. 실험 결과 하우스에서 재배되어 5, 10월에 수확된 결구상추는 신선편이 가공 후 포장백 내부의 O2 농도가 낮고 CO2는 매우 높았으며, 제품의 전해질 누출이 높게 나타났다. 반면 노지에서 재배된 6, 7월 수확 및 겨울철 하우스재배인 12월에 수확한 원료 는 비교적 낮은 CO2, 전해질 누출 및 갈변을 나타내었다. 원료상태의 미생물수는 7월(6.76 log)에 가장 높았고, 신선편이 가공 후 저장중의 미생물 증식은 5월 시료에서 가장 높게 나타났다. 이상의 결과로부터 신선편이 결구상추를 고온, 저습조건의 노지에서 재배되어 6월 상순에 수확한 원료를 사용한 경우 품질과 미생물적 안전성이 모두 우수하였다. 반면, 하우스에서 재배되어 10월에 수확한 결구상추를 원료로 사용한 경우 가공 전과 후의 미생물적 안전성은 모두 우수하였으나, 이취가 빨리 발생하여 품질특성이 나쁘게 나타났다. 따라서 연중 고품질의 신선편이 결구상추 생산을 위해서는 품질과 안전성을 동시에 제어하고 원료의 환경에 따른 품질유지 기간을 달리 설정할 필요가 있는 것으로 생각된다.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of fresh-cut lettuce after a washing treatment with aqueous thyme extracts of differing concentration. Four different concentrations of thyme extract were employed: 0.001% (w/v, TEA), 0.005% (w/v, TEB), 0.01% (w/v, TEC), 0.05% (w/v, TED), while distilled water was used as a control. Measurements of O2 concentration, CO2 concentration, total aerobic bacteria, CIE L*, a*, b*, browning index, total phenolic contents and enzymatic activities were investigated on day 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 at 10 . The O2 concentration in TEB were higher than those in other samples during storage, and the CO2 concentration in TEB and TEC were significantly lower than in other samples on day 7. There was no significant difference in the total aerobic bacteria counts between treatments (p<0.05). The samples treated with TEB and TEC showed higher L* (lightness) values, but lower browning indexes, total phenolic compound levels, and enzymatic activities (polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase) than other samples during storage. Specifically, on day 7, the browning index of Cont reached 0.25, while those in the TEB and TEC were about 0.15. The L* in Cont decreased from 69.50 to 58.92, while TEB and TEC were values of 65.61 and 63.20, respectively. These results reveal that 0.005-0.01% thyme extract was effective as a washing treatment inhibited the browning of fresh-cut lettuce and is thus expected to be a useful natural extract for maintaining the quality of fresh-cut lettuce.

This study was investigated the effects of various commercial sanitizers on microbial characteristics in fresh-cut iceberg lettuce during storage. For screening sanitizer, lettuce was cut and dipped in chlorine water (0.2 ml·L-1), solution of organic acids such as ascorbic acid, citric acid, acetic acid, mixture of ascorbic acid and acetic acid (1-6%), and solutions of commercial sanitizers such as Formula 4TM (1,3,4%), Fresh produce washTM (1,3,4%), CleancolTM (1%), ChitocholTM (1%) and Natural CaTM (0.1%) for 3 min, respectively. Washing lettuce with selected sanitizers resulted in reduction of aerobic bacteria of more than 2 log CFU/g. Initial pH of lettuce was related with the pH of sanitizers. pH ranged from 4.7 to 6.1 in Formula 4 (4%, pH 1.7) and Natural Ca (0.1%, pH 12.0), respectively. Chlorine water showed consistent and significant inhibition effect in all of microorganisms except total coliform. Over 3% of Formula 4 and Fresh produce wash were found to have high bactericidal activity among sanitizers. The sanitizers of chlorine water, Fresh produce wash, Chitochol and Natural Ca were effective in reducing yeast and mould populations. As coliform and E. coli, Formula 4 (4%) showed the highest bactericidal activity. The bactericidal effect of commercial sanitizers during storage varied with the kinds and concentrations of tested sanitizers. Although inhibition effect was not showed during storage, these results suggest that commercial sanitizers could be an alternative to chlorine for washing fresh-cut produce.

This study investigated the effect of heat treatments on the quality characteristics of fresh-cut 'Romaine' lettuce by treating in hot water (45, 50, and 55℃) for 2 minutes. Sensory properties, respiration rate, ethylene production, microbial growth, browning index, total phenolics (TP), vitamin C, and antioxidant properties (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays) of samples were evaluated after 5 days at 5℃. All heat treatment conditions tested in this study did not affect the change in TP after storage. Treatment at 45℃ enhanced respiration rate and ethylene production wheres decreased vitamin C content and antioxidant activities. There was no significant difference in browning index at 45℃ treatment. The rapid tissue softening occurred when treated with 55℃ hot water for 2 minutes. The 50℃ heat treatments exhibited the best quality index including texture and color, and inhibited microbial growth and browning after storage. In addition, the 50℃ heat treatment showed the highest vitamin C content and antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP assay) after storage. Therefore, the 50℃ heat treatment can be used to maintain quality and antioxidant property of fresh-cut ‘Romain’ lettuce.

The effect of phytoncide solution treatment on the browning and quality of fresh-cut iceberg lettuce during storage was studied. The treatments were applied as four solutions adjusted at 10℃: distilled water (DW) as the control; edible ethanol (EE); 1% (v/v) phytoncide essential oil from pine needle diluted with distilled water (DP); and 1% (v/v) phytoncide essential oil diluted with edible ethanol (EP). Fresh-cut lettuce was dipped in each solution for 60 sec, was rinsed with distilled water, was packaged with an OPP film bag, and was then stored at 4℃ for 12 days. The EP group had a significantly high level of total soluble solids, titratable acidity, and carbon dioxide, and low total bacteria counts, pH, and oxygen. The sensory score of color in the EP group recorded a high value, but the EE and EP groups recorded low scores in aroma and taste during the storage period. Alcohol and phytoncide were vaporized by opening the package for two hours, and the score of the aroma and taste of EP showed no differences from those of the other groups. Based on the above results, it was determined that the phytoncide essential oil diluted in edible alcohol with 1% solution inhibited the browning of and microbial growth in fresh-cut lettuce, and will be a useful natural compound in maintaining the quality of fresh-cut produce.

Enzymatic action and microbial growth degrade the quality of fresh-cut lettuce. Browning, a bad smell, and softening during storage are the major forms of quality deterioration. Health-oriented consumers tend to avoid foods treated with chemicals to maintain their freshness. This study was conducted to evaluate the change in the quality of fresh-cut lettuce with combined low-temperature blanching (LB) and ultrasonication (US). The optimum condition was selected using the response surface methodology (RSM), through a regression analysis with the following independent variables; the ultrasonication time (X1), blanching temperature (X2), blanching time (X3), and dependent variable; ΔE value (y). It was found that the condition with the lowest ΔE value occurred with combined 90s US and 45℃ 90s LB (US+LB). The combined treatment group (US+LB) was stored at 10℃ for 9 days with the control group and each single-treatment group, with low-temperature blanching and ultrasonication. Overall, the US+LB group had a significantly high L* value, which indicates significantly low a*, b*, ΔE, browning index, PPO, and POD activity values, and a low total bacteria count (p < 0.05). The US+LB group also had the highest sensory score (except for aroma and texture; p > 0.05).

According to lifestyle changes, the consumers’ concern about food also shifts from calories and nutrition to health and convenience. Fresh-cut produce is one of the new turns in the consumption pattern of fruits and vegetables. The increasing demand for it requires processors to make them stable in quality and safe from microorganisms. The results of the evaluation of the production process and hygienic management of fresh-cut lettuce revealed that the facilities used, such as the drainage holes, floors, and door knobs, were severely contaminated with microbes, and that the work equipment, workbenches, landing nets, and centrifuges were highly contaminated. Accordingly, improved production processes and management systems are necessary, as is the implementation of a quality control system from the stage of raw-material purchase to the distribution stage.