Efficacy of Electrolyzed Acidic Water for Disinfection and Quality Maintenance of Fresh-cut Cabbage

Abstract

This study aims to establish a practical procedure of fresh-cut cabbage disinfection with electrolyzed acidic water. The ratio of fresh-cut cabbage weight to treatment water volume and treatment duration were compared between electrolyzed acidic water and sodium hypochlorite solution as a conventional disinfectant to define the conditions of equal bactericidal effects. The time-dependent change in thrihalomethane content was measured with fresh-cut cabbage treated with electrolyzed acidic water or sodium hypochlorite solution. The sodium hypochlorite solution treatment resulted in constant detection of approximately 0.05mg/kg of chloroform throughout the 72-hour storage, but no trihalomethanes were detected even immediately after the electrolyzed acidic water treatment. In the sensory evaluation, more than half of the thirty panelists detected abnormality in the odor and taste of cabbage immediately following the sodium hypochlorite solution treatment, whereas not more than one panelist detected abnormality even immediately after the electrolyzed acidic water treatement. After 60-minute storage following the sodium hypochlorite solution treatment, not more than two panelists detected abnormality in the odor and taste. This clearly indicates that abnormality in odor or taste is not detectable even in presence of residual trihalomethanes. Electrolyzed acidic water can provide an effective treatment without producing trihalomethanes or causing detectable abnormality in odor or taste even if used on foods to be immediately supplied to consumers. (author abst.)