Effect of processing conditions on the microflora of fresh-cut vegetables

Abstract

Surveys were made of commercial processing lines used to prepare fresh-cut vegetables such as chopped salad ingredients, carrot sticks, and cauliflower florets. Washing and chlorinated water dips only partially removed the microorganisms that were intrinsic to the vegetables. Major sources of in-plant contamination were the shredders used to prepare chopped lettuce and coleslaw. Gram-negative rods were the predominant microflora with species of Pseudomonas being most numerous; many were psychrotrophic. Only low numbers of lactic acid bacteria and fungi were recovered.