Abstract
Since the surfaces of cantaloupes are highly rough or irregular, bacteria can easily attach and become difficult to remove. Appropriate postharvest washing and sanitizing procedures can help control Salmonella and other pathogens on cantaloupe or other melons during postharvest operations. Delmopinol hydrochloride (delmopinol) is a cationic surfactant that is effective for treating and preventing gingivitis and periodontitis. The application of delmopinol to two cantaloupe cultivars was evaluated for reducing the level of inoculated Salmonella. Athena and Hale's Best Jumbo (HBJ) cantaloupe rind plugs (2.5 cm. dia.) were inoculated with nalidixic acid‐resistant Salmonella Michigan (approx. 1.0 × 109 CFU/ml). After 15 min, rind plugs were sprayed with 10 ml of a delmopinol spray solution (0% or 1.0% vol/vol) and held at 35°C for 1 hr or 24 hr. Rind plugs were diluted with Butterfield's phosphate buffer, shaken and sonicated, and solutions were enumerated on 50 ppm nalidixic acid‐tryptic soy agar. The texture quality and color of additional cantaloupes were evaluated, after 1% delmopinol spray treatment, over 14‐day storage at 4°C. A 1.0% application of delmopinol after 1 hr reduced Salmonella concentration by ~3.1 log CFU/ml for both “HBJ” skin rind plugs and “Athena” stem scar rind plugs in comparison to the control (p < .05). No differences were observed in the texture and color (L*, a*, b* values) of 1% delmopinol‐treated cantaloupes as compared to control. Storage of cantaloupes treated with 1.0% delmopinol solution for 1 hr had a greater effect on reducing concentration of Salmonella compared to 24‐hr treatment. A surface spray application of 1% delmopinol on cantaloupes could be an alternative antimicrobial postharvest treatment that could make surface bacteria more susceptible to sanitizers or physical removal.
Highlights
As production and consumption of fresh fruits, including melons, and vegetables has increased in the United States (FDA 2001, Pollack, 2001), so has the importance of the microbiological safety of these products
Bacterial pathogens which may be present on the rind surface of cantaloupe may be reduced, but are unlikely to be eliminated by washing
Washing or immersing netted melons in water has the potential for pathogen internalization and cross-contamination to other melons (Produce Marketing Association 2013)
Summary
As production and consumption of fresh fruits, including melons, and vegetables has increased in the United States (FDA 2001, Pollack, 2001), so has the importance of the microbiological safety of these products. Illness resulting from contamination of these raw agricultural commodities, melons, has become an increasing concern (CDC 2011, 2012, FDA 2003). Several food safety programs, such as Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), have been implemented to reduce outbreaks in areas from particular production fields. GAPs are guidelines and not “mandatory” for any country or company that wants to export its commodities to the USA (FDA, 1998)
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