Susceptibility of Foodborne Pathogens Isolated from Fresh-Cut Products and Organic Vegetable to Organic Acids and Sanitizers

Abstract

신선편의 샐러드와 유기농 채소에 오염되어 있는 식중독균인 B. cereus, S. aureus 그리고 E. coli를 대상으로 살균소독제와 유기산에 대한 감수성을 평가하여 신선편의 식품의 미생물학적 안전성의 확보를 위한 올바른 세척제와 사용량을 제시하고자 하였다. S. aureus는 2% acetic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid와 1% CaO에 대하여 고농도의 염소계, 과산화수소계 보다 높은 살균 효과를 보였고 E. coli의 경우에는 1% acetic acid와 CaO처리에 의해 80%의 분리주가 감소하여 50% 에탄올과 400 ppm 차아염소산나트륨과 대등한 감소율을 보였다. B. cereus 분리주에 대한 1% CaO, 0.5% acetic acid, 2% malic acid와 tartaric acid 처리는 200 ppm의 차아염소산나트륨보다 높은 감소율을 나타내었고, 1%의 과산화수소와 대등한 감소율을 나타내었다. 본 연구에 따라 천연 물질 유래 살균 소독제인 CaO와 유기산은 기존의 화학적 살균제를 대체할 수 있는 천연 살균 소독제로 활용될 수 있을 것이고 특히 환경 친화적이고 안전한 유기산은 고품질의 신선편의 채소를 안전성으로 공급하는데 효과적인 것으로 판단되었다. In this study, we evaluated the ability of various disinfectants to suppress the growth of microorganisms in fresh-cut products and organic vegetable. The growth of more than 50% of B. cereus isolates were suppressed by 50% ethanol, 0.1% hydrogen peroxide, 0.4% sodium hypochlorite or 1% calcium oxide. E. coli generally showed high susceptibility to concentration of 10% ethanol, 0.4% sodium hypochlorite and 1% calcium oxide. Eighty percent or more of S. aureus isolates exhibited resistance to ethanol, hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite, but the isolates were susceptible to concentrations of 1% calcium oxide. All isolates evaluated in this study were sensitive to benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and growth in the presence of <TEX>$2.0{\mu}g/mL$</TEX> of BAC was completely inhibited. These pathogens showed widely different susceptibilities to different organic acids. Greater than 0.5% acetic acid and 2% and higher concentrations of malic acid and tartaric acid inhibited the growth of 60% of the isolates of B. cereus. Two percent acetic acid and tartaric acid inhibited 50% of the S. aureus isolates. Seventy percent of the E. coli isolates were resistant to malic acid and susceptible to 1% acetic acid and 10% tartaric acid. The antibacterial effects of the various sanitizers evaluated in this study were not only dependent on the type of disinfectant but also on the pathogen. Thus, it is important to select a sanitizer that is safe and effective at removing specific types of microorganisms.