Evaluation of Microwave and Ozone Disinfections on the Color Characteristics of Iranian Export Raisins through an Image Processing Technique.

Raisins are one of the most important Iranian export products but are threatened by various storage pests. Because of the disadvantages of fumigants, we evaluated alternative microwave and ozone methods for their disinfection and the side effects on raisin qualities. To perform microwave disinfection, the studied raisin samples were exposed to microwave powers of 450, […]

Interaction of Gaseous Chlorine Dioxide and Mild Heat on the Inactivation of Salmonella on Almonds.

The interactive effects of mild heat and gaseous chlorine dioxide (ClO2) on populations of Salmonella on almonds were studied. Almonds, dip inoculated with a two-strain cocktail of attenuated Salmonella Typhimurium, were treated with three concentrations of ClO2 at ambient temperature (ca. 22°C), and at 45, 50, 55, and 60°C for 4 h and with more than 90% relative humidity. Concentrations of ClO2 during treatments […]

Effect of Food Structure, Water Activity, and Long-Term Storage on X-Ray Irradiation for Inactivating Salmonella Enteritidis PT30 in Low-Moisture Foods.

Recent outbreaks and recalls of low-moisture foods contaminated with Salmonella have been recognized as a major public health risk that demands the development of new Salmonella mitigation strategies and technologies. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of X-ray irradiation for inactivating Salmonella on or in almonds (kernels, meal, butter), dates (whole fruit, paste), and wheat (kernels, flour) at various water activities (aw) […]

Growth of Salmonella and Other Foodborne Pathogens on Inoculated Inshell Pistachios during Simulated Delays between Hulling and Drying.

During harvest, pistachios are hulled, separated in water into floater and sinker streams (in large part on the basis of nut density), and then dried before storage. Higher prevalence and levels of Salmonella were previously observed in floater pistachios, but contributing factors are unclear. To examine the behavior of pathogens on hulled pistachios during simulated drying delays, floater and sinker pistachios collected from commercial […]

Modeling the Risk of Salmonellosis from Consumption of Peanuts in the United States.

Peanut products were the target of the largest food recall in United States history from 2008 to 2009, with more than 3,200 products implicated, economic losses estimated at $1 billion, and more than 700 reported illnesses and 9 deaths. Predictive modeling tools such as quantitative microbial risk assessment can be used to aid processors in making […]

Microwave Application for Controlling Oryzaephilus surinamensis Insects Infesting Dried Figs and Evaluation of Product Color Changes Using an Image Processing Technique.

In this study, microwave heating was employed for controlling Oryzaephilus surinamensis adult beetles infesting stored Iranian dried figs. The dried fig samples were artificially infested with O. surinamensis and then heated in a microwave oven (2,450 MHz) at power outputs of 450, 720, and 900 W for 20, 30, 40, and 50 s. Changes in the color of the […]

Growth of Salmonella on Inoculated Inhull Pistachios during Postharvest Handling.

Salmonella has been isolated from dried pistachios in both postharvest and retail surveys. The source of Salmonella in pistachios is unknown, but introduction is possible at points during production, harvest, and postharvest activities. To examine the behavior of Salmonella on pistachios during simulated postharvest conditions, early-, mid-, and late-season inhull pistachios were collected from two commercial processors over five different harvests. Pistachios were inoculated with […]