LAUSR

This study investigated the decontamination efficacy of cleaning treatments for whole fresh apples using washes containing surfactants (lauric arginate (LAE), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and Tween 20 (T20)) combined with peracetic acid (PAA), followed by hot air impingement drying. Whole fresh apples ( var . Gala and Granny Smith) were inoculated with Listeria innocua (7 log CFU/mL) using a dipping method, then dried, and subjected to wash treatments with selected cleaning solutions (H 2 O, PAA, PAA-LAE, PAA-SDS, PAA-T20), followed by hot air impingement drying at two different temperature and time conditions: at 93°C for 60 s, or 121°C for 25 s. The H 2 O and PAA wash followed by hot air impingement drying led to a maximum 1.5 log reduction of L. innocua on the fruit surface. Adding surfactants increased the effectiveness of washing-drying treatments resulting in an approximate 2.2 log reduction. Surfactants increased the spreadability and evaporation rate of the cleaning solutions. Post-treatment changes in apple firmness were assessed during a 21-days of storage at 4° and 21°C. The hot air impingement drying had no adverse effect on the firmness of the apples and did not show any further reduction in the L. innocua . Cleaning apples with solutions containing surfactants combined with PAA followed by hot air impingement drying helped to reduce the microbial loads to some extent and may help to reduce the drying times significantly.