Effect of ozone water to reduce pathogenic microorganisms on chopping board

Abstract

The efficacy of ozone water in reducing food-borne pathogenic bacteria on High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and wooden chopping boards in food industry was investigated in this study. 1-5 log reductions of E. coli O157:H7, S. aureus, S. Typhimurium, and B. cereus were observed with increasing concentrations of ozone water. The immersion treatment evidenced superior capability to inactivate food-borne pathogens than washing treatment. The Gram-negative bacteria, such as E. coli O157:H7 and S. Typhimurium, evidenced lower resistance against ozone water than was seen with the grampositive bacteria, which included S. aureus and B. cereus. The sterilizing effects of ozone water on HDPE chopping boards was superior to that on wooden boards. This result might be utilized to remove food-borne pathogens from food contact surfaces in the food industry. ©The Korean Society of Food Science and Technology.