Efficiency of Ozone Applied in Flow and at Low Pressures in the Inactivation of <i>Salmonella</i> in Black Peppercorns (<i>Piper nigrum</i> L.) and the Effects of Ozone Treatment on Grain Quality and Essential Oil Composition
Food contamination by <i>Salmonella</i> poses a significant public health risk, rendering products unfit for consumption. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of ozone gas (O<sub>3</sub>), applied in flow and at low pressures, in inactivating <i>Salmonella</i&...
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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Series: | Foods |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/13/2215 |
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Summary: | Food contamination by <i>Salmonella</i> poses a significant public health risk, rendering products unfit for consumption. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of ozone gas (O<sub>3</sub>), applied in flow and at low pressures, in inactivating <i>Salmonella</i> on black peppercorns (<i>Piper nigrum</i> L.). Samples were inoculated with a cocktail of four <i>Salmonella</i> serotypes and subjected to ozonation under flow or low-pressure conditions in a hypobaric chamber. For the flow treatment, ozone gas at 16 mg L<sup>−1</sup> was humidified by passing it through a 40% (<i>w</i>/<i>v</i>) sodium chloride solution and applied for 2, 4, and 8 h. For the hypobaric chamber treatment, an inlet O<sub>3</sub> concentration of 60 mg L<sup>−1</sup> was used, with 10, 15, and 20 injections. The results showed that, under flow ozonation for 8 h, <i>Salmonella</i> was absent in 25 g of the sample. Ozone treatment increased pH, total titratable acidity (TTA), antioxidant activity (DPPH*), lightness (<i>L</i>*), color saturation (<i>C</i>*), total phenolic content (TPC), and the concentration of major essential oil compounds in all treatments. Under low-pressure ozonation, <i>Salmonella</i> persisted in all tested conditions, along with changes in color difference (∆<i>E</i>*), moisture content, TTA, DPPH*, <i>L</i>*, <i>C</i>*, pH, TPC, and the concentration of major essential oil compounds. The essential oil yield was not affected. Although the application of ozone at low pressures reduced <i>Salmonella</i> contamination, it was not sufficient for complete inactivation under the tested conditions. However, the flow-applied ozone treatment proved effective in the inactivation of <i>Salmonella</i> in black peppercorns. |
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ISSN: | 2304-8158 |