Effect of concentrations of oxygen and/or carbon dioxide on the microbial growth control in fresh-cut lemongrass
Worada Samosornsuk, Apita Bunsiri and Seksun Samosornsuk
Abstracts, 10th International Controlled & Modified Atmosphere Research Conference, 4-7 April 2009, Antalya, Turkey. 80 pages.
2009
บทคัดย่อ
Cut lemongrasses (20 cm) treated with warm water (55°C) for 5 min and hydrocooling at 3°C for 5 min are packed in a polyethylene bags filled with different concentrations of oxygen (O2) and/or carbon dioxide (CO2) in the 1st day of and kept at 5°C; 90±5% RH for 3 weeks. Microbial growth is monitored at 7, 14, and 21 days. It is found that 5% O2 and all gas mixtures are effective in controlling coliforms and fecal coliforms up to 15 days. E. coli growth is inhibited in the mixture of 1%O2 and 10%CO2 and the mixture of 5%O2 and 10%CO2. Yeast and Salmonella are inhibited in all gas mixtures within 7 days and 14 days, respectively. The gas mixtures are ineffective in controlling fungal included yeast and mold growth within 15 days. It is concluded that the storage of freshly-cut lemon grass up to 14 days under the controlled atmosphere where the bacterial growth is minimal.