Inactivation of Salmonella enterica Ser. Enteritidis in tomato juice by combining of high-intensity pulsed electric fields with natural antimicrobials

ABSTRACT:  The effect of high-intensity pulsed electric field (HIPEF) treatment (35kV/cm, 4 μs pulse length in bipolar mode without exceeding 38 °C) as influenced by treatment time (200, 600, and 1000 μs) and pulse frequency (100, 150, and 200 Hz) for inactivating Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis inoculated in tomato juice was evaluated. Similarly, the effect of combining HIPEF treatment with citric acid (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0%wt/vol]) or cinnamon bark oil (0.05%, 0.10%, 0.2%, and 0.3%vol/vol]) as natural antimicrobials against S. Enteritidis in tomato juice was also studied. Higher treatment time and lower pulse frequency produced the greater microbial inactivation. Maximum inactivation of S. Enteritidis (4.184 log₁₀ units) in tomato juice by HIPEF was achieved when 1000 μs and 100 Hz of treatment time and pulse frequency, respectively, were applied. However, a greater microbial inactivation was found when S. Enteritidis was previously exposed to citric acid or cinnamon bark oil for 1 h in tomato juice. Synergistic effects were observed in HIPEF and natural antimicrobials. Nevertheless, combinations of HIPEF treatment with 2.0% of citric acid or 0.1% of cinnamon bark oil were needed for inactivating S. Enteritidis by more than 5.0 log₁₀ units (5.08 and 6.04 log₁₀ reductions, respectively). Therefore, combinations of HIPEF with organic acids or essential oils seem to be a promising method to achieve the pasteurization in these kinds of products.