APCP showed a limited reduction of E. coli in the evaluated fresh
produce under the tested conditions. However, minimum changes
are produced in the color of the product. Inactivation of pathogenic
bacteria, in this case E. coli, seems to be feasible and enhanced using
APCP treatment when oxygen is present in the gas mixture. Indeed,
inactivation could be increased with the right combination of
argon/oxygen gas mixture and voltage, as well as considering other
important factors such as the kind of surface of the product, initial
microbial loads and exposition time. No changes were observed in
the structure of APCP treated lettuce under the tested conditions.
However, the structure of E. coli cells after treatment at 12.83 kV by
10 min showed a totally damaged surface; a high degree of electroporation,
fusion between cells, disruption of cell membrane and
change in shape of the cells were some of the main physical
changes that were observed. As a novel technology, APCP requires
further research, not only in microbial inactivation, but also studies
conducted mainly on the chemical and sensory aspects of foods
after being treated with this resource.