Figure 1 and 2 illustrate the number of viableL. monocytogenes
andE. coliO157:H7 cells recovered from whole fruit homogenates
after washing with distilled water, NaOCl solution, or EO water for
various exposure times, and then rinsing with neutralizing buffer
(Figure 1A and 2A) or without neutralization step (Figure 1B and 2B),
respectively. The mean populations ofL. monocytogenesandE. coli
O157:H7 on inoculated whole fruits were 5.16 and 4.99 log10CFU/g,
respectively. Antimicrobial activity of tested disinfectants against
both investigated pathogens was not affected by neutralization after
treatment (P>0.05)