Three retail-scale, gravity-fed slicers (model SE 12, Bizerba,
Piscataway, NJ) were used in this study. This slicer model was
selected after surveying the deli departments of local grocery
stores. The main body of the slicers was forged with one piece of
anodized aluminum. The blade equipped on the mechanical slicers
was 13 in. (33 cm) in diameter, running at 266 revolutions per
minute (rpm) and made of chromium-coated hard alloy. The three
slicers were new and used for the first time in this study. Before and
after each use, slicers were cleaned with detergent, rinsed with
sterile distilled water, and treated with 70% ethanol. After ethanol
evaporation (ca. 20 min), sterile distilled water was sprayed on the
slicers to remove the ethanol residual. The slicers were air dried at
21 C for 24 h before use.