When we simulated a cross-contamination between lettuce
leaves and washing water contaminated with a spoilage bacteria,
there was a reduction in Pseudomonas spp. load with a consequent
delay of 3 days in appearance of spoilage symptoms respect to
untreated contaminated leaves. Rico et al. (2008) reported that
electrolyzed water treatment of fresh cut lettuce, not contaminated
with spoilage bacteria differently from what we did, didn't affect
general appearance of leaves and reduced potential browning and
polyphenol oxidase activity respect to chlorine treatment during
cold storage. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on
effect of electrolyzed water on quality of lettuce leaves crosscontaminated