Statistically, there was no difference in the level of Salmonella reduction regardless of UV treatment and the locations of Salmonella
on tomato surfaces. UV at all tested doses exhibited the same statistical pattern regardless of Salmonella locations on tomatoes.
After UV exposure, Salmonella populations were reduced (p < 0.05) to similar levels regardless of the location of the Salmonella
contamination on the tomato surface (Fig. 3). There was no significant difference in population reduction for the 30-120 s of
exposures. UV radiation was effective in reducing Salmonella
contamination regardless of its location on tomato surfaces.
Therefore, if UV treatment is applied to harvested tomatoes rolling on conveyer belts in a processing line, pathogen reduction on the
tomatoes is possible. To ensure that tomatoes receive adequate UV treatments, the speed of the conveyer belt would have to be
monitored.
reported that postharvest decay on apples was reduced when treated with UV light on a processing line.
The result in this study might show lower log reduction than the previous study, but more than 3 log reduction
was still observed for UV at higher dose.