The effectiveness in the assurance of fresh vegetable microbiological quality of wash solutions containing
200 ppm free chlorine, 0.1 mg/ml benzalkonium chloride, 0.2% and 1% lactic acid was assessed on Escherichia
coli O157:H7 and Yersinia enterocolitica contaminated lettuce and tomatoes. Y. enterocolitica reduction
on tomatoes (5.08, 4.77 and 4.21 log after 0.2% lactic acid, 200 ppm chlorine and 0.1 mg/ml
benzalkonium chloride treatments, respectively) were significantly higher than those for Y. enterocolitica
on lettuce and E. coli O157:H7 on both vegetables.