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 30e120 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. Wilson et al., (1997) 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 reductionwas still observed
for UV at higher dose.