Combined Hurdle Technologies Using UVC Waterproof LED for Inactivating Foodborne Pathogens on Fresh-Cut Fruits

The Gamma concept approach as a tool to predict fresh produce supporting or not the growth of L. monocytogenes

Challenge tests are commonly employed to evaluate the growth behavior of L. monocytogenes in food matrices; they are known for being expensive and time-consuming. An alternative could be the use of predictive models to forecast microbial behavior under different conditions. In this study, the growth behavior of L. monocytogenes in different fresh produce was evaluated using a predictive model based on the Gamma concept considering pH, water activity (aw), and temperature as input factors. An extensive literature search resulted in a total of 105 research articles selected to collect growth/no growth behavior data of L. monocytogenes. Up to 808 L. monocytogenes behavior values and physicochemical characteristics were extracted for different fruits and vegetables. The predictive performance of the model as a tool for identifying the produce commodities supporting the growth of L. monocytogenes was proved by comparing with the experimental data collected from the literature. The model provided satisfactory predictions on the behavior of L. monocytogenes in vegetables (>80% agreement with experimental observations). For leafy greens, a 90% agreement was achieved. In contrast, the performance of the Gamma model was less satisfactory for fruits, as it tends to overestimate the potential of acid commodities to inhibit the growth of L. monocytogenes.

New Approaches for Improving the Quality of Processed Fruits and Vegetables and Their By-Products

The 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda calls for all social actors to contribute to significant societal and environmental issues [...].

A Comprehensive Analysis of the UVC LEDs' Applications and Decontamination Capability

The application of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) has been gaining popularity over the last decades. LEDs have advantages compared to traditional light sources in terms of lifecycle, robustness, compactness, flexibility, and the absence of non-hazardous material. Combining these advantages with the possibility of emitting Ultraviolet C (UVC) makes LEDs serious candidates for light sources in decontamination systems. Nevertheless, it is unclear if they present better decontamination effectiveness than traditional mercury vapor lamps. Hence, this research uses a systematic literature review (SLR) to enlighten three aspects: (1) UVC LEDs' application according to the field, (2) UVC LEDs' application in terms of different biological indicators, and (3) the decontamination effectiveness of UVC LEDs in comparison to conventional lamps. UVC LEDs have spread across multiple areas, ranging from health applications to wastewater or food decontamination. The UVC LEDs' decontamination effectiveness is as good as mercury vapor lamps. In some cases, LEDs even provide better results than conventional mercury vapor lamps. However, the increase in the targets' complexity (e.g., multilayers or thicker individual layers) may reduce the UVC decontamination efficacy. Therefore, UVC LEDs still require considerable optimization. These findings are stimulating for developing industrial or final users' applications.