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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, June 2009, p. 4155-4161, Vol. 75, No. 12
0099-2240/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.00182-09
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Inactivation of Enteric Viruses in Minimally Processed Berries and Herbs{triangledown}

S. Butot, T. Putallaz, R. Amoroso, and G. Sánchez*

Quality & Safety Assurance Department, Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland

Received 26 January 2009/ Accepted 16 April 2009

Several hepatitis A virus (HAV) and human norovirus (HuNoV) outbreaks due to consumption of contaminated berries and vegetables have recently been reported. Model experiments were performed to determine the effectiveness of freeze-drying, freeze-drying combined with heating, and steam blanching for inactivation of enteric viruses that might be present on the surface of berries and herbs. Inactivation of HAV and inactivation of feline calicivirus, a surrogate for HuNoV, were assessed by viral culturing and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR), whereas HuNoV survival was determined only by quantitative RT-PCR. While freeze-drying barely reduced (<1.3 log10 units) the amount of HAV RNA detected in frozen produce, a greater decline in HAV infectivity was observed. The resistance of HuNoV genogroup I (GI) to freeze-drying was significantly higher than that of HuNoV GII on berries. Addition of a terminal dry heat treatment at 120°C after freeze-drying enhanced virus inactivation by at least 2 log10 units, except for HuNoV GII. The results suggest that steam blanching at 95°C for 2.5 min effectively inactivated infectious enteric viruses if they were present in herbs. Our results provide data for adjusting food processing technologies if viral contamination of raw materials is suspected.

* Corresponding author. Present address: Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos, Apartado de correos 73, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain. Phone: 34 96 390 00 22. Fax: 34 96 363 63 01. E-mail: gloriasanchez{at}iata.csic.es

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 24 April 2009.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, June 2009, p. 4155-4161, Vol. 75, No. 12
0099-2240/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.00182-09
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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