Improved Recovery Procedure for Evaluation of Sanitizer Efficacy in Disinfecting Contaminated Cantaloupes

Improved methodology for recovering microbial contaminants from cantaloupe surface is needed. Recovery of bacteria from the entire rind of cantaloupes, obtained with a mechanical peeler, and use of a new method for calculating melon surface area were investigated using melons inoculated with Salmonella Poona or Escherichia coli NRRL B-766. Growth of Salmonella but not E. coli was found during post-inoculation storage at 20 °C. The new sampling methodology was equivalent to use of replicate rind plugs, taken at multiple sites on the melon surface, in recovery of both organisms. Recovery was the same by both procedures for dipand spotinoculated samples, sanitized or not sanitized, and for post-inoculation holding times up to 72 h. Survival of Salmonella on dipand spot-inoculated cantaloupe surfaces following sanitizer wash treatments was similar.