High voltage atmospheric cold plasma decontamination of Salmonella enteritidis on chicken eggs

• Published in: Innovative food science & emerging technologies 2022-12, Vol.82, p.103210, Article 103210
• Main Authors: Illera, Alba E., Souza, Vanessa R., Nikmaram, Nooshin, Tang, Linyi, Keener, Kevin M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chicken eggs; High voltage atmospheric cold plasma (HVACP); Pathogen decontamination; Process optimization; Salmonella enteritidis
• ISSN: 1466-8564; 1878-5522
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ifset.2022.103210

Salmonella enteritidis (SE) accounts for more than 70% of Salmonella spp. infections in humans with a primary source being chicken eggs, that can result from post-lay SE cross-contamination of the shell from contaminated equipment or the environment. The objective of this study was to apply a HVACP treatment that can achieve a minimum 5-log reduction in SE on the surface of artificially inoculated shell eggs with an initial bacterial load of 108 CFU/egg, after a previous disinfection. Optimized HVACP treatment conditions were an indirect treatment with air at 60% humidity at 100 kV for one minute treatment and six hours post-treatment or alternatively, five minutes of treatment and four hours post-treatment. Egg quality parameters of Haugh unit (HU), pH, color, and vitelline membrane and shell strength were tested under the optimized conditions and showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) between treated and untreated eggs. Industrial relevance: Missing information for a possible scale up of a cold plasma system for egg surface decontamination has been addressed by an optimization of HVACP treatment focused on treatment and post-treatment time, essential parameters to have into account in the food industry. These results demonstrate that HVACP is an effective decontamination method for SE on chicken shell eggs and provides a baseline for a future scale up of the process, showing that different combinations of treatment variables can achieve the desired decontamination without affecting to key quality parameters of the egg such as Haugh Unit or vitelline membrane strength. •An indirect Cold Plasma treatment was used to decontaminate packaged eggs surface.•100 kV and 60% RH air showed best results for Salmonella enteritidis inactivation.•Treatment and post-treatment time were optimized to reduce 105CFU/egg of bacteria.•Optimized sets were 1 and 5 min-treatment and 6 and 4 h-post-treatment respectively.•Haugh unit, pH, yolk color or egg items strength were not affected in treated eggs.