Surface microbial ecology food safety and horticulture production assessment of pear fruit (Pyrus communis)
Year: 2016
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The World Health Organisation promotes increased consumption of fresh fruit and\nvegetables to address global health and nutritional challenges. Pome fruit are widely\nconsumed and contribute to a healthy diet, therefore represent an important traded product.\nThe South African pear export industry is ranked as one of the top ten international exporters\nof fresh fruit. The importance of retaining market access is thus important and compliance\nwith international food safety requirements is essential. To the authors knowledge this is\nthe first supply chain study that is focused on the microbial quality and safety of fresh pears\nin the postharvest environment. The findings in this study aid in a better understanding of\nthe microbial dynamics of the fruit surface (carpoplane) and the microbial population shifts\ndue to postharvest practices. Current national guidelines for ready-to-eat fresh produce place\nemphasis on bacterial loads and absence of selected foodborne pathogens. Escherichia coli\nO157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar\nTyphimurium and Staphylococcus aureus were demonstrated to attach, replicate and survive\non the pear carpoplane. However, on market-ready pears these foodborne pathogens were\nnot detected. Analysis of the carpoplane dominant bacterial populations reflected both\nharmful as well as beneficial residential bacteria that are known to either have the potential\nto affect human or plant health, respectively. The study provides an overview of the pear\nbacterial biome and this information can be used in future regulatory adjustments for food\nsafety assurance. An assessment of the current industry wide food safety management\npractices reveal that not all aspects of the food safety assurance systems have been\neffectively implemented at an appropriate level.
Author: James Duvenage
Language: English
Subfield: Biotechnology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2522488337