Fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables have an excellent safety record. However, surveillance data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and recent foodborne illness outbreaks have demonstrated that the incidence of foodborne illnesses linked to the consumption of contaminated fresh fruit and vegetable products may in fact be more prevalent than previously thought. U.S. FDA and USDA microbiological surveys of domestic and imported fresh fruits and vegetables demonstrate that human pathogens are sporadically found to be associated with fresh produce. In addition to increased safety concerns, microbial spoilage represents a significant source of waste for growers, packers, retailers, and consumers. Microbiology of Fruits and Vegetables reviews the extensive research that has been conducted on microbiological problems relating to the safety and spoilage of fruits and vegetables in recent years. It considers incidences of human pathogen contamination, sources of microbial contamination, microbial attachment to produce surfaces, intractable spoilage problems, efficacy of sanitizing treatments for fresh produce, novel interventions for produce disinfection, and methodology for microbiological evaluation of fruits and vegetables. The text is divided into five sections: (I) contamination and state of microflora on fruits and vegetables (II) microbial spoilage of fruits and vegetables (III) food safety issues (IV) interventions to reduce spoilage and risk of foodborne illness (V) microbiological evaluation of fruits and vegetables. In Microbiology of Fruits and Vegetables, the editors, three leaders in the field, have endeavored to present a comprehensive examination, focusing on issues needing coverage, rather than attempting an encyclopedic compilation. They have selected chapter authors who are active researchers in their respective fields and thus bring a working knowledge of current issues, industry practices, and advances in technology.

While minimally processed foods satisfy the increasing market demands for foods with fewer preservatives, higher nutritive value, and fresh sensory attributes, there is a greater risk of diseases if they are improperly handled. Microbial Safety of Minimally Processed Foods explores innovative preventative solutions to food-borne diseases from the perspectives of the producer, the handler, the consumer, the food preparer, as well as the food inspector, and researcher. This book provides you with the latest research and insight into assuring the microbial safety of red meats, poultry, fish, vegetables, fruits, and bakery products that receive less than stringent sterilizing preparation. It explores and describes the methods used for pathogen detection along with strategies for preventing future pathogen occurrences in the minimally processed foods. The book also provides in-depth evaluations of HACCP regulations and risk assessments of those minimally processed foods. Designed to stimulate the development of increasingly safer foods, Microbial Safety of Minimally Processed Foods details state-of-the-art technologies that have the potential to enhance microbiological safety of minimally processed foods without sacrificing their natural, untreated visual appearance and sensory properties.

Fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables have an excellent safety record. However, surveillance data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and recent foodborne illness outbreaks have demonstrated that the incidence of foodborne illnesses linked to the consumption of contaminated fresh fruit and vegetable products may in fact be more prevalent than previously thought. U.S. FDA and USDA microbiological surveys of domestic and imported fresh fruits and vegetables demonstrate that human pathogens are sporadically found to be associated with fresh produce. In addition to increased safety concerns, microbial spoilage represents a significant source of waste for growers, packers, retailers, and consumers. Microbiology of Fruits and Vegetables reviews the extensive research that has been conducted on microbiological problems relating to the safety and spoilage of fruits and vegetables in recent years. It considers incidences of human pathogen contamination, sources of microbial contamination, microbial attachment to produce surfaces, intractable spoilage problems, efficacy of sanitizing treatments for fresh produce, novel interventions for produce disinfection, and methodology for microbiological evaluation of fruits and vegetables. The text is divided into five sections: (I) contamination and state of microflora on fruits and vegetables (II) microbial spoilage of fruits and vegetables (III) food safety issues (IV) interventions to reduce spoilage and risk of foodborne illness (V) microbiological evaluation of fruits and vegetables. In Microbiology of Fruits and Vegetables, the editors, three leaders in the field, have endeavored to present a comprehensive examination, focusing on issues needing coverage, rather than attempting an encyclopedic compilation. They have selected chapter authors who are active researchers in their respective fields and thus bring a working knowledge of current issues, industry practices, and advances in technology.

While minimally processed foods satisfy the increasing market demands for foods with fewer preservatives, higher nutritive value, and fresh sensory attributes, there is a greater risk of diseases if they are improperly handled. Microbial Safety of Minimally Processed Foods explores innovative preventative solutions to food-borne diseases from the perspectives of the producer, the handler, the consumer, the food preparer, as well as the food inspector, and researcher.

This book provides you with the latest research and insight into assuring the microbial safety of red meats, poultry, fish, vegetables, fruits, and bakery products that receive less than stringent sterilizing preparation. It explores and describes the methods used for pathogen detection along with strategies for preventing future pathogen occurrences in the minimally processed foods. The book also provides in-depth evaluations of HACCP regulations and risk assessments of those minimally processed foods.

Designed to stimulate the development of increasingly safer foods, Microbial Safety of Minimally Processed Foods details state-of-the-art technologies that have the potential to enhance microbiological safety of minimally processed foods without sacrificing their natural, untreated visual appearance and sensory properties.