Washing practices on the microflora on Georgia-grown cantaloupes

In recent years, several foodborne illness outbreaks have been associated with the consumption of cantaloupe. Cantaloupes can be contaminated with pathogens anywhere from the field to the packing line. In the United States, cantaloupes are handled and packed differently in each state. Georgia-grown cantaloupes are brought to sheds, washed, and packed, whereas California-grown cantaloupes are field packed. In this study, the microbiological status of cantaloupes produced by four Georgia growers that use various washing and packing practices was assessed to determine the influence of these different practices. The facilities were visited four times during the harvest season. Aerobic bacteria, Escherichia coli, and coliforms on these Georgia-grown cantaloupes were enumerated in transport trailers, after washing, and after packing. Samples also were analyzed for the presence of Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7. In sheds 1 and 4, a chlorinated dump tank was used to wash melons. In sheds 2 and 3, heated water with chlorine was used in the dump tanks. Although there was a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in the populations of the aerobic bacteria and E. coli between the transport trailer and the dump tank for sheds 1 and 4, the reduction was less than 0.5 log CFU/cm2. The temperatures of the water in the dump tanks at sheds 2 and 3 were not high enough to effectively reduce the microbial populations evaluated. Populations on the melons increased slightly (< 0.5 log CFU/cm2) after the melons were removed from the dump tank, suggesting possible contamination after washing.