Salmonella transfer potential between tomatoes and cartons used for distribution

Area of Science:

• Food safety
• Microbiology
• Agricultural science

Background:

• Corrugated fiberboard boxes (cartons) are frequently reused in tomato packing.
• Understanding pathogen survival and transfer on these surfaces is vital for food safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess Salmonella fate on new, used, and dirty tomato cartons.
• To determine Salmonella transfer rates between tomatoes and cartons under various conditions.

Main Methods:

• Inoculation of tomatoes and cartons with Salmonella.
• Incubation under different temperature (12°C, 25°C) and humidity (85% RH) conditions for up to 7 days.
• Calculation of transfer coefficients (TCs) to quantify Salmonella movement.

Main Results:

• Salmonella populations decreased with drying, but debris enhanced survival at 12°C.
• Wet inoculum resulted in higher transfer rates, with the highest TC (14.7) observed for wet tomatoes after 7 days at 25°C.
• More Salmonella transferred from tomatoes to cartons than vice versa, with transfer increasing with moisture and contact time on used/dirty cartons.

Conclusions:

• Salmonella transfer is significantly influenced by moisture levels; dry tomatoes and cartons are recommended.
• Carton condition (new vs. used/dirty) affects transfer dynamics, with increased transfer over time for used/dirty cartons.
• Implementing dry handling practices during tomato harvesting and packing is essential for reducing microbial contamination risk.