This study was conducted to examine the inactivation effect of the combined treatment of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP; 400 MPa for 1, 3, and 5 min) and cationic surfactant washing (0.05% benzethonium chloride, BEC) against Listeria monocytogenes inoculated on fresh-cut broccoli (FCB). Washing with BEC at concentrations exceeding 0.05% resulted in 2.3 logreduction of L. monocytogenes counts on FCB, whereas HHP treatment had approximately 5.5- 5.6 log-reductions regardless of the treatment time. Scanning electron microscopy corroborated microbial enumeration, revealing that the combined treatment was more effective in removing L. monocytogenes from FCB than individual treatment with HHP or BEC. Color and total glucosinolate content were maintained after the combined treatment, although the hardness of the FCB slightly decreased. The results clearly suggest that the combined treatment of HHP and BEC washing has potential value as a new sanitization method to improve the microbial safety of FCB.
Keywords: Cationic surfactant; combined treatment; fresh-cut broccoli; high hydrostatic pressure.