Efficacy of Aqueous Chlorine Dioxide and Citric Acid in Reducing Escherichia coli on the Radish Seeds Used for Sprout Production

The efficacy of citric acid-aqueous chlorine dioxide ($ClO_2$) treatment of radish seeds artificially contaminated with Escherichia coli was studied. Radish seeds were inoculated with E. coli. Following inoculation, samples were stored at $4^{\circ}C$ and soaked in citric acid or aqueous $ClO_2$ for 10 min. The treatment of radish seeds using 200 ppm aqueous $ClO_2$ solution caused a 1.5 log CFU/g reduction in the population of E. coli. Compared to the aqueous $ClO_2$ treatment, soaking radish seeds in 2.0% citric acid solution for 10 min was more effective in reducing E. coli populations on radish seeds. The efficacy of spray application of chlorine (100 ppm) or 0.5% citric acid to eliminate E. coli during the germination and growth of radish was investigated. Radish seed inoculated with E. coli was treated for the duration of the growth period. Although it resulted in a decrease in the E. coli population, the spray application of 100 ppm chlorine during the growth period was not significantly effective. In contrast, the combined treatment of seeds using 200 ppm aqueous $ClO_2$ and treatment of sprouts with 0.5% citric acid solution during sprout growth was hardly effective in eliminating E. coli.