A longitudinal study on the bacterial quality of baby spinach cultivated in Arizona and California.

ABSTRACT: In the U.S., baby spinach is mostly produced in Arizona (AZ) and California (CA). Characterizing the impact of growing region on the bacterial quality of baby spinach can inform quality management practices in industry. Between December 2021 and December 2022, baby spinach was sampled after harvest and packaging for microbiological testing, including shelf-life testing of packaged samples that were stored at 4°C. Samples were tested to (i) determine bacterial concentration, and (ii) obtain and identify bacterial isolates. Packaged samples from the Salinas, CA, area (n = 13), compared to those from the Yuma, AZ, area (n = 9), had a significantly higher bacterial concentration, on average, by 0.78 log₁₀ CFU/g (P < 0.01, based on aerobic, mesophilic plate count

SUBMITTER: Sunil S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11337821 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature