Comparative Efficacy of Washing Methods for Bacterial and Parasitic Decontamination of Fresh Vegetables
| Author | Aziz Gharaei | en |
| Author | Maryam Fasihi Karami | en |
| Author | Mohammad Javad Boozhmehrani | en |
| Author | Mehdi Tavalla | en |
| Orcid | Maryam Fasihi Karami [0000-0002-5766-9739] | en |
| Issued Date | 2026-05-31 | en |
| Abstract | Background: Fresh vegetables are vital for a healthy diet but can transmit foodborne pathogens. Current decontamination practices vary in effectiveness, and standardized protocols to eliminate both bacterial and parasitic contaminants are lacking, posing a significant public health concern. Objectives: This study evaluated and compared the efficacy of different washing methods to identify optimal decontamination protocols for food safety. Specifically, it aimed to assess the effectiveness of common household and commercial agents against both bacterial (Escherichia coli) and parasitic contaminants on various vegetable types. Methods: Seven commonly consumed vegetables (lettuce, purslane, basil, mint, leek, radish, cress) were treated using five washing methods: tap water alone, 0.09% NaCl solution, vinegar solution, detergent solution, and a commercial benzalkonium chloride-based disinfectant. Bacterial analysis targeted E. coli using standard microbiological and biochemical techniques. Parasitological examination employed sediment concentration methods to detect protozoan cysts and helminth eggs. Results: Vinegar and commercial disinfectant reduced cultivable E. coli to below the detectable limit of the assay, whereas water, saline, and detergent showed variable and incomplete effectiveness. In contrast, parasitic contamination, particularly Giardia lamblia cysts (11.1 - 33.3% prevalence), persisted across all treatments. Leafy vegetables (e.g., lettuce, basil) were significantly more susceptible to both bacterial and parasitic contamination than root vegetables (e.g., radish). A strong positive correlation was observed between bacterial and parasitic contamination levels, suggesting shared pre-harvest or handling-related contamination pathways. Conclusions: Current common washing methods effectively address bacterial contaminants but are critically inadequate against persistent parasitic contamination, underscoring an urgent need for more robust, parasite-targeting protocols. These findings strongly support the adoption of multi-barrier decontamination approaches and emphasize the essential inclusion of both bacterial and parasitic indicators in food safety monitoring and risk assessment, especially in regions with high raw vegetable consumption. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/jjnpp-170334 | en |
| URI | https://brieflands.com/journals/jjnpp/articles/170334 | en |
| Keyword | Food Safety | en |
| Keyword | Foodborne Pathogens | en |
| Keyword | Sanitation Methods | en |
| Keyword | Food Microbiology | en |
| Keyword | Fresh Produce | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | Comparative Efficacy of Washing Methods for Bacterial and Parasitic Decontamination of Fresh Vegetables | en |
| Type | Research Article | en |
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