Interventions to enhance the microbiological safety of processed mushrooms

由于存在单核细胞增生李斯特菌，切片蘑菇已被召回。因此，就单核细胞增生乳杆菌而言，切片蘑菇被列为风险最高的一类。实际上，这意味着蘑菇行业必须对病原体进行广泛的产品和环境筛查，其结果是产品召回的增加，给行业带来了巨大的成本（每次召回40万美元）。为了转移到低L单核细胞增生风险群体，行业需要实施有效的李斯特菌减少干预和保存方法，以抑制病原体在储存过程中的生长。然而，由于蘑菇对传统的去污技术（热、次氯酸盐）的敏感性，需要设计更新颖的方法才能应用。为此，拟议的项目将评估一系列去污技术（酸化电解水、多波长LED紫外线、羟基离子发生器和离子酸表面活性剂消毒剂）。此外，为了防止李斯特菌在蘑菇储存期间的生长，将应用一种对L单核细胞增生具有广谱感染性的噬菌体制剂。这项研究将通过提高切片蘑菇的食品安全性和延长保质期的潜力，使该行业和加拿大受益。此外，出口市场（估计价值100亿美元）将得到维持，并有扩大的潜力。这项研究将为今后进一步发展选定的干预措施和在商业过程中的应用奠定基础。工业合作伙伴（加拿大蘑菇）是将研究商业化的好地方。

Sliced mushrooms have been subject to recalls due to the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. As a consequence, sliced mushrooms have been placed in the highest risk category with regards to L. monocytogenes. In practical terms this means the mushroom industry has to undertake extensive product and environment screening for the pathogen with the consequence of increasing product recalls at great cost to the industry (>$40, 000 per recall). To be transferred to lower L monocytogenes risk groups the industry requires to implement effective Listeria reduction interventions and preservation methods to inhibit pathogen growth during storage. However, because of the sensitivity of mushrooms for traditional decontamination techniques (thermal, hypochlorite) cannot be applied requiring more novel approaches to be devised. To this end the proposed project will evaluate a range of decontamination technologies (acidified electrolyzed water, multi-wavelength LED UV, hydroxyl ion generators and ionic acid surfactant sanitizers). In addition, to prevent growth of Listeria on mushrooms during storage a bacteriophage preparation with a broad spectrum of infectivity towards L monocytogenes will be applied. The research will benefit the industry and Canada through enhancing food safety of sliced mushrooms with the potential of extending shelf-life. Moreover, the export market (estimated value >$100m) will be maintained with the potential of being extended. The research will form a foundation for future work in further developing selected interventions and application in commercial processes. The industrial partner (Mushrooms Canada) is well place to commercialize the research.