Decontamination of egg-associated pathogens by plasma-activated water and hydrogen peroxide

This study investigated the effectiveness of plasma-activated water (PAW) and plasma-activated hydrogen peroxide (PAHP) in reducing egg-associated pathogens. The antimicrobial activity of these solutions against Salmonella Enteritidis, Campylobacter jejuni, and Staphylococcus aureus on eggs was evaluated at different plasma treatment durations. The results demonstrated that increasing the duration of plasma treatment enhanced the antimicrobial efficacy of both PAW and PAHP. The bacterial counts of the egg-associated pathogens significantly decreased from 7.61, 7.59, and 7.54 log (CFU/egg) to 5.4 and 3.09, 5.36 and 3.11, and 5.08 and 3.73 log (CFU/egg) for PAW and PAHP, respectively. The characteristics of the plasma solutions, including electrical conductivity, pH, H₂O₂, NO₃¯, and NO₂¯, synergistically acted as antimicrobial agents in both PAW and PAHP treatments. The storage study revealed that PAHP treatment had no adverse effects on the eggs' pH, albumen and yolk color, Haugh unit, and yolk index. However, it did result in reduced eggshell strength and compromised cuticle integrity. Overall, this study demonstrates the successful application of PAW and PAHP in effectively inhibiting egg-associated pathogens while preserving essential egg quality attributes. Further research is needed to optimize the treatment conditions and investigate the long-term effects of PAW and PAHP on eggs in larger-scale applications. This research contributes to developing innovative and sustainable approaches for enhancing the safety and quality of eggs in the food industry.