PERFORMIC ACID AS A POTENTIAL DISINFECTANT AT LOW TEMPERATURE

We have tested disinfection effects of performic acid at 2.5C in order to know if this compound could be used in the food industry. Microorganisms tested were Escherichia coli ATCC 13706, E. coli O157 : H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, S. Enteritidis, Campylobacter jejuni and Listeria monocytogenes. The performic acid-sensitive bacteria were eliminated within 5 min at 3-4 mg/L of performic acid and the most resistant strains at 20 mg/L. There was an initial threshold concentration, where practically no bacterial reduction occurred. This threshold concentration ranged from 1-3 mg/L up to 7 mg/L of performic acid (for E. coli O157 : H7). Above the threshold, a rapid, concentration-dependent reduction was detected and performic acid could efficiently destroy bacteria spread by fecal bacteria tested. The resistance order from the most performic acid-sensitive to the most resistant was: Campylobacter = Listeria < E. coli ATCC 13706 < S. Typhimurium < S. Enteritidis < E. coli O157 : H7.