Application of propidium monoazide quantitative PCR for selective detection of live Escherichia coli O157:H7 in vegetables after inactivation by essential oils

► PMA in combination with real-time PCR (PMA-qPCR) detects E. coli O157:H7 viable cells. ► E. coli O157:H7 was inactivated by essential oils (cumin, clove, oregano, cinnamon). ► LIVE/DEAD-FCM confirmed that E. coli O157:H7 treated with EOs were permeable to PMA. ► PMA-qPCR was evaluated in vegetables by spiking tests with EOs-dead E. coli O157:H7.