Effects of potential organic compatible sanitisers on organic and conventional fresh-cut lettuce (Lactuca sativa Var. Crispa L)

• Potential organic compatible sanitisers and their combinations were applied.
• Similar effects on lettuce organic and conventional lettuce were found.
• 1% H2O2 combined with 4 mg/L electrolysed water showed promising results.
• Treatment with H2O2 based sanitisers reduced the bacteria dimensions.

Potential organic compatible sanitisers including electrolysed water (EW, 4 mg/L free available chlorine (FAC)), citric acid (0.6%), H2O2 (1%), and their combinations were applied on organic and conventional fresh-cut lettuce (Lactuca sativa Var crispa L.) to evaluate their effects on microbiological safety, physicochemical parameters and sensory analysis (including raw sample and boiled sample). The combination of 1% H2O2 with 0.6% citric acid led to the highest reductions of microbial loads (2.26 log CFU/g for aerobic mesophilic count (AMC) and 1.28 log CFU/g for yeasts and moulds); however, it also caused the highest electrolyte leakage rate (3.11% vs. 0.91% for control). The combination of EW with 1% H2O2 achieved 1.69 and 0.96 log CFU/g reductions for AMC and yeasts and moulds, respectively with electrolyte leakage rate of 1.41%. In terms of the content of polyphenolic compounds, firmness, colour and raw material sensory analysis, there were no significant differences among different treatments, and between organic and conventional counterparts. The results suggest that 1% H2O2 combined with 4 mg/L EW is a promising approach for treating organic fresh-cut lettuce.