Effect of corona discharge plasma on microbial decontamination of dried squid shreds including physico-chemical and sensory evaluation

- Different microbial contaminants were found in dried squid shreds.
- Corona discharge plasma jet (CDPJ) used to reduce microbial load.
- Up to 2 log reductions were achieved by CDPJ treatment.
- Inactivation pattern well-fitted to pseudo-first-order kinetic model.
- Shreds physicochemical and sensory properties were unaltered by CDPJ.

Non-thermal techniques for microbial decontamination in foods are becoming more promising. This work aims to evaluate the suitability and effectiveness of corona discharge plasma jet (CDPJ) for the inactivation of microbial contaminants of dried squid shreds. CDPJ was generated using 20 kV pulsed DC voltage and at a 58 kHz frequency. Upon the CDPJ treatment (0-3 min) of dried shreds, contaminants namely aerobic bacteria, marine bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus were inactivated by 2.0, 1.6, and 0.9 log units, respectively. Also, a 0.9 log reduction of yeasts and molds contaminants was observed. The inactivation pattern fitted well to the pseudo-first-order model rather than first-order kinetic model. The CDPJ treatment did not exert statistically significant (P > 0.05) changes in color characteristics and volatile basic nitrogen content of dried squid shreds as compared with untreated controls. In contrast, the moisture and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances levels of shreds were significantly (P < 0.05) altered by the plasma exposure. However, the treatment exerted no significant (P > 0.05) impact on the sensory characteristics of dried squid shreds. The CDPJ was found to be effective for microbial decontamination of real-world samples of dried squid. This technology can readily be applied to commercial dried squid processing.