Comparison of effects of mild heat combined with lactic acid on Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli O157:H7, O103, O111, O145 and O26 inoculated to spinach and soybean sprout

•There is a globally significant increase in non-O157 STEC borne infections.•This study aims to screen effect of weak heat and acid combinations on STEC.•It is shown that, weak heat and lactic acid combinations have an effect on STEC.•Similar resistances to treatments by STEC were recorded.•This is the first report of non-O157 STEC decontamination.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of lactic acid against Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (O157:H7 and non-O157 serogroups including O103, O111, O145 and O26) at different conditions. Soybean sprouts and spinach leaves inoculated with each serogroup of E. coli (∼7.00 + 1.00 log10 cfu/g) were treated with the lactic acid solutions at different concentrations (0% (control), 1.5%, 2.0%, or 2.5%) and at different temperatures (20, 40, or 50 °C) for 3 min. Results indicated that regardless of the treatment temperature, no significant reduction in the numbers of any serogroup occurred in the control group (0%) (p > 0.05). However, lactic acid at concentration of 1.5%, 2% and 2.5% was found to be effective against all organisms tested. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 STEC serogroups at any treatment group. The highest reductions (ca. 4.00 log10 cfu/g) of all serotypes in both produces were observed after immersing into 2.5% lactic acid at 50 °C. The results of this study showed that decontamination of fresh produces such as spinach and soybean sprout with lactic acid solutions prepared at mild temperatures (40 °C and 50 °C) might be an effective safety measure in preventing public health risks associated with these products contaminated with STEC.