Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different sanitization solutions on the physicochemical characteristics of strawberries, cucumbers, and rocket leaves. In each procedure, 200 g of the sample was immersed in 1 L of sanitizing solution for 5 minutes. Strawberries, cucumbers and rocket leaves were sanitized with acetic, and lactic acid (1% and 2%), hydrogen peroxide (3%), sodium hypochlorite and sodium dichloroisocyanurate (200 mg/L). Samples not submitted to sanitization were used as controls. The values of pH, total titratable acidity, total soluble solids, vitamin C content, total phenolic compounds, and antioxidant capacity were directly analyzed, and chlorophyll (SPAD Index) was indirectly analyzed. Sanitized strawberries and cucumbers presented no significant difference (p > 0.05) in pH values, total titratable acidity, and total soluble solids/total titratable acidity ratio compared with un-sanitized samples. Vitamin C content was preserved in samples treated with sodium hypochlorite. All vegetables maintained their total phenolic compounds after sanitization treatments. The proposed treatments did not alter the physicochemical characteristics of the samples.

Abstract This work evaluated the effectiveness of 1 and 2% acetic and lactic acid, 3% hydrogen peroxide, 200 mg/L sodium hypochlorite and 200 mg/L sodium dichloroisocyanurate to reducing natural contaminants as well as Salmonella enterica Enteritidis inoculated on the surface of strawberries, cucumbers, and rocket leaves. The reduction of aerobic mesophilic and molds and yeasts was between 1.67 – 2.73 and 0.61 – 1.46 log CFU/g in strawberries, 1.48 – 2.19 and 1.02 – 2.01 log CFU/g on rocket leaves, and 1.10 – 2.08 and 0.88 – 1.58 log CFU/g in cucumbers, respectively. The most effective sanitizers for reducing Salmonella enterica Enteritidis in strawberries were 1% and 2% lactic acid, while in cucumbers and rocket leaves was the 2% lactic acid as well as the 3% hydrogen peroxide, for both samples. The results of this study clearly show the potential of the proposed strategies to replace chlorinated compounds in the sanitization step of fresh produce.