# Combined Effect of Low-Temperature Stress and Slightly Acidic Electrolyzed Water (SAEW) on the Microbial Control of Oat Sprout Production

## TL;DR

This study shows that using slightly acidic electrolyzed water with low temperature can effectively reduce bacteria in oat sprout production.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is demonstrating the combined use of low-temperature stress and SAEW for microbial control in sprout production.

## Key findings

- SAEW at 4 °C reduced E. coli detection rates by up to 5.55 log10 CFU/g during sprout processing.
- SEM confirmed the bactericidal effect of 4 °C + SAEW treatment on oat sprouts.
- Natural colony counts were significantly reduced with the 4 °C + SAEW treatment.

## Abstract

Sprouts have many advantages, such as high nutritional value and simple cultivation conditions. In recent years, the loss rate of sprouts due to microbial contamination has been as high as 40%, and it is necessary to strengthen microbial control technology to reduce such losses. Current microbial control methods have issues such as a narrow bactericidal spectrum and high cost and contamination, whereas slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW), as a new type of disinfectant, can solve these problems. In the present study, the efficacy of SAEW treatments in the disinfection of oat sprouts during germination and washing was evaluated at 25 °C and 4 °C compared to a TW control group. The results showed that compared to the TW control group, the Escherichia coli detection rates were significantly decreased by 2.32, 4.44 and 5.55 log10 CFU/g after soaking, undergoing germination for 60 h and washing with SAEW at 4 °C. This indicated that the 4 °C + SAEW treatment had a favorable bactericidal effect on the whole process of oat sprout washing. This result was demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, for natural colony counts in oat sprouts, the 4 °C + SAEW treatment also showed strong bactericidal ability. Therefore, the application of SAEW combined with low temperature stress treatment in sprout production and processing has high potential.