Comparison of Aqueous Chemical Treatments To Eliminate Salmonella on Alfalfa Seeds

Several outbreaks of salmonellosis associated with alfalfa sprouts have been documented in the United States since 1995. This study was undertaken to evaluate various chemical treatments for their effectiveness in killing Salmonella on alfalfa seeds. Immersing inoculated seeds in solutions containing 20,000 ppm free chlorine (Ca[OCl]2), 5% Na3PO4, 8% H2O2, 1% Ca(OH)2, 1% calcinated calcium, 5% lactic acid, or 5% citric acid for 10 min resulted...