Efficacy of a Novel Sanitizer Composed of Lactic Acid and Peroxyacetic Acid against Single Strains of Nonpathogenic Escherichia coli K-12, Listeria innocua, and Lactobacillus plantarum in Aqueous Solution and on Surfaces of Romaine Lettuce and Spinach

A novel sanitizer composed of lactic acid and peroxyacetic acid (LA-PAA) was developed as an alternative to chlorinated water (CW) for fresh produce processing. Single strains of Lactobacillus plantarum, nonpathogenic Escherichia coli K-12, and Listeria innocua were used to demonstrate the microbial efficacy of LA-PAA. LA-PAA achieved a >7.8-log reduction of L. innocua and L. plantarum suspended in water at 4°C for 20 s, and LA, PAA, and CW...