A combination of TiO₂-UV photocatalysis and high hydrostatic pressure to inactivate Bacillus cereus in freshly squeezed Angelica keiskei juice

High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) is an effective nonthermal food processing method for microbial inactivation with minimal change to sensory and nutritional values. However, the resistance of endospores to high pressure hinders application of HHP to freshly squeezed vegetable juice, especially from leafy vegetables that are susceptible to contamination of soil bacteria, such as endospore-forming Bacillus cereus. A combination of TiO₂-UV photocatalysis and HHP was used in the processing of freshly squeezed Angelica keiskei juice, and inactivation of naturally occurring microbes, especially B. cereus, was investigated. Yeasts and molds, coliform bacteria, and Pseudomonas were inactivated by HHP to levels below the detection limit, but B. cereus survived HHP and grew during 8 days of subsequent refrigerated storage (4°C). However, no colonies of yeasts and molds, coliform bacteria, Pseudomonas, or B. cereus were detected in A. keiskei juice after processing with a combination of TiO₂-UV photocatalysis and HHP. Although B. cereus in juice processed with the combination treatment recovered and grew to 2.02logCFU/mL on day 6 of storage, this level was less than the population of B. cereus in unprocessed Angelica keiskei juice immediately after squeezing.