A study of E.coli O157:H7 occurrence in vegetables that are usually consumed raw in Brazil was carried out as well as an evaluation of its resistance to the sanitizers available on the market for disinfection of green vegetables, equipment and utensils, including chlorine and quaternary ammonium compounds. In the evaluation of the occurrence in vegetables, 869 samples were analyzed, without the presence of the pathogen being detected. The enzymatic immunoassay (ELISA) used in the analyses (Reveal E.coli O157 Neogem e EHEC Test Kit 3M Company) presented a false presumtive rate of 13,6 and 11,8%, respectively, not confirmed as E.coli O157 in the subsequent stages of identification. In the evaluation of the resistance to the sanitizers using the AOAC method 960.9 it was observed that the treatment with 100ppm and 200ppm of sodium hypochlorite, sodium dichloroisocyanurate and benzalconium chloride/30s showed effectiveness against E.coli ATCC 11229 e E.coli O157:H7 ATCC 43890, with more than 5 decimal reductions over the population.
Escherichia coli O157:H7; occurrence; vegetables; disinfection; chlorine; quaternary ammonium; sodium hypochlorite; sodium dichloroisocyanurate; benzalconium chloride
