The effectiveness of chemicals as desinfectants for reducing the parasite contamination of lettuce leaves (Lactuca sativa, L.) was investigated. Potassium permanganate at 1: 5000 and 1: 10000 was employed, while sodium hypochlorite compound was used in con centrations of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 40 ppm. In all experiments the contact time was 5,10, 20 and 40 minutes. The expousure of lettuce leaves to sodium hypochlorite 40 ppm of free cloro for 10 minutes was found to be highly effective.
Vegetables; Fecal coliforms; Escherichia coli; Sodium hypochlorite