Pulsed Light Decontamination of Red Chilies (<i>Capsicum annuum</i> var. <i>longum</i>)

ABSTRACT The impact of pulsed light treatment (PLT) on natural microbiota and inoculated microbes such as Salmonella Typhimurium, Bacillus cereus , and Aspergillus flavus on red chilies was investigated. Sequential drying did not completely inactivate the aerobic mesophiles and yeast and mold count. Hence, PLT (0.53–2.59 J cm −2 ) was employed as a decontamination technology on red chilies. PLT resulted in 8 log reduction of inoculated microorganisms on chilies at 2.59 J cm −2 . The microbial inactivation kinetics followed Weibull distribution ( R 2 &gt; 0.97) with β value of 1.1, 1.2, and 1.5 for S. Typhimurium, B. cereus , and A. flavus , respectively. Changes in structure and composition of cell components were identified by SEM and FTIR analysis. After PLT, phenolics, antioxidants, flavonoids, and capsaicinoids were better retained but a significant change in ascorbic acid and carotenoid's content was observed. Hence, PL can be a potential technology for decontamination of fresh and dried chilies along with maximum retention of bioactives.