Comparative Efficacy of Ethanol, UV-C, and Ultrasound Against Candida albicans, Aspergillus brasiliensis, and Listeria innocua on Kalamon Table Olives

This study investigated the effectiveness of ethanol (70%, 3 min), Ultraviolet-C irradiation (6 and 12 min), and ultrasound (37 kHz, 15 min) for decreasing Candida albicans, Aspergillus brasiliensis, and Listeria innocua on Greek Kalamon table olives before brining. Ethanol demonstrated the greatest decreases (>2.80 log10 for C. albicans, >2.09 log10 for A. brasiliensis, and >3.79 log10 for L. innocua). UV-C had a time-dependent impact, with 12 min producing more inactivation than 6 min (1.30, 1.05, and 1.57 log10, respectively, for C. albicans, A. brasiliensis, and L. innocua). Ultrasound alone produced minimal reductions (<0.60 log10). Overall, ethanol outperformed Ultraviolet-C and ultrasound in the test settings, with Ultraviolet-C providing moderate, exposure-dependent decreases. These findings stimulate additional research into non-thermal therapies and their practical use in table olive processing.