Survival of Generic Escherichia coli on Bulk and Wrapped d’Anjou Pears under Extended Storage Durations

). Whole, fresh green d'Anjou pears were inoculated (∼7 log CFU/pear) with a three-strain cocktail of rifampicin-resistant generic E. coli and stored for up to 252 d. Nine pear samples were collected at 13 timepoints, and E. coli concentrations were enumerated. To determine the die-off pattern of E. coli on pears, data were modeled using log-linear, Weibull, and segmented regression approaches. E. coli was still detectable at ∼1.9 log CFU/pear after 252 d regardless of bulk or wrapped storage. Based on Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), a segmented model, with four distinct die-off phases and wrapping as a covariate, best fit E. coli survival on pear surfaces over time. Die-off was best characterized by an initial decline rate of 0.151 log CFU/pear/d from 0 to 8.74 d followed by slower rates of 0.030, 0.014, and 0.010 log CFU/pear/d between 8.74-55.97 d, 55.97-172.02 d, and 172.02-252 d, respectively. These findings provide evidence to inform practical, risk-based control measures for the pear industry.